The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-11-18

Reported for the Dsiy nspateh
TRIAL, OF DR. THOMPSON. FOR THE MUIR
DER OF MISS AGNESS c PHsRR Before
y44seAdnp Superior Coarf.
spcciai term of Allegheny Superior Court was
commenced on the l3sh OF November Judge Ro
NJ Hudson presiding The Commonwealth NJ.
,,rny. VIM Sxeen, Esq, assisted In the prose
ton by wili,m II TirreIi, E-q.. OF Bath county
Tae defence was conducted by T j. Niche. o.
Stanton, j. d Miller, of Fincastle, and S Jor.
dan Baker, of Ccvington. Some li,,Ie difficulty
was experienced in procuring jury, but the
naunel wa. completed Tuesday morning. and the
trial proceeded The interest in the trial had evi
dertly diruini.hed since the examination of the
prisoner last August, and the court house was not
much ctoxced,
TESTIMONY BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Mrs YaYric, 4 Piissr, sr0rH.-Was present at
Miss Phsrr's death. Found Airs. Phsrr aud Drs
Mcdonald and Thompson there. Found Miss
pharr iaboFinC under most extraordinary sEasu
DR.. T. said they were hysterical fits There was
an interval OF about Is minutes between the
spssms. TIE spasms came on by twitching aud
agitation of the nervous system, followed by ri.
gidness ia the whole system the head being
thrown back and the limbs thrown out to their ut
most extension. The eyes rolled about wildly and
the pupils were much dilaicd The mouth was
partly opened, the lips rolled out These spasms
were SO YlJitDk tISl SHOOK tue WINDOW HDBn
coming Their substance was marked by
Precipitation and complete exhaustion, and inability
TO completely control the use Of her limbs. She
was perfectly conscious in the intervals between
the spasms Ia one OF the SPANS she threw out
some dark cOlored matter from the mouth, which
Dr. T. caught in handkerchief and examined -
Seeing me looking at him, said she had biz her
tongue. the blood OF which had sickeued her
She irothed az the mouth once or twice; when
Miss =. came out of the spastn | louud her ill.,
she begged DIR. T. not TO leave her, which he pro.
missed. She was iudisposed TO talk observe
persons about her, and refused to take med
cines, save from DIR. I s hand. She was bled on
concurrence by The physicians. she begged Dr.
7 to give her bis ring; he pat on her EecOnd in
ger. No, said she not that, the third finger Uhe
engagement fuger) missed the ring from her
hager, and think ! saw ii on Dr. is huger al
forwards Il DR.. I. remarked to DIR. Med. that these
were the effects OF too much iron. Drs. Med and
] lief. during one OF the spasms. Dr., r. said they
not dangerous, and that he would return II
another TT came on. They were both sent for aud
returned. DR.. l. was much excited. He was Mr.
Pharr family ply sican. On the approach of the
fourth spasm Miss Pharr seemed exhausted-to
sink before it, and die away She died at about
30 P 81 went to Mr.. Pharr's ct II NJ After
death the body much swollen also the
breasts her clothes had 10 be cut oil from her
Otherwise she appeared to he in perfect health
Blood flowed from the nose and mouth alter death
Dr. Mcdonald sr0rR-Was present at the death
OF Miss pharf; arrived at about H. NJ. Found Dr.
Thompson and Miss Pharr in the room. Dr.. T.
said It was a case OF tetanc spasms Patient was
suffering from most violent c0hvulsion, affecting
the whole system. DR.. T. was OF opinion she would
die. Mrs. z. very much alarmed. Suggested that
the might be hysteria, in which Or. T concur
red Eled the patient and then administered a
uygatve-Calomei and rhubarb-and then gave
raleIi4n. During the spasIns the head and shout
ders were thrown back the chest forward and the
lower limbs extended siiy. The arms were par.
italy extended, and, my impression is, that they
rigid. Breathing interrupted; face dark and
distorted; pulse quick a2d feeble. Each spasm
lasted till the powers aGd the system seemed to give
away, aud was followed by interval in which
the whole system relaxed. Mind was partially
restored in the intervals between the sp4sIns. ID
f. and myself lett at the end OF one OF the spasns
Dr. T. was recalled but returned to the hotel
to dinner. Was sent for while at dinner, and re.
turned Immediately. While on the way to dinner
perhaps said the case was not dangerous; may have
{ aid it hysterical. Returning, found the pa
tient dying. DR.. T. said the last CONFUSION was
violent Than the others, and that respiration
was suspended rom the first, He had thoughts OF
performing operation called larynXgatory (or
opening the wind-pIpe) Suggested that the con-
vIsion had brought on apoplexy. Dr.. T. concur
ID, Luz afterwards said it apop.exy produced
by long continued use oil iron. DR.. T. said he had
ipt up respiration for some time by pressure on
the chest DR.. r. then eit ostensibly for medicine
while continued the operation he had been per
forming Do not think she breathed alter my return
Ony heard a rafting IN the throat evidence OF
dealh. After the first spasm in which | the
patient, had a conversation with DR. Z in the porch
lie told me Miss agnes had taken up the impression
that they engaged and said that on one occa-
sion she had asked him for something to DESTROY
her life stating as reason that no one cared any
thug tor her; to which he replied, o, yea, we all
care great deal for you and that it from tn
remark that she had taken up the impression that
he was in love with her. lie intmated that her
mind impaired. He said she had asked Tor or
taken his ring from his finger that day The appear
snce o. The patient, In connection with DR.. rs re-
ma TX that It was te,anc spasms, cause the thought
OF strychnine TO pass my mind Do not believe the
death resulted from hysteria, or apCpexy, or cpl
lepsy, Think it was tG:auus, brought on by -.
Have case of death by strychnis--in a cat
The symptoms were thus 10 Is or - minutes very
severe spasm seke ed the animal affecting every
Gle Ia the body The limbs were extended, and the
body was perfectly rigid. The chest com.
plete!y liked that respiration ceased The animal
died in the first spasm. Administered several grains
the spasm. Urine passed freely after death. Fexl-
biity followed death. which COntinu sd for
thing lie an hour when rigdity returned.
Cross Examination. suspicion came upon my
mind as 1t would upon that of any intelligent physI
CT IN seeing patient suffering thus without any
Mias Pharr died otstryclnia. Was surprised at DR..
It's want of hdence himse and at his agitation.
lie Is usually pretty cool (Dr. Med. underwent a
pretty severe cross tNaT inatiCn in regard to
p'Qying counsel in aid of the Commonwealth DIR.
Med. party to several SANDER suits mMenced
by Or. T. against mary gentleman of Coviugton and
the defence endeavored to show the DR.. TO be
cerned in the conviction of the pr oner but the ef
fort was not successful
THE WASHINGTON UNION ON THE SOULE
AFFAIR