The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-29

TRIAL or DIR. THOMPSON YoR THE xuHDm OF MIS-

Murders and Trials for Murder.
TRIAL or DR.. THOMPSON FOR THE MURDw OF MISS
PHARR, M ALLEGHASY COUNTY, VA.
We give to-day additional reports Of the trial of thix
remarkable case. Rome Of the evidences is omitted. =
norton examination, July 90 Major Gillian " NJ. l.,
and Irs Woodson and Esti present with me- after
the jury of inquest surrendered the body us we took
It into the school house. observed carefully the grave
clothes and took notes Of the same-wtness described
Ss %ss y
large and the external appearance of the body indicated
remarkable state of preservation, though generally
dark coiored and covered in many places with white
mould the whole surface unbroken; opened the
abdomen from the sternum to the pubi the muscles Of
the abdomen strong and covered with much fresh
looking fat at first discovered tus, with the bead
downward and resting the pelvs: attempting to
take II out found i partially decayed though the bones
we've entire and connected put the ftus into brandy
the purpose of preserving IT. found the internal viscera
good state preservation after removing the sto
OF dark colored mucus; Major Gillian took the stomach
and dramatically sealed it in tin can; the womb
the chief cause Of the bodys preservation owing
the light, dry and porous earth in which 1t buried
enss was Cong and s
Mrs. Pitzer and Mrs. Pharr; the detailed symptoms
were not hysterical-they were tetanic; though hys
terra may assume tetanic FORM 1t never results
in death, except when apoplexy supervenes, when
anew train Of symptoms follow; symptoms Of apo
would have yielded to the treatment described; apo
plexy is rare-very rare-before the age Of twenty
symptoms h
nine are atremulousness with sudden starts; violent
tetanic pasms supervene attended with extension
and rightly Of the muscles, especially Of the spine and
extremities the head Is thrown backwards forward
sideways, with difficulty Of breathing, hvidty Of the
face wild starring expression Of the eyes, frothng At
the mouth, sometimes . clenching Of the teeth, and
ofcntimes profusc perspiraon the spasms longer
or shore according to their violence and followed
interval Of generally few minutes the spasms return,
and frequently repeated until death, II the dose
is light tin signs Of recovery appear from all my know
prepared TO that the patient did not die of apo
plexy, nor Of epilepsy nor Of hysera but Of tetanc
from strychnine not prepared to say the symptoms
from the two similar, differing only,
as my knowledge goes in Duration (teaumatc tetanus
produces same symptoms as idopathic but results
from external wounds-idopathic tetanus from inter-
maj sausesD there were no external causes In this
tanus, would this was from strychnine knew
or read Of but Of idopathic teaumatc eta
nus terminating in two hours The witness here read
account of experiment two cats detailing the
peculiar symptoms OF death from strychnne show
ing strong similarity to those in the death Of Miss
Pharr.) As . medical man, am constrained to say
believe that Miss Pharr came to her death from srych
nine.
Matthew NJ. Penda sworn--was in town the day Miss
Pharr died; went fishing with Dr. Thompson that az
ternoon he didn't seem much affected at Miss Pharrs
DEATH he was silent somewhat; people usually who
go fishing and expect any luck.
DR.. Coleman's evidence read by consent Of COUNSEL
gentleman, understood to be Mr. James Burk, called
at my house in February, and asked for bottle of
strychnine, for Dr. Ihompson of Covingon; sent it
evidence 81 Dr. Mcdonald, Mrs Pitzer, &c and concur
that the described tetanc do not think the
death was IRON apoplexy heard the Of
Mrs. Pharr recaled-Agnes had received cut or
bruse before her DEATH she had not latery been su
ferng from any cold anything of that Sort sent for
DR.. Thompson to remove something from Agnes's ear
after she got back from Buchanan and he said he had
removed something from her ear Agnes had the mumps
after she back from Buchanan, still complained,
and that might have caused the pain of my other
children had pain in their ears after having the mumps
DIR never in any NAV dnnind his 9TH
Agnes: never saw Agnes have any such symp toms
those she died with; my daughter with always
Springs and always slept in my for the six months
preceding her death she slept in my with me
constantly, except when at Gen. Iaynes Mr. Aliens
Rev. D. G. Pharr's evidence read by consent-After
Agnes death in Bath and met Dr. Goode expressed
my gadnsss to see him. wanted to talk to him about
came to her death by srychnne gave him the detail of
the symptoms Of her death sent to by Dr. Thomp
son, for was not at home when she died; DR.. Goode
asked me she had any uterine arrangement told him
there he then explained the different effects that
derangement Of the uterus had the system and said
that great number that die with that disease died in
the manner described; told him DR. G) that would
of the information received in order correct public
opinion Iet 1t be remembered that this conversation
vas predcated Thompsons statements in letter to
Mr. Pbarr.1 DR. Goode expressed no unfavorabe opin
ion of Dr. lhompson's mode of treatment that Agnes
not safe at any moment with her disease and that
convulsions he said dose of stryclnne would
kill any one Che may have said quinine) Dr. I.
". Il.
always far my knowledge goes conducted himself
with proprety had no idea Agnes died enciente; SO far
stated these reports told him they were false and that
so far as those Of pregnancy concerned, had
evidence few days before her death that they
untrue; he (Mr Skeen) asked and obtained from me
pills that had been called ergot by a Lynchburg
publication; told him did not know how the pills came
into the house, that Dir. T. had them that
they found in my bookcase after Agnes death
that my friends were in the habit Of giving pills when
To e raS them
friends would give you ergot pllsthat he would send
two to Drs Cregh and Hunter and two to Drs Lucket
Strother and McChesy and il they say they ergot
will have Thompson arrested the morning that Agnes
started down country went suddenly into ROOM and
weeping wheeled about, and retired thinking the tears
were caused at the thoughts Of separation; his
diton) since DR.. It's arrest many efforts have been
made to induce me to employ counsel to aid the
ton Rev Mr. Hogsett tried several times, saying they
intended to attack Agnes character by which under
stood that they intended to show that she
prostitute; this reused me, but declined upon as
going employ aa sso w. ene
sent, which was given; If had intended to employ
counsel, would have gotten Mr.. Terrell
The Rev Mr. pharr died during the gre Of the
ana S y y1a s
tunatc affair.
TRIAL AND ACQUTTAL OF MRS. BAKER, AT ST. LOUIS.
The testimony in this mainly went to prove the
killing of Hoffman by Mrs Baker; but the following win
go show the good character Of Mrs. Baker and the
cause Of her anmosity towards Holman
Testimony of A. H. Converse-I am a physician, and
have resided in st. Louis two years; knew Vim. 0.
Hoffman in Sheboygan, Wis; have seen him write, and
think would know his handwriting; would Judge this
letter. which is shown me- to be his handwriting cannot
swear positively, but believe it 10 be. ra
The witness is shown several letters, which he is
quesed to examine and state If he identify the
handwriting Of Hoffman. The two following letters
proved by this and other witnesses to be in his hand
/ writing
To WnsoS c. BAKER, ST LOUIS MoIt would be best for
you 10 inquire of your friends in reference the charac
ter Of your wife, They will net If you insist IT. de-
ny that she has the very worst reputation; that il
known fact of her having lived in criminal intercourse
with DR.. Mitchell, Samuel Landermer, Cornelius Price,
and with Holman and Others Ladies and gentlemen OF
tho first standing ready TO testify to her bad charac
ter in all the public houses where you have been living.
The neghbors OF the private houses where you lived
peciaiy during the time of your residence Myrtle
street. willing testify to the purpor-like-
wise persons who knew Ler at Manchester. She has
been passing here as Hofman's wife. and been doing