Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-12-04
TRIAL OF HIRAM COLE
FOR MURDER.
AsHrABULA COMMON PtFAs-B.ro,. Juso. wup,.
State Of Ohio Us Hiram cole MuRpER.
COUNSEL
Prosecution HALL, RiDnLE, FoRisr and sHIru.
Defense THRAsHER, RANNEH, sHERNas and b. aKrstKE.
REPoRrEp pY Q. 3. BosrwIcK.
ooNcLus1oN oF sIxrn pAr's pRocEEptros.

| Prof j. L. CdsselIs sworR. am Pro
fessor Of Chemistry in Cleveland Medical
College; have been teacher of Chemistry
about 23 years. received medical education
at Fairfield, Herkimer CO., N. Y; have
/ practiced medicine some. | received GER
tain drugs from Mr.. Smith, of Chardon, for
examination and analysis - one labelled
Vest Pocket" second "Staud Drawer %
third Horse Medicine;" fourth "Mrs.
Coles Medicine;' fifth EPSON Salts."-
The first and second found to be arsenious
acid; third to be Laudanum and Arsenic
some in solution and some as q sediment;
from taste | found the fourth to contain
blood-root, and some laudanum by test ex-
amiued the entire stomach aud its contents
of Mrs. Cole received from Mr.. Sprague -
tested for arsenic, corrosive sublimate,
stryehnine, and oxalic acid; from some tests
thought detected strychnine, but not from
those upon which placed the most depen-
dence; cannot say as to whether stomach
was redeemed by previous inflammation or
from infiltration of blood after death; the
stomach submitted was some red think
arsenic would show irritation Of the coats of
thO sVohiaCh, hnuHy hO aTStnlC III lne
stomach would not be positive evidence that
the patient did not die by that poison
Some time afterwards l examined the liver
and portion of the intestinal canal; found
some small quantity Of arsenic in the liver,
but not more than | should expect from
previously taking arsenical preparations in
medicinal quantities. Arsenic is found in
the largest quantities in the glands, as liver,
kidney, and spleen; as some also goes into
the circulation, it might be found in other
parts of the body. Strychnine is cassed
among narcotics and irritants, and is called
a narcotic co irritdnt. 1t is almost impos-
sible to mention any Que symptom that at
tends throughout all cases of arsenica poi
son. Arsenic is a mineral poison. Arse
mic and oxygen is a minimum dose, subject
however to circumstantial notifications; ia
ken in solution; symptoms are heat and
burning in stomach, throat, and intestnes,
bloody stools, &c. would not endure pres
sure over the region of the stomach: mind
is clear up to the time of convusicns; arsen-
ic acts through the medium of the circula-
ton; no matter how applied, it acts upon
the stomach; convulsions generally arise in
the latter stages; if the arsenic acts as an
irritant upon the stomach, see no reason
why we might not get commissions; would
come on slowly, afecting'voluntary muscles,
afterwards the involuntary; think it is not
to be expected that convusions should oc-
cur rs first symptom; there may be inter-
rupNon in the symptoms of arsenical poi
son; patient may express himself free from
hi1Aap L.,
do not think return would be expected af-
ter lapse of IL or Is hours; cannot arrest
the progress of arsenical poison by any
chemical agent after absorption has com
menced; should think it would be imposs-
bic for a return of the same symptoms after
or hours; the time when arsenic would
be eliminated from the person, if not taken
in poisonous doses should think would be 2
weeks. Laudanum is narcotic poison; the
effects are first exciting, afterwards sedative;
in nervous persons the circulation is more
rapid, hence would take effect sooner, as it
would sooner becarried through the system;
one dram would be large medicinal dose;
should think one and half drains of lauda-
mum might be fatal dose to a sensitive
female; by experiment l found that one
dram of laudanum would not dissolve quite
of grain Of arsenic; the effect
of arsenic is very uncertain; cannot tell how
much arsenic person would turn out from
a bottle containing laudanum and arsenic
mixed; think that with one
grain of arsenic mixed with one dram of
laudanum, the narcotic symptoms would
predominate; and arsenic would 90 on, and
hidden by the narcotic symptoms, might
produce death; tried experiments; gave two
cats each teaspoonful of the horse medi-
cine" without shaking up; they died with
narcotic symptoms-no 81 ms of pain
is an extract from nur VoDaicd;
strychnine is an alkaloid; do not know
what minimum dose of strychnne poison
would be; in one case the patient took
grains; in another two; in another, was put
into Hoffman's Bitters; found strychnine in
the stomachs of all these cases; it is sup
posed to be taken into circulation; affecting
spinal chord, and thence the muscles; symp-
toms in case of strychnine are among the
first convulsive twtches of lower extremities;
afterwards general commissions; there is
heat in the region of the stom-
ach, and also thirst; patients usually die
during spasm, not, however, universally; |
hey are sensitive to surrounding noises and
mind generally clear; after
Letanus is established, do not know as it
differs in any respect from that occasioned
by wound or other cause; arsenical poi
son usually has its commissions near the
asst; think the symptoms attending arsenic
II and strychnine poisons can be separately
Identified; | should suspect from certain
,halns of symptoms, certain agents as their
,ause; [ think | could detect strychnine
ymptoms from those of any other poison, if
could arrive at the history of the symp-
oms ia minute from the first; could dis
inguish between laudanum, arsenic, aud
tryshnine under like premises; strychnine
5 a compound body, and may be decompo-
ed 10 the tissues Of the human body before
eath no strychnine has ever been found
o my knowledge in the animal tissues
'hen administered IN minimum poisonous
oses; have found strychnine in the stom-
ch; suppose it was lodged upon the mucus
suppose strychnine is decompos-
by the tissues, because they are not poi
onous 10 other animals; have tried Grid
rood and Rogers test when j supposed
hare was strvchnine and found none. think