The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-13
THE ALLEGED WIFE POISONING.
Court Of Oyer and Terlniner.
Before Hon. Judge Roosevelt.
SIXTH DAY,

SIXTH DAY.
MARCH l2.--The People Us. James &ephens-At th,
assembling Of the Court this morning Dr. william Detmot
was recalled and asked by Mr. Sedgwick Of what disease
If any, are the following symptoms Indicative.
Counsel for prisoner objected, and the Court said hi
own individual opinion TO admit the evidence but hs
had been admonhed by other decisions not to admit th
testimony.
The witness then described the pain fel. by person
poisoned by arsenic to be fiery pain from the pit o
the stomach, extending upwards, with sore moutt
and lips and extending downwards to the orice Of ths
anus, 60 as to make the evacuation painful Ir
cases where death follows In few days after large
dose being taken the eyes might either have wild
brilliant appearance, or be sunk deeply In the head
and frequently injected with blood but in cases which
not Immediately fatal and where death occurred
in week or two after repeated doses the eyes apt
to be swollen in the slower there frequently ede-
maous swelling of the lids with pain the eyes, nj first
the color Of the vomted matter would depend much on the
contents OF the stomach but after the stolch was emp
tied then the would depend on the secretions and
the elected masses would be yellow with spots or streas
OF blood; there great deal Of blood II might be
ruch darker; the vomed matter might times be Of
the color Of coffee grounds the patients very fire.
quently exceedingly restless tossing their hands
about frequently there numbness and loss Of SEN
sation also paralysis convusve twitchings sho wing
that the nerves affected the OF death varies
according to the quantity taken in most IL occurs
under cofapse (coId c'amDy skin, weak pulse, &C J;
at times there is great lethargy when death ap..
breaches great prostration is noticeable through
daced 0rowsinesa and contraction of the pupil
which IN large doses becomes smaller the patient be-
comes drowey and before death gets into commissions
together with coma the respiration Is very slow and
snoring, loud breathing that be heard when med
ca men give over two drachms at time, it is excep-
tic bal case thr ee and half between A. M and
p NJ would certainly be coossa! dose; when arsenic
is taken in successive small doees will accumulate in the
body rapidly than would be thrown out again il
IL removed chiefly by the Kidneys and begins about the
lons but within twenty four hours after The first dose
there was eason to suppose that such removal goes
until he whole OF the arsenic leaves the system provided
new doges reduced arsenic would be eliminated
more rapidly where the blood ard all tho functions per.
ielmed TIER sctve duties than when they move slowly
the dose thus supposed must be very small one; II
ll6h Of grain is difficult find minute PARTICLES but
IN three days the witness does believe that any could
be found after one Dose dose of arsenic begins with
ll6h CT grain, which would be given only twice day
ana then the patient would be watched for poisonous
symptoms which occur sometimes after such doses end
then would cease to be medicinal The effects Of me-
ccinal doses Of arsenic sov, and those Of lauda
nrm very rapd--so that If 5ose of arsenic
and audanum be given at the sse time the laudanum
would be mainly noticed, whic in larger doses of each
would be directly the and the doses Of arsenic
would be but eighty influenced by the laudanum which
would in measure relieve the pains, and partially stop
tie vomiting aud daifhua but all these would
powered by the arsenic the post appearances of
of arseDcai poisoning first neg ave thus il
death occurred rapidly and "a rent were found the
stomach they would not go farther suspect poison.
ing; they generally find slight Inflammation extending
black patches under the mucus membrane which could
OF be washed Off there might be abrasion of the skin
the ntesues in looking Mt tese spots patches by the
microscope, probably blood would bs found; had no.
much experience In anatomical matters, but arsenic
preventative OF futreiactlou; great many when
BODY poisoned by rsenc is exlurnei the body Is found
ID state OF good prcsergaol the existence those
post mortem appearances described would provo nothing
but Their eg sance would be proof posye wtnes, took
bis d, gree AZ Cottengen, in Germany.
To the CouriIhe suppression OF the urine would make
the arsenic more rapidly fatal.
deposcd-E reside oil 10 Union place; professor OF
midwifery and diseases OF in New York Medical
College The witness went on to describe the symptoms
OF acute posopng ~ be vomiting, nausea, burnng
the throat, commonly called by the patients ga BAL
of ire, gradually exudDg the whole of the abdo
Professor Barker testimony similar that of
Dr. Detmoid as TO the symptoms and effects Of poisoning
by senic acid
DR.. Benjamin w. Macready resides at No. Ninth street
Of the visiting phy scaps OF Beevue professor
OF ttcoogy be gave lectures the subject Of noisodng
by arseno the witness dc tailed the symptoms which
maniesed IN person suffering under the eicts of poi
son the testimony vas, IN elect similar to that Of the
other medical witnesses.
After Of ten minutes the examination was con-
tDuod when Mr. Sedgwck stated that the prisoner
absent. The CouIt oraered him be for aud his
appearing The Doctor proceeded with his testimony
O. What would be the effect upon the human system of
three ounces OF andsnum administered between period
Of ten hours2 (0bjected to and aowed) The effect
of that amount Of audanusn ninety nine persons
out Of hundred would be that the pulse would
become slow, and in most cases the desc would be
sufficient to produce death, aud alco o drowsi-
ness, out OF which it would re difficult to awaken
the patient; patients suffering from ockjaw hyiropho-
bia &C., wherever there is acute pain, violent purgng
and certain diseases OF the nervous system large doses
nun can be borne never kncT o. "a sno disease
a combination Of diseases which would produce the
symptoms named In the present casc arsenic not
natural constituent of the human system either before
after DEATH wonlo call foisonous dose of arsenic
Rran IL would produce unpleasant Effects there was evi
dence Of where two grains had produced death
Alanson s. Jones, physician, gave similar testimony
to the symptoms on patient under the effects Of poison
be also added that the dsease resembling poisoning
by arsenic is Asatc cholera there Asiac cholera
in this city III 1857; the discharges are never accompa
ned with blood in Asat.c cholera i, does occlsonaiiy
accompany the discharge in Of poisoning; in choc
the pain relieved by pressure in poisoning is increas-
O. II you found in human body two grains Of arsenic,
would you say that greater amount had been admins-
teod' A. In my Judgment there he doubt OF that
larger amount must have been introduced into the sys
tem because arsenic produces vomiting, and less
must be thrown or
After consultation between the Court and
Mr. Cushing stated that the defence intended to coutrovcr
the medical and chemical testimony given for tho peopc
Edward Downes Copnery examined by Mr.. Shafier dc.
posed That he Is physician, and received his degree in
the Medical College OF New York was Coroner of this c,ty
for the three years preceding the 1st OF January at held
the body a Greenwood Cemetery where il was identified
by the Misses Bell under an oath administered by the wit
ness.
Mr. Ashmead did consider that this testimony az 70
the administration Of an oath was necessary
Mr. Sbafier said that Or. Connery was known 10 have
performed his duty well when in Office, and to nave done
Dr. Connery-I believe there Is no, much doubt of that
The witness then detailed the ccums.lnces of his giving
up the body TO the chrge Of Dr. Wood and the.other
physicians ut Bellevue Hospital.
Coss.examiped by Ma Cushng-Cannot remember
where stephens was when the body exhumed; /
recoect ihatl brought him In carriage from the Tombs
to the inquest he not at Greenwood he asked me 10
zee the body, but considered that my ursdct ion over
had ceased when gave up to the doctors; never
said to policeman that would see that he should have
an opportunity Of viewing his wite's remains.
BY Mr.. Cushng--Do You recollect neS A. do very
materially (auebter) the prisoner gave me the names
OF four witnesses whom he desired TO examined at the
inquest summoned them ALL three of them appeared.
but one from Brooklyn did not appear
with yourfcf and Mr. Busecd the prisoner was present
twice at the Coroners inquest did not bring him there
to be identified but in order that he might hear the test
mony against him. said that was necessary for
the cause Of science for his reputation that
shoHd DO found in tho body; saw portion OF the BODY
IN Dr. Doremus house, was present at the carbonizaton
OF the muscular and other tssues they mht all be phy-
siciane, but although an older than DR.. Doremur
there were some things done by him which he (wtucss
took pleasure and a delight in Observing
The Court then adjourned to Monday At ten o'clock.
MEDICAL B0ARD.-The War Department has