The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-12
THE ALLEGED WIFE POISONING.
Court OF Oyer and T'ermhner.
Before Hon. Judge Roosevelt.

room waE again deDsey crowded Inere VIC three oa-
grams suspended behind the wtness sand representing
various chemical apparata which will be used By the
medical witnesses who made the chemical analyzatons
Of the body Of Mrs. Stephens
Hiss Fanny Bell re called. The District Attorney
said that the question put the witness Thursday,
relative TO her having her father say that
aunt died from emperance, misunderstood by her.
He brought her here order that she might expaa
that matter, although he perceived by morning paper
that she had answered it.
Mr.. cushng objected, and after some little opposition
the lady WAS withdrawn from the witness stand.
Patrick ReyResdes at 10 Seventeenth street; has
been in this country about two years knew Mrs. Stephens
family in county Cavan Ireland; they respectable
well to do decent people, wentto Mrs. stephens during
her sickness her the Monday Tuesday before
died ahe told she better-that bprnn
nwardly before; she WAS much the same way when
her 1s she appeared bloated up and had red hue
her face recollect how her face before her
sickness.
The witness was not cross examined.
Michael Flynn, druggist, 427 Second ayenue-I know
the prisoner knew Hrs Stephens when living:
about FIVE weeks before she died sold him something
sold him half an ounce Of arsenic sold him half an
Mr. Stephens bad been in the habit visiting my store
two or three times week for two or three years not
recoect Of his being IN my store since sold him the last
arsenic until heard Of his wee death. Envelope Of the
anonymous letter sent 70 AIR. Cardwel produced This
in my handwriting; directed at the request Of james
Stephens directed 1t and banded 1t back 70 him, and he
took away with him. this was In the summer time May
or June.
The witness was not cross examined.
Walter 1. Sandford, examined by District Attorney-t
reside at 146 East Thirty second street, police
officer; am acquainted with the rooms in which James
Stephens lived there windows In the rear;
from Mr. John Stevenson's, in rwenLyslxth street,
piece Of paper in the window at the rear Of Stephens
house; he tested IL yesterday and could see IL.
John Ward 474 Pearl street, undertaken knows Ed d.
Connery, ex-Coroner was present when the body was
taken up and conveyed to Bellevue Hospital
Mrs. Johanna Brandon deposed that her husband does
business in Mr.. Stevenson's coach manufacury know
the twenty seventh street Methodist church. saw her at
her house nearly two weeks before she died. was In the
s stage Of nsr shs % o % the Ds s o
around saw her subsequently; she was always in
appeared to be in great pain; complained Of
the stomach; she said che felt something like rolling
ball n her threat and that she would feel better she
could get OUT always complained of this during her
sickness there three days before her death
the Moses Bell; think eaw Miss Fanny Bell on
every occasion; Mrs Stephens was to all appearance
healthy looking woman; her complexion was fair.
Mrs. Mary Pullman, examined by the District Attor
neyResiees 40 East Twenty fourth street, her hus
member Of the Twenty seventh street Methodist church
two three years; visited her twice during her Illness
she could not keep any food on il; was there accom-
panied by my husband, the light before Mrs. stephens
death saw one Of the nieces there but don't recoect
both there; did not Mrs. Stephens that nght
heard her breathing heavily remarked TO one Of her
that she should not allow her 70 sleep too heavily
she TO arouse her. Mrs Stephens during her
Illness very much distressed with constant nausea;
abe had just been vomiting as went in on my first VISIT
did not see Mr. Stephens any Of my visits; did no.
see any medicine administered to her.
To Mr. Cushng-I did net notice whether Mrs. Stephens
had black eye before or after her heath.
Redireci-Shc was always in her bedroom, in bed, dur
ing her sickness.
Daniel f. Stewart in l66 East Tweaty seventh
ip roA
Mrs. Sophia Stephens Ia her fetime she couple Of
weeks SICK previous to her sickness resided in that
houee nearly year and half used to her in and
out of the house, she appeared to be healthy woman
she had no occupation but 10 mind her house, nave seen
her about the houRe bareooted and don't think she would
do that she was not healthy; she was light complex
ioned woman.
nDe never saw Mrs. stephens with black eye; al
ways thought they lived together good terms Icouli
hear any noise if the door was open
To Mr.. Shaner|I don't think was ever in Mrs. Se-
pheDs room before she died. my business required me 10
be away from home never took any particular notice of
her.
To Mr. Cushlng-My means OF judging were such that
think should have observed it Il she had black eye
DR.. James r. Wood sworn-Examned by Mr.. Sedg-
wick, assistant District Attorney-f physician
surgeon made post mortem examnation in the pre-
sence Of Dr. Doremus and Others at Bellevue Hospital,
Dr. Gouey Dr. Woodward, the Coroner and others,
present; made The post mOrem examination Of female
70 pe s,osNs d @ ne
Der, 1857 aged 48' the Misses Bell not in the
at the tme tie body was removed by an assistant and
myself without dismemberment examined the front
surface Of the body TO its condition. found the skin
of dirty yellow color, in remarkable state Of preserva
ton had shrunken any, that could discover;
was plump and FULL the face and the sides of the head
with the anterior portion the scalp, were imam advanced
state Of decomposition, which accounted for by the es
the poseror portion Of the body which presented the
same appearance, with the exception Of the scalp
then made section Of the anterior portion Of the body
from the sernum to the medal line Of the body, when
considerable quantity of gas escaped; this brought into
colon and the omensum, which were in remarkable
state Of preservation they apeared to be healthy the
OF piesep v yaou iS and the omentum was loaded with
fat the other viscera Of the abdomen were also healthy
and well preserved; then proceeded TO remove the Wis
cora Of the abdomen, which handed 70 Dr. Doremus
and bis assistant and placed in vessel then removed
the liver and the gall bladder and the nsestines, wish
placed in vessel; the ntestnes were exann-
ed their Internal Innings were found in remarkable
state Of preservation their internal surfaces were red
dened in other respects there nothing important
that redness was caused by congestion or inhamma
ton Of the parts; the womb and other Internal
parts were given 10 DR.. Doremus for examination
this examination made without entering into the
thorax which cavity was next examined; the lungs and
the state Of preservation the other tissues
were dry; next examined the nteguments Of the head,
in consequence Of statements Of scar being there but
could discover nothing consequence Of decomposition
The Dody and found that they had no. lost their ooorns
matter; they were s,i red and as well preserved as
many bodies in country dssectng rooms there was
cotton found In the mouth Of this body, which was also
given 10 Dr. Doremus for examination; the interior
l mucus membrane of the stomach shrunken IL was
hardharder than usua there were large veins crossing
the stomach the contents Of the stomach were very
small PERHAPS table spoonful this might be accounted
for ne being elected before DEATH or by the
person not taking food the stomach recenty there
was peculiar smell from the body not Of decomposition
il did not smell like dead body or anything know; the
odor was unlike anything had observed before because
| bodies for dissection are preserved IN alcohol
The further examination Of DR.. Wood was suspended till
l future stage Of the case.
Mr. ullman, the defence, submitted thst il would be
advisablc 10 have the whole OF the scientific evidence
| before they were compelled to cross examine them.
This was asscnted 10 by the Court recess was here
| taken for fifteen minutes.
On re assembling, there discussion as 70 the order
Of the m & 2, cue s AZ & Sa
prosecution should exhaust their testimony Of each w.t.
ness and that the defence might waive the exAm
nation with the privilege Of calling the witness, not,
| chey pleased.
Dr. Robert Ogden Doremus, examined by Mr. sedgwick,
deposed-I reside at 10 Union place; doctor Of
dcne by degree but the practice in chemistry my pro-
fesscn am Professor in the College Of Pharmacy Ne.