Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-04-16

examine the appearance Or contents Of the
and then by an application Of the
laws of chemistry determine whether or not
the fearful crime alledged had or had not
probably been committed!
And when they did come to the post NOR
tenn examination and the chemical analysis,
what have we seen but an examination slight
ed and a total neglect to examine important
organs of the body, as the brain, the bladder,
&C.; their contradictions of each other, and q
eralmustiness, to say the least of it, in scien
tiac knowledge and in the practical results of
chemistry, leading only to unsatisfactory con-
illusions and vague conjectures? Isit surpri-
sing, therefore, that it was admitted on all
sides the matter demanded more thorough
investigation, by more practised and energetic,
if not more able and scientific hands? So
sensible were they themselves of their def
cheney, that they all advised that the matter
should be submitted to some chemist in the
City Of New York for analysis, and have pre-
served one-half of the contents of the stom-
ach, and portion of the remains for that pur-
pose! ''
In pursuance of this recommendation
the propriety of which I concurred-I be-
lieving that they were not sufficiently expert
enced in matter of this kind, nor ambitious
nor energetic enough to give it the attention it
required-and as 1 also, believed, from in
quiry, that professional etiquette would pre-
vent other physicians in the City from making
the investigations here, I suggested, not "dicta-
ted" to the Board as DR.. Wren has it, the
propriety of sending the remains East for
analysis, stating to the Board the necessity of
sending them by some competent person to
witness and participate in the experiments !;
for the reason that in order to make the anal
ysis available dispositions not being admitted
in criminal cases) some person should be able
to testify that the remains examined by said
chemist were the remains received from the
Coroner, and who also from personal obser-
walton could give with 'expertness" and in a
manner to be understood by judge and jury
the nature and result of the experiments.
Thereupon, the Board of Supervisors, on
motion of Mr.. Wolff, the manipulating chem
list in the case, authorized me to select some
competent person for that purpose to send to
the City Of New York, and appropriated $3.50
for his expenses, the same to be in full of all
expenses of travel, the fees of the manipula-
ting chemists, and for the services of the per-
son selected to aid in and superintend the
analysis. This amount was inserted in the
resolution by me, and was barely sufficient at
the reduced state of County Orders for the
purpose.
1t was not until it was ascertained that DIR.
Morton Of the Coroner's clique, would not be
the person whom I should select, that "Jno.
V. Wre9b NJ. d." thought it necessary that
the public interests required him to request
the Board "torepeal this appropriation, and not
make the same subject of speculation to some
medical man ambitious Of notoriety," but "to
allow such bills of expense as may be certified
to by the Coroner as just and necessary"
and it was not until then that Dr. Morton's
particular friend, Mr.. Wolff, one of the advi-
sors and the mover of the resolution, without
any intimation to me, obtained from the Board
a compliance with this request!
The venerable Coroner might like to know,
also, why preferred some other messenger
to New York than DR.. Morton. On this
point have no objection to be equally plain
Under the circumstances did not consider
DR.. Morton the best person that, for justice
on the guilty and mercy to the innocent,
should be sent on such mission. Having
stated it to be his impression that arsenic was
proaont, and yet being unable, after ample
time and opportunity to display his knowledge
upon the subject, to state positively, from his
scientific knowledge, his opinion that such was
was or was not the fact, the Defence to dis
credit his testimony with great propriety
would urge, that desire to support his i'm
pressions had prejudiced his mind, and that
all he knew upon the subject was gained from
the New York Chemist. And besides, his
unsatisfactory, supercilious and martinez man.
ner of testifying and imparting information,
and the difficulty with which his evidence is
elected, renders him anything but pleasant
and instructive "expert"
l rather preferred man who had not been
retired from active practice for two or three
years who, if young and "new" was fresh
in his knowledge and ambitious in his profess
sion; and who, having neither past imperfec-
tons to excuse, nor unsatisfactory results to
bolster up, would be DISTINGUISHED witness
on the trial, both for the state and the prison.
er. Such briefly were my reasons and
desire the public to notice that in my efforts
to meet my official responsibility as Prosecu-
ting Attorney in investigating and preparing
to lay before the Grand Jury the proper evil
dence in this important criminal charge, am
obstructed by the Coroner and his clique
through favoritism, jealousy and unwarranta-
bic vanity.
In conclusion, I might be justified, if re-
torted on emo. V. Wren, NJ D." some of the
personalities, which he has INDUCED toward
myself But for the reasons mentioned in
the beginning, forbear; and for fear besides,
that when have lived as long as he has, l
too, perhaps, may have lived a life which NAV
likewise call for leniency and forbearance
Yours, &C.,
I. Y. D. HEARD, District Atty.
The Oberlin Fugitive Slave Case.
The 06erlin Evangelist says of the tri.,, Of