The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-09
THE ALLEGED WIFE POISONING.
Court OF Oyer and Tcr1nlner.
Before Hon. Judge Roosevelt.
SEcONn NV

MARCH S-Ihe People rs James Sephens-rhe proceed
Dss were commenced this morning by the INTRODUCTION of
TESTIMONY.
Dr. josiah Csdmus deposed that he knows the prisoner
and knew his wife, attended her the 9Th Of September
1857 year previous TO her death attended her twice
9th and 7h of September 1857 did recoect whether
she was at home prescribed for her. couldn't say what
her symptoms were; there and trouble
about the stomach could recoect the full symptoms
did not recoect whether be prescribed on the &C.
cond visit or not the reason he did rot call again was
that Mr. Stephens called him four or i've years ago
and be rendered services md when the bill was handed
in Mr. Stephens refused to pay, unless he (5iephens)
called him in did not recolect whether he ordered any
medicines the 1 of September; thought Mrs. Ste
Inens was not in dangerous condition: considered her
healthy and knew nothing TO the contrary; che was
large sized woman was so long o time since the
case was in his hands he could not remember whether he
prefcroed laudanum thought he did not, but could
the Gaze that laudanum would be proper medicine.
The witness was not cross ssexamined.
Dr. Francis W. lremonger the next wituess:-
Knew nothing OF the prisoner his wife until the last
five CT six days Of her illness, called and found her
Isboripg uder the usual symptoms of ipIamma.,on 81
the stomaoh she good deal debtted and had very
little 10 soy at any time that called not recolect
her words do not recolect anything about her
or that she complained Of thirst; do not recoect that
she called for water from the other symptoms che must
have complained Of thirst only recollec the pro-
mnent synptoms 1t was year after attended her that
| my attention was called to the case; acquainted
with the symptoms which indicate arsenc there Is vomt-
diuOet mptOmS vary III almost every
cse will give You type there is pain over the
region Of the stomach, increased by presnre burning
OF the throat desire for cold drinks the patient
becomes very restless and anxious and the anxiety hor
rlbe afterwards the stage Of collapse comes the inha-
nation having before gone to the lower bowels and
mach; then comes collapse of the exemes and death.
From the symptoms she manifested did you think sha
had taken asenioY A. did not suspect at the me she
had inflammation Of the stomach therefore the symptoms
may have been occasoned by arsenic.
Mr. Gushing objected to the testimony-She might have
witness to the Court did not suspect at the time
that she had taken under stood from the
family that she had been sick some two weeks think
attended her three times; am of that; have no
memoranda on that subject pr cribed for her
occasion Of my first VISIT recoect prescription
tcIwards; they put up at Shipey Vanderhoofs
Qdenthes the prescrpon) 1t Is some nitre and Dovers
grars 70 be divided into six powders the prescription Of
the 18th Of September 1857, cannot connect with this
case il is in my handwriting it quinne twenty grains,
OK gall one dracbm-made into twenty pills. the next one
of mine recOect distinctly; is September co. 1857: it
Gays Spanish fly blister there is also ointment
it, simple cerate half an ounce and three grains Of
phre the next one grain Of morphine and white sugar
ten grains, be divided four powders September 81;
il is in my handwriting but the only one recoect dig
tincty the blister; it placed over the stomach to
stop the vomiting after the blister applied she vomt-
heis A. told was not wanted that sort Of people
usually send for us when they want 10 attend not
sure that il the defendant who told that / was
not wanted my impression that was him lam
whether was at my house my Office; if she died when
IL said she did, h must have been from thirty six to
forty hours before that that had her have
recollection Of prescribing audanum for her; as
sure OF it as can be Of anything; rccollect pre-
ecribng lager beer for her; did not prescribe brandy
for her gave certificate Of her DEATH aud the
cause 20 be Inflammation OF the stomach Mrs. Stephens
was large csby woman she seemed weak and debliti-
ed saw Mr Stephens during those visits think he was
present at all but one, and then he in going
OUT did not see her dead body afterwards until the in
| quest.
have been regular practising physi-
clan for ten years the vomiting Of person having taken
arsenic is sometimes accompanied with blood but not gene
rally O. Is sulphate OF quinne mixed with
in the shops? A. There is preparation Ct arsenic some
frnfn
do not recollec. that of tho nptoms pain the
Chest There is swelling under the eyes, the eyes
suuken; some OF the symptoms Of cholera like those
Of poisoning by arsenic; the symptoms of cholera orbus
may be mere Ike those of poisoning by arsanic; tho
and vomiting the face Is sometimes pale, sometimes
! hyd; there is no peculiar color accompanying poi
sonirg by arsenic; i had no suspicion Of poisoning
when / gave the certificate of her death I have
known MT Cardweh ten or twelve years; had a
weeks after her death Q. Why did you give certificate
of her death not having her for thirty hours
A. We frequently do it, where we know the disease and
10 arsenic ordered in the qunine by me- and Know Of
Of arsenic qunine do not know of any
pills having large circulation that have arsenic n them
presume there quack pills for fever and ague which
contain arsenic; visits were commenced four five
Gays before her death; she better at my last VISIT
have Sophia and Fanny Bell my visits; have
recollection that IT was Fanny Bell who told not TO
any more; am not certain who gave the intma-
ton; the symptoms bilious cholc thirst violent
pain in the stomach vomiting and the bowels constpated
have only seen three Or four cases Of poisoning by
| arsepc.
To Mr. Ashmead--I was examined before the Coroner;
said that Mr. Stephens did net say vhat was the matter
With his wife, that all his anxiety was about her; also
said at the Coroners inquest that was from what Card
well said said sorry gaze the certificate Of death,
| and that had no suspicion Of poisoning
Re direct-Darh9a usually procedes death in patient
who has taken arsenic at the time treated Mrs. Ste
phens she was in dangerous state; did not consider
her life in imminent peril the last day her; had
leen told that Dr. Cadmus had attended her some two
each time never saw either Of the Misses Bell at my Of
fec; can say from the symptoms that Mrs: Stephens
WAS ec aS D S
any of bilious collie continuing for two weeks
Stephen H. vanderoof, the apothecary, proved 70 his
having put the Of Dr. emoDger for Mrs.
Stephens could not say who received those prescriptions
| from him.
Cross examined by Mr.. Ulman-Consider the test Of
sulYhuric acid and water sufficient 10 test quinne put 1t
| through no other processes.
| TESTIMONY sorHIA BELL
Miss Sophia Bel ext examined by Mr.. Shanar, and
deposed that che resides at 50 Third is 25
age and was born in county Cavan Ireand Is not re-
lated 10 the prisoner at The bar his wife aunt
have been in America about seven years saw Stephens
in grandaihers and aners house in Ireland before com.
ing this country; remember his marriage but can't
tell the year; il about ten or eleven years ago.
can't Ok the time when they left ireland; they were
about two three In this country before came;
when came to this country accompanied by lIr.
and Mrs Francis; at FIRST boarded Ia another house; Mr..
inc that M and Mrs stephens were very me-
| they wrote out 10 tell me 10 be guided by them was
about five mcnhs at Mr. Stephens house before my aunt
died. was then seamstrtss aud am now dressmaker;
their residence Ic6 East Twenty seventh street, his
| family consisted OF Mr. and Mrs stephens and one
dauehter Mr. Stephens family occupied the third floor,
two bedrooms, kitchen and sitting room; they did not
occupy any other room any other floor; Dr. Cadmus
the first physician who attended my aunt saw him
there twice. rot there all the time; my aunt
TO the market when Dr. Cadmus first called; he
| called at Mr.. stephens suggestion; my aun. had been
complaining of a pain in the chest and Mr..
| Stephens said he would send the doctor; she
| said not to send him. but he sald he wecld, as she
complaining my aunt went 70 market, and told me
to tell the doctor he thai not necessary for
him come, but said would not tell him so; when the
mar
prescribe epythng for her the time but the second
he examined her chest and said he thought here was
nothing the matter she weighed 100 pounds Two or tnIeo
before DEATH she usually did the work OF her
own house, don't recolcct ever seeing doctor tnere
since her baby born until saw Dr.. Cadmus VISIT
her before her DEATH Dr. Cadmus attended her as the
| time her baby born; previous to mrs. Stephens
| death she complained OF burning In the chest;
| sbc said il was like ball Of fire, sometimes in
| ha. cLnsf and coming 70 her throat that