The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-11-20
IHI Arson WIFE POISONING CASE.

TIE Arson WIFE POISONING CASE.
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Interesting Medical Tsstimony-vsrdict
or the Jary-Fun Report Of the Proceed
Jngs, DC.
morning, before Coroner Carney at the Bulls Head Ho-
tel, oommunpaw. As this developed IL approach
e In details the well known Stephens case in New York.
mo nrst wisnea called was Nicholas Goedert who
testified, through an interpreter that he has Alb
som and Julia together, from nine 10
ten O'Clock d night thought that they very Until
mate.
Dr.. John Quidor re called--when arst nav tho bo-
dy OF Mrs AbsOm the astonshing rgieity OF the body
struck mo - something unusual II was not the usual
rigor which comes after death, but the musces-espe
caly those OF the legs and arms-wers distinctly vsi
BILE, - II they were marked out with pencil; the In.
stop ached the cords drawn 70 their utmost tension
the heel elevated and the toes depressed such symp
toms do not usually vi thous powerful cause
in fact, know except strychnine that would
violent struggle previous 70 death / know
OF no other poison that would produce those symptoms
@ regards the ulcer Of the vagina, seems 70 have
been produced By some acrid or irritating substance
there large shreds OF the membrane the
gina did not have the appearance Of syphilis, neiths
subject the dseass MOI being seated in the womb bat in
the vagina me 70 suppossbst death he'd been pro
duoed through some powerful caasehat cause proceed
Dr.. s. Booth testified that he had visited Mr. Alb.
som various times before her DEATH found her vomitipg
complained Of great distress In stomach this distress
wae something unusual frsm specific cause; II was
very oostnsse ana nxed; called sod saw Mrs every
before the pest morem examination that abe died OF
dsesseof which she bad often oomplaDed-scsted
vagina; Sunday after the examination gave another
stating that shc had died Of disease OF the stomach
am OF opinion that she def from disease produced and
kept up by some corrosive acrid poison
Margaret Moore recalIe I'll drank liquor various
cssions whilst In Mrs Absoms employ the eldest daugh
Ter one day asked me 70 take some punch instead OF beer
which was bad; was Afterwards taken very sick-vo.
mitipg and purgng greatly the daughter said that
father had that morning brought the liquor from the city
ior her mother vas SICK FOR two days after drinking
the liquor; my mouth Was NIL crisped mp; fright
oped al the time OF my previous examination that did
not tell anything Of this
Here the inquest adjourned until one o'clock On
reassembling Mrs Bennett recalled She sad-I told
Mr. Absom, In anger that hts wife keeping company
with another man this three years ago; Mrs
Absom 10 my knowledge old no, keep company with any
other man heard bad stories concerning Mrs Abson
from several parties; Julia Kennedy one Of them
she Was the principal messenger bet seen and Mr. Al
rom; never told Mr.. Absom that his wife keeping
company with shipwrlght-an old man at my house,
there was no truth Whatever In any stories referring 10
PROFESSOR poRsxrs' TESTIMONY
DR. Ogden Doremus being duly.sworn, presents the
Robert Ogden Doremus, H. D., being duly sworn de
poses and says that he resides ct No 70 Union place.
New York. that he Ii . Professor OF Chemistry 10 tine
New York Medical College, New York College Of Phar
macy and In Long Island College Hospital, 30, &c /;
that on Sunday afternoon November IL, 1850. he re-
csived from Coroner Thomas Gafney, OF Jersey City,
glass jar said 10 contain the stomach and portion OF the
nteetines with their contents Of the late Mrs Jane
jersey that he requested by said submit
said stomach and intestnes to thorough genealogical
analysis that DR. j. Quidor who accompanied Coroner
Carney, gave deponen account OF the post mortem
examination Of the remains Of said Mrs Absom, which he
bad Ade by order and In the presence Of said Coroner
Deponent further estfes that he placed the aoremen
jar contents under lock and seal that evenpe
and ON the following morning removed them TO his
chemical laboratory which 10 used solely for the exam
nation Of poison cases: that after providing himself with
and carefully ceansed glass ano porcelain vessels
deponent proceeded TO examine the contents Of the above
sad jar; that deponeut found . stomach tied At the
cardiac and pylorc openings, and about tweoty
nvc feet Of inteutines gated At their extremities
that the stomach contained about and half fluid
ounces OF yeilowish semifuid material, mixed with
that this bstAnee had . very marked bitter
tasto, but that odor detected such would be
CHARACTERISTIC OF hydrocyanic acid, opium, chlorofcrm
smell; that said stomach was repeatedly washed with
distilled water (he wsshipgs being reserved for sub
teauent examinatons) and then carefully examined In
bright light that the vesscs Of the stomach viewed
from the outer osance seemed muct engorged; that
Internally the cardiac extremity and In the larger
Of tho stomach patch Of the size OF
hand found, sreaked Of dark color and
ROUNDED ~ pnasn ,r,nse sns. sm.r brown ssreass
this extremity sub much spots OF yellowish orpment
tint observed that bro portions showed signs OF
softening the remainder OF the stomach presented
healthy appearance Opponent further says that the In
tstnss (which sisted OF the small and portion Of
the large intessDes) contained but aeout Two
ouuccs, by measure, Of . greenish mucous Ike
matter, and . yellowsh fncA and pasty substance,
having odor 70 Indicate presence Of any poison,
ou 81 bitter TASTE that Aer repealed wash
lnss With dntied water (tne washns bsng rsssrvod)
yellow patches like the orpnent oornE stains near the
pyiorus underneath the mucous COAT ~ The
duodepal extremity thai the ntesncs generally present
ed healthy APPEARANCE with only occasional Spots Of In
fam nation. Dcpooent further tsstines that he
pepced Immediately with the toxcologicai examination
OF half OF the contents Of The stomach hat be has
but partially completed the analysis for the VARIOUS pol
but that having learned from Coroner Godfrey and
Dr. Qundor thai airy expected report Of the aves
tsaton this Day although he has performed but part
Of his labor has already obtained . sufficient chemical
Evidence 10 warrant him 10 conclude that the decsased
ord from the effects Of poison. Il OGDEN D0REhu5
BuGss, N. j., Nov. 10, 1880.
Immediately the rendition Of the Profa soy's state
meot the case given 70 the jury, who, after about
hours deberAon, brought In the folio wing verdict
We nad that Jane ,eom came 70 her death from poi
son, administered By her husband, William Absom's,
hands.
Absom fully committed 10 await the action Of the
Grand Jury, which viii sn II the beginning Of January