Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-05-02
TRIAL OF JOHN w. sTRArToN.
State of Indisna,)
vs.. Indicted for Murder.
John w Suatton.N

VS.. Indicted for Murder.
John W Shatton,
The State was represented in this case
by Isaac W. Pierce, Prosecuting Attorney
for this judicial District, assisted by Alex
ander B. Crane. the Prosecuting Attorney for
the County Of Vigo. For the defense ap
peared R. W. Thompson. John P. Baird
Jos. s. Jenckes, Jr., aud t. B. Long.
A large number Of jurors were challenged
by the defence, and the forenoon measure
bly, consumed in filling the panel.
1t will be recollected by the readers OF
the Express that this is the case where Mr..
stratton, in connection with a Mrs.
Hughes, at the house Of the latter. in this
city, in the mo1th Of February last, shot a
nan BY the name of Daniel Corsin, from
which shot Corsin died the follow ing day.
Mrs. Hughes having been tried and ac-
quilted at the regular term of this Court,
this case was continued until the present
called session.
Mr.. Strstton is a man apparently about
IS years old, with rather pleasant face.
and looks the most innocent man IN the
court room. whether he is so or not, the
following testimony will determine.
The following witnesses were called and
sworn on the part of the State: Drs. Bell
and Thompson, John Rector, Thomas
MadigaD. VIM. Ryan, Frank Henny. Den
mis- Harrison, NJ. GaDey, Daniel o. Hearn,
A Wood. R. Stedman, Mary Hughes, and
Missouri Hughes.
On the part Of the State the case was
stated to the jury by Prosecuting Attorney
Pierce. The indictment was for murder
in the first and second degrees, for man
slaughter, and for being accessory before
and after the fact Mr.. Pierce stated the
ease, and the law bearing on it. in an able.
clear, and forcible manner. The defence
preferred stating their case after the evil
dence for the State had been concluded.
The Court then adjourned until 2 O'Clock
Pm.
The Court assembled at 2 o'clock P M.,
and the prosecution introduced DR.. James
Bell as their frat witness, who testified as
follows:
! am practicing physician. am not
positive as TO the date of the killing OF
Daniel Corsin. but think it was on the
morning Of the 9Th Of February. | was
called to see bin about l2 o'clock in the
morning; found him shot. a bullet wound
on the body; be was shet about the mid
die line Of the body. about two inches be-
low the breast bone; he was suffering very
much; this was about two hours after he
was shot; saw him often from that time
until he died; was not present when he
died, but understand he died about twelve
o'clock the following night; | assisted in
the post mortem examination; DIR. Thomp-
son assisted the wound had passed through
the liver and stomach, close to the attach
men OF the Grst intestine; we found the
ball im5edded close to the back; DIR.
Thompson cut the ball out; think / would
know it. put mark on it; (here the DR.
examines bsll;) this is about the size of
the one cut out; would say his death
was caused by the shot, twas sufficient to
produce death; saw nothing else about
him that would cause his death; should
think be was about Is years of age; | had
been acquainted With him about a year,
understood his name was Daniel Johnson.
From the course the ball took ! would say
that the deceased was standing lower than
the person who fired.
Cross examined-Have knows the de-
ceased about year; neverknew him called
anything but "Dan;" we thought he was
in most perfect health; every organ seemed
to be in perfect health. When first saw
him he was in house on Second Street;
he was sitting in chair; / examined the
wound while he was in this position; the
ball entered downwards, should think
about eight inches; made no effort to probe
the wound during the life OF the deceased /;
it was the morning after he died that we
made the post mortem examination; the
ball was lodged in a membrane; do not
know whether the interior wound was
much mutilated or not. did not examine
with an eye to that; the ball entered about
the centre Of the middle line, near the pit
of the stomach; the bowels were taken out
10 q pan, and it is difficult to tell just
where the ball went; did not discover that
the bowels we're cut; the stomach was, but
not the bowels; cosgulated blood was il
the stomach.
Doctor Thompson being called said
ANA physician and was called to see Ar
Johnson; do not recolIect the precise date
but In two hours after he was shot; | saw
him in house nearly opposite where Mrs
Hughes lived; l knew him by the name o
Dan" it was about o'clock in the morn
ing when first saw him; he was lying il
bed when first saw him; he was suffsriDl
a good deal, complained about his bladder
/ saw the wound; it was a small oriice JUS
below the breast bone; little blood wa
ooring from it, not much; / thought it i'm
possible for the man to live: his physica
condition was much depressed. bis pulls
was low;I was not present when he died
but think 1t was about twenty y-four hour
after he Was shot; next saw him after b
died. on the next morning; assisted
che post -mortem examination; we foun
che ball had passed through the stomach
wOunding the gall and lodging in ihe mes
entsry; / would say his death was cause
by the ball which was shot in him; il wa
sgunsbOt wound.
Cross Exsmined.-I went with DR.. Be
70 see him; made no effort to probe tn
wound: Il is hard question to susw'
~hether the ball descended after shot;
seemed 10 have descended when first eI
tering the body and then went direct; III
ball might have descended from the Pls'
where il first entered some; the pOst-morteI
was made Eve or six hours after he diet
lam not able to tell what night it WI
when hrst saw him. can neither tell Il