Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-01-05

portance. It had not been used for Z oil
| 9 years, and tie doctor on tina of it, said
lit was out of order, and he brought hisI
|own. This be took away for three days,
lin which time the Defendant wrapt the pis
ton with cloth and used It once, but II
worked SO bad that the doctor brought his
back again, and the old one was laid aside.
Some few days after the funeral an elder
sister Of the deceased who had been sent
for. reached home, and seeing the old syr-
Iinge, and not knowing its name or use, in
Iquired of Lucia, the daughter Of the Defen-
-Idant what it was, and Lucia got it. and
Itook it apart, then put il together, and the
two girls used UP patent pail full OF blu-
ling water to see it work. This happened
sslbefore tho hue and cry Of poison was raised
and, ofcourse, without any designto cleanse
the instrument.
But when the alarm was raised this OLD
syringe, ard not the doctors, was called for
by the Deputy Sheriff, and was given up
without any hesitancy, and was delivered
to the chemist, who reported that he found
four and half grains Of arsenic in the
wrapping Of the piston rod and some OF It
! lin crystatized or dry State.
To see what reliance is due to this re-
BORT. it must be remembered that this syr-
Einge was used but once; the arsenic-it
used at alI-must have been in solution,
and to convey less than a grain into the
rectum, must have been in a very weak So
luton, and yet, if the report be true, the
packing or wrapping on the piston absorb
ed Al grains while discharging less than
one grain; and some Of that in a dry state
This was too absurd, or impossible to be
credited If thin solution Of arsenic had
been in the syringe, it is evident to com
mon sense that the soaking and washing il
received from the bluing water would have
cleaned it out. Therefore, if that amount
Of arsenic agas found, as reported, and some
! ! of it in a dry stte, ii must haze been pai
there after II hrd left tie house and con
troll Of tie Defendant. And the evidence
showed that the syringe was in hands who
took it apart known by the family to have
! motives Of revenge, before it was delivered
! to the chemist.
Another fact was developed by the eyi-
dence. 1t was agreed by all the doctors
. Examined, that syringe dipped into SO
Luton Of arsenic to be filed, would necessa-
rily leave what was on the outside Of the
pipe at the entrance, and must cause ex-
lcoriation. But as DO such excoriation was
found, the conclusion was irresistible, that
no arsenic could have been injected.
Z The prosecute made no attempt to
show the existence. "a a 8aotige for the pre-
tended act; but their own witnesses, to-
Igether with those Of the defence, oyerwhelm-
Iingly showed tbs inpossbility Of the exis-
ltance Of one, unless, as Chatfield said, "the
! laws Of God, as exhibited in nature, had
been entirely reversed" The proof show
ed the utmost mutual affection, and that Of
lamother by great expense in clothing the
daughter out Of her own funds.
But from whence arose the suspicion p
! This is well understood. 1t originated with
] the Baker family on account Of some prop
erty. They had swore revenge, and took
this means to obtain it. The letter dated
, July 10th, and published in the N. X.
! Tribune Of July 18th, 1860, was said to
have been written by one Of thein, or at
their instance; which letter contained, rs
the Coroner told me, several palpable false
j hoods, especially that concerning the pre-
! tended confession that was the seventh per-
son she had been accused Of poisoning. p
, He said no such thing was said by Ter, nor
anything to make it out Of.
1t may not be gratifying to some, and
! especially certain letter writers, to see this
} result. Some may feel disposed to make
great allowance for my affections, as the
father Of the accused. But as the trial is
Expected to be printed, with the arguments
Of counsel, which will probably make vol.
Of 200 12mo pages, those who know
+ me will hardly suppose that | would risk
my reputation for yeracity, by publishing
for facts what the evidence will not sus-
tain.
E That there are some who are so blinded
!, by prejudice, under the fervor Of excite
fIment, both in Otsego and Grant counties,
as to still adhere to their suspicious pal
pable proof Of the depravity of human ma
lture, is no doubt true. But Of those Who'll
witnessed the trial heard no dissent from
the statement above made; though | heard
of some who threatened to serenade thel
Attorney General and District Attorney,
in contempt, because they had not procur-
ed conviction, nolen vozcns The five
Judges were said to be unanimous in the
correctness Of the verdict.
A. BRUNsoN.
!