Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-01
SECOND DAYS EXAMINATION.
TESTIMONY NOT CONCLUSIVE.
Case Probably Disposed of To-day.

The examination ofwitnesses in the case of
the State Is. Mrs. Amelia Hagedorn Phin-
ney, charged with poisoning her husband,
Benjamin Phinney. of Rockport, was re-
sumed in Police Court at nine o'clock yes
terday morning, Mayor Chaplin presiding.
It was hoped that the testimony would all
be taken by the middle of the afternoon,
andlth case disposed of yesterday, but
owing to the thoroughness of the examina-
ton, darkness overlook the court before the
work was near being completed. The case
viii occupy the court at least another day.
The evidence given below will be found
of interest. The youngest daughter of the
deceased, a handsome and intelligent girl
thirteen years of age, was one of the wit
nesses.
The defendant, Mrs. Phinney, had more
thorough seIf-possession than on The first
day of the examination. She seemed in
good health and spirits, and took deep in
terest in the proceedings.
A considerable number of spectators was
present throughout the day. The case has
excited general interest in the public mind.
We append the testimony aiken yester-
day:
TESTIMONY OF DIR. LATHRoP.
Dr.. JamesJL, Lattrop, swOrn I reside in
Dover. Was called 10 attend upon Mr.,
Phinney on the morning of Friday, Octo-
Der 9th, | believe, about .half-past nine
| o'clock. Deceased was on the bed, on his
back, ewes and mouth closed, and in a state
of generalrigidity of trunk and limbs. Tried
10 make him swallow some water, but found
that any touch gave him a shock like an
electric shock. ! concluded that-he wa:
partially conscious, for he seemed to open
his mouth when | would offer him anything
to drink The muscular contraction OF tho
system prevented him from opening hi;
mouth or eyes. For several minutes after
frst saw him there was very little convul-
sive motion. There was a tonic spasm, and
he seemed to be inclined to spasms. He
seemed after a while to be making an eiiort
To speak. He said, "Don't let me die 81
hard" Apparently tried to speak more
but didn't succeed in controlling his mus
Giles. In five TO ten minutes after he made
that remark the spasmodic action became
extremely violent, so much so as to suspend
entirely respiration. The patient hadn't
much history after that. ! was present al
the post morton examination. 1t began in
the brain, then in the chest, lungs, heart
spleen, liver and kidneys. The stomach
was removed entire. Didn't see the contents
of the last organ. Brain somewhat vascu.
lar, and also the lungs. lie seemed t.
be healthy. There was no efiusion of the
brain at all. but such vascular fllness a.
would lie naturally expected after death
from sudden suspension of respiration.
In the act Of dying, his head and scalE
were extremely congested for a moment
I was not able to ascertain the cause of his
death. l did not suggest the post morton
examination, nor was 1t done at my in
stance. | had suspicious as to the cause O
his death. I have seen many animals die
and one human subject 1.-THE latter, however
not fatal sick from taking strychnine, anC
I'm what ! have learned from books,
~ihougnN-~r suspected his death mt have
Deeh oeeasl0noI by strychnine. | asked i
was sick, and learned thaStbe famiIy ba,
not breakfasted. | asked how I0n- bs bo,
been sick, whether he had spoken or-Aat
been paralyzed, etc, etc. | learned that h
had been unconscious and had one very VIC
lent spasm. / don't know that anythin,
had been given hin as a remedy, but tn
bystanders were rubbing the deceased. etc
A person taking stryehnine on an empt,
stomach would die quicker than if tn,
stomach were full. a solution of strychnini
taken on an empty stomach should produc,
death in twenty minutes From half q
three-quarters of an hour is sufficient for tn,
action of this poison in any system.
Cross Examination | have known tn
deceased by sight since 1856. ! live fv,
miles west of the deceased, at Dover Centre
[ have known him quite well for about fv,
years. Visited him professionally five year
ago. Had bilious fever. Have not been hi
regular attendant, but nave seen him once
Have seldom been in his house or variety
country store. He did not keep medicine
to my knowledge. Have seen him at hi
home once since his last marriage. Wasno
knowing to his temperament and disposition
Had a bilco-phlegInatic temperament. anC
was sluggish rather than active. Have NJ
definite opinion of his temperament anC
character based on personal observation.
knew that he had had two wives. He haC
been a widower the last time about si2
months.
TESTIMONY OF MISS PHISNEY,
Alta PAinney, s,oorn Twas thirteen years