The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-01
LEGAL INTELLIGENCE.
The GermantOwn MURDER Trial of Chris.
1tnn Berger.

The Germantown murder-Trtal of Chris
ltRn Berger.
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER AND QUARTER
SEssIoNs-Judges Allison and Ludlo w.-Tbe
Commonwealth vs.. Christian Bereer. The trial
OF this case was resumed this morning. The
Commonwealth continued the examination OF
its witnesses.
DIR. Lewis, sworn-I am a surgeon; made an
examination of the blood on the razor blade
given 10 me by the detective; the examination
was microscopic exclusively; the quantity OF
blood was too small to make a chemical analy-
SIS; the examlnati on proves that the matter on
the razor is bood the evidence that 1t IS blood
is that blood corpusces, or blood cells, are pre-.
sent In IT.
1t contains shreds of 6brine of The blood; that
on boiling asoluton OF it, il precIpitates albu.
men, and on applying heat to the razor blade
the material dries and scales OIL The next coa-
Clusion is that the blood was IN fluid condition
when it got on the blade, the evidence OF which
is that it adhered to certain parts of the blade,
and flowed and dried in uniform waved lines.
The next conclusion is that the coaguiation OF
the blood took place on the blade; ldge from
the form of the coagulum and the hbrlne with
the blood cells.
The next is that the blood flowed from living
vessel or speedily after the death OF the body.
The evidence OF this is that the blood had coagl-
lated and contains ibrine. Fbrine is what
causes blood to coagulate. That the blood cor
puscles compare IN every respect with those OF
human blood.
This is inferred from microscopic examine
ton of the size and form of the corpuscles, fiat
tened discs or spheres The distinction between
human blood and the blood OF some animals is
not very marked. Flom the result OF my eXami-
nation, ] can state that the characteristics of
the blood are more nearly those OF human
blood than any blood know OF.
The evidence tor the Commonwealth here
closed.
The District Attorney stated that, in order to
prevent any misunderstanding hereafter, he
would recapitulate the various articles he had
offered in evidence, viz.:-The deed, the spoons,
the boot, and the razor. The boot had not, per-
haps, been formally offered, though IL had, been
proved and had been shown and referred to. He
would formally oheI 1t in evidence now.
The defense was opened by John r. Dos Pas.
SOS, Esq, in very eloquent and able speech, in
which after referring In general terms 10 the
lamentable condition ofthe man charged with the
murder and also to the humble station in life but
excellent character OF the prisoners family and
of himself before the commission OF this crime
He referred to the failure of the Com
monweath to show that the prisoner had been
in the house of Miss Watt en- the day OF the
murder, or in fact ever He said the defense
would be allowed to show that the motive for
the perpetration OF the crlme as alleged by the
Commonwealth, viz, money, did not exist, as
the prisoner had been IN the possession but a
short time previous OF considerable sums.
He also cOntended, and read from authorities
to show that the admissions or confessions of a
party charged with crime were not to be relied
upon, and that the policy OF the la was to treat
them with suspicion. The defendant would be
further able to show by reputable witness that
in passing the house! of Miss Watt on the morn.
ing OF January 6, at ten minutes before O'clock
he saw man dressed in military clothing stand
ing on the steps of the house. This man the
witness would describe as man about forty
years old and entirely unlike the prisoner.
Good character would like wise be shown.
Mrs. Anna Berger, sworn-Am the mother of
Chri. tian Berger, who is twenty years old, and
was born in Germany; he has been in the city
nineteen years. he has also been quiet steady,
and Industrious; before he was married he lived
with us; he boarded with us month since he
was married; 1t was about two months before this
occurrence; his family resided at Germantown:
gave him money from time to time first, about two
months after his marriage, save MIN $50; the
next time gave him S4S IN silver a short time
after he got the $50; about month suppose;
he afterwards, before he moved from Frank ford
20 Germantown, got $50 more after
wards he got S2e, say about two or three weeks
alter; then he got S.; between the time of his
wiie's confinement and his arrest he got 81; he
often complained, recently, OF pains In the head,
and was under medical treatment; his face and
back were full OF scrofulous sores; he acted
sometimes queer; he would go about the house
| with pistol, sometimes pointing 1t at me and
others. Never attempted to do me any injury with
! it; sometimes for some days he would look
! troubled md worried: he often would tease me
and tickle me, trying to anger me; at other time:
| he was quiet; when not affected in this way was
! amiable and quiet and good son; was very fond
OF animals; fond of pets.
John Berger, sworn-Am the father of the
prisoner; reside in Richmond; saw him last be
fore the murder on the I'd of January; / have
two razors; have them with me (produeed); tbs
razor produced at the Coroner's inquest was
shown to me; these are my razors, the only two
/ have; / have had one nine or ten years;
bought it from peddler; / bought the Other
Of Martin Brayner; had no other razor except
these two; my son when he lived with me was
quiet; l have noticed the sores on his face ant
back; sometimes under medical treatment; ht
was always good son, industrious and ODE
| dent
Discrimination to the country in 1917
Christian was nine or ten months old when
brought him over; ne took all his things away
with him after he was married, think.
Re.direct-When he moved from Frankford tC
Germantown he lived with an old lady, a rela
tive OF his wife; don't think he paid any rent.