Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-08-02

CHAhGB OF POISONING HIS Wlfk.
A case OF much interest has for some
time past occupied the attention of the
people q Ludlov and vicinity. On the
third day Of December last, Mrs. Law
ma Giddigus, wife of F. c. Giddings of
Ludlow, died very suddenly, and the
symptoms were so strongly Indicative
of poison that post mortem examina-
ton was insisted upon by the attending
physician and many Others, and finally
consented to by the husband and chill
dren. The contents of the stomach were
taken to Prof. Henry NJ. Seeley. who
has lectured on Chemistry in Burlington
and Middlebury Colleges. 1t is but re-
Gently that he has completed the analy-
sis, and on Tuesday last on complaint of
States Attorney J. +. Deane, Esq, con-
stable Z. j. Whitcomb arrested Mr.. Gid
dings, and brought him before Justice
Crague, at the Office of Sewall Fullam,
Esq, to answer 10 the charge of procur-
ing the death Of his wife by poisoning
Prof. Seeley was present and stated that
he received from Sewall Fullam, at Bur
lington, March 9th, jar purporting to
contain the stomach of a person sup
posed to have been poisoned, and was
requested to make chemical examina-
ton of the same, He began the exami-
nation at Burlington, and carried the
contents to Middlebury. He was
obliged to suspend for a while on ac-
count of sickness, but finally reached a
conclusion by chemical and other tests
but chiefly chemical. The extract OBJ.
tanned had bitter taste, not peculiar to
strychnia, but such as strychnia has.
With chemical tests it gave SUCH reac-
ton as strychnia alone is known to
have. Ia my mind, said Prof, s., there
was no doubt Of the presence of strych-
mia in the stomach, and that there was
a sufficient quantity to produce death.
Was about 'wO months making the
analysis did b.. observe evidences of
strychnia till the first Of June last. The
Professor stated with considerable mi
nuteness and technicality the different
processes Of analysis, the tests used, the
production oSthe beautiful purple color, an
infallsble test 0. strychnia, also the eff
feet Of stTychia upon animals as observed
by himself, and on persons as he found
recorded in books The further exam
nation was postponed till Thursday, at
ten o'clock, in the Town Hall, at which
time and place Messrs Deane and Full
am appeared as counsel for the State,
and Messrs. Washburn and Walker for
the Respondent, A large number of la
dies and gentlemen were also in attend
ance, who manifested q deep interest in
the examination.
Sewall Fullam ESQ, on being sworn,
testified substantially as follows
[ was present ct the post mortem ex-
animation OF the deceased ! saw the |
stomach taken out about the 4th or 5th |
of Dec, 1865, the day of the funeral the
stomach was taken out ligated, and put
into glass jar, cork put into the bot
tie or jar, straps put on and then sealed
up. Drs. Hazleton, Story Chaplin,
Palmer and Tnayer were present; as
sisted the doctors, and looked with at
tention t. every part they examined.
After the jar was sealed, Dr. Palmer told |
me they wi,b,a me 10 keep the jar, which |
did. On the arh Of March / carried |
the jar to Burlington, and gave it to Dr.
Seeley, who tOoE it and put it in an iron |
trunk, locked il up and carried it to his |
room. The jar remained III my possess
sion all the time till I went to Burling-
ton; a great many persons came in to !
see it; before went to court concealed |
it, and it was no. disturbed till | gave it |
TO Prof. seeley.
Cross-examined by Mr. Washburn:
The first thing in the examination
was to open rhes tomach, lgate the Or
itices, and then the contents were taken
out, put into jar, which was immedi-
ately closed. This was done by DR..
Palmer. The jar remained in cup
board with a door buttoned not locked,
in my back office, used as a library and
consultation room, until | went to Wood
stock about the 23d Of December. | was
absent good deal, and then my office
was locked, but probably was entered
from time to time by members of my
family, and perhaps by others for the
purpose Of consulting books in my IL
brary, or for other purposes When I
went to court put the jar into a closet
in the chamber Of my Office This place
is accessible by stairs from the office and
has no lock. knew great many per-
sons knew where the jar had been kept,
and thought best to pnt it where they
would not be likely to go. had pre-
viously put an oil cloth around the jar.
After the first few days the curiosity of
the people seemed to die away. | have
never seen the jar or its contents since
they were delivered to Prof. Seeley.
DR.. II. II. Palmer was sworn.
Have been acquainted with Mrs. Gid
iings about II years, have been the fam
ly physician. She never called herself
we'll, but usually attended to her house
lold duties-could hardly mention any
particular disease. Her spine however
was deformed, being shaped like the let
Ter 8. She was round shouldered, but l