The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-09
BLOOD STAINS in MURDER TRIALS

The readers Of the Ledger must have noticed
in the reports of the trial of Gottlieb Williams
for murder, that one of the witnesses was mi.
nutely examined upon the subject Of the blood
stains found upon his clothes and upon the razor
found near the dead body ofthe murdered woman
The Object of this examination was to ascertain
whether the blood upon the razor and the blood
upon the clothes of Wi iams were the same sort
Of blood and if possible, to determine whether
the one was that of a human being, and the other
the blood of animal. Many persons have doubt
less wondered how such things can be ascertained:
but considerable approach to certainty can be
made upon such que tions by applying the faciI-
tiles afforded by modern science. The blood
found in animals (ncuding the human race in
the animal king'.omi is mainly of two kinds
red blood and white blood. The former is com
mon to all vertibrated animals or those having
back bones, while white blood is found in some
of the lower orders Of animals such AS the crusta-
ceans or shellfish. The red blood of The higher
orders OF animals, including man. gets its red tint
from certain minute particles that are suspended
in the fluid ard are called "corpuscles" by scen-
tifc men. These are small circular objects
shaped somewhat like common wafer, though
not quite SO fiat In different animals these red
copu>cles are very different in size. and the diff
ference can be readily detected bv the microscope,
and accurately measured by an instrument known
as the mcrometer A microscopic examination
and measurement were made from she materials
that produced the stains found on the razor re-
ferred to and the clothes of Guttleb Williams.
and the witness who made the examination, and
who wa. an expert in that department of science
declared them 10 be blood stains, and that the
blood was the same both Oh the razor and the
clothes.
whist the blood is yet fresh than it is after it
has become dry and hard When the blood has
been drawn for some time, the corpuscles of
which we have spoken adhere together, with their
broad sides united, just renn es or other coins
are put up in rolls; and, in fact have the appear
ance of such rolls Of coin. From the examin alton
of the blood of animals of various species it has
been found that these corpuscles vary very much
in size. That is, that while the average size is
always the same in any one kind Of animal, il
" i'll vary from that of other kinds So that il
portions of the blood freshly drawn from a man
q cat. bird and frog presented to a ply.
siol"gist accustomed TO their examination under
the microscope, he would be euabled to point out
the blood which belonged 20 each, from the size ot
the corpuscles.
For these reasons, in case Of murder, the dried
blood or blood stains found on persons charged
with murder have been submitted TO the exami
nation of experts, 10 determine whether the stains
so found uron the clothes other objects were
caused by human blood or the blood Of ordinary
sbmals. But says H. Miles Edwards, in bis
elaborate work upon physiology, the reformation
of the g!ol,uIes renders such observations very
difficult; and in order that confidence should be
placed in the results obtained, many precautions
should be taken 1t would therefore appear tha,
the examination should be made by one
thoroughly acquainted and rraciced in researches
ofthe kind and the testimony even then should be
received and examined with the greatest caution
-PhHadelphia Ledyer.