The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-30
THE HILL MURDER.

Of Me0Acal ENperts IN reference To the
Bloodsrained Clothes and Blood MnriSs--Thc
Prisoners Father ON the Stand-How the
Accused Bears Himself.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 90, 1868.
The court reassanbled at the usual hour this
morning Judges Brewster ana Ludlow on the bench
The fact that the offence had yesterday subpGnaed
and on her refusal 10 obey the ORDER had been CON-
PEELED to issue an attachment against Mary Camp
bell, Twtchells servant girl, who according TO the
prosecution, interrupted the accused in the udst OF
his alleged bloody york on the night OF the ed OF
November, had the effect OF drawing in and about
the Court House ltrger crowd of spectators than
there has been heretofore on any onN day during
the trial. 1t was Generally supposed in fact be-
iieved, from certain limitations thrown out by
the prisoners counsel last evening" that the re-ex-
animation OF the woman would elicit evidence OF a
very. damning character against somebody other
than the prisoner; but she was not called owing to
the length ot the medical testimony
The father OF the prisonerwas put upon the stand
to-day, as was Dr. Gross ndnany professors the
!enerson Medical college. Vhe testimony 81 these
gentlemen IN regard to YONG Twitchels blood
stained clothes and the weaINn which Is supposed
to have caused Mrs. his death will he found 10 be
the most interesting and probably the most impor-
tant which has been given since he trial was begun
The prisoner still retains his vog OF Indifference
during tne proceedings. although he occasionally
gives lldlcalons OF anxiety ana frefnlness when II
tough" witness for the defence \ being rather
more than tenderly hauled over the Goals or cross
examination by the prosecution.
Tne frst Witness called the father of the pri-
S0ner
George s. Twitchell, ST.. sworn-I am Yther Of the
prisoners Will be siXty-fve years OF Are the lStn
day OF April next; was living ut the time OF this
murder IN Thirteenth street, near Vine, | am a
widower; my wife died some sixteen or seventeen
years ago; she died In my own house in ren street.
opposite Jefferson College, she never was insane.
District Attorney do not see what the Insanity
OF the witness late wife has got to do with thk case
~
which they have not AS yet foreshadowed.
Counsel for defence-l ask these preliminary ques-
the witness Ia. -+s
The Court remarked that the counsel shonldnot
go outside Of the case ana bring UP subjects which
had no relation TO 1t whatever The Court SUSTAINED
the objection, when the witness resumed.---
lived In Thirteenth street, lust below Vine, at the
time when Mrs. Till was killed: q messenger cAme
to me the night OF the MURDER about eleven O'Clock;
he woke the old lady who keeps the boarding house
and she woke me; he tod me that Mrs. Iiill had
been badly hurt, and afterwards ne told me she had
been murdered aud OF the arrest OF my son; was
80 struck with the news that | scarcely
mn house and remained uG there TN ye wer Clock save ave
Mrs. Twtchell there and she asked me go and see
her husband at the station house; they refused TO
allow me to see him that night and saw him The
next morning; remained there until they took my
sons wife and the servant girl TO the central Onico,
did not take anything away from the house but
some Jewelry belonging 10 Mrs. TWitchell; she
handed them 10 me either In the house in the
riage going To the station house; know what the
-
DR.. ). ". Gross, sworn-I am physician I re-
side in Eleventh street. near Walnut; am a col
league OF Dr. Lewis and lecturer at Jefferson Col
Iege ! am familiar with Investigations ~ 10 blood
marks and blood stains ! have read the evidence
IN this case concerning the blood on the pris-
oncr's clothing; human body begins to stiren
from five to six hours after life becomes ex-
tinct, and remains IN stHened condition
from sixteen to twenty-fbur hours; death
caused by shock prevents the stinenng coming on
az quickly rs II would otherwise; death by shock
retards cOagulation OF the blood within the body;
cannot say that loss OF blood retards c0agulatlon;
blood coagtilates more slowly In cool than II does
Ia a warm atmosphere; taking into consideration the
death by violence and the GOODNESS OF the atmosphere
In the yard, do not think The hood In Mrs. HIPS
body was colguated when found, provided she was
found within few hours after death; the coagula-
ton OF the blood comes on simultaneously with the
siicning OF the body; taking into consideration that
the body was not stirened when found and the blood
not coagnlated, II was. think, in condition for
sprinkltng OF blood; the effect OF the dilutiOn OF
blood with water In excess prevents coagula-
ton: entirely; have examined the clothing Of the
prisoner which has been produced at this
trial; made the examination III the Grand Jury
room last saturday with both the naked eye and
glasses: did the microscopes: the only add
tonal aid could have got from The microscope
would nave been to satisfy myself that the blood
OF mammal; ] am able to account for the
sDrinkled spots on the coat, vest and panta.
a wound by the wcarcr OF thc ciotllcs the spots
could have got on all the things, with the exception
the upper outside part OF the left boot unless the
pants had been rolled up, by the wearer stepping in
The blood m the yard, by carrying In the body from
the yard to inc Kitchen and by bathing the
looked like snears: | could account for the
sprinklng OF these spots by the falling back
OF the head into pool Of coadulated blood; II the
prisoners body had been In STOPPING position and
when the head was raised 1t had fallen suddenly
backward. and quantity Of blood had fallen from
the wounds In the head into the pool OF coadgu-
latq3 blood beneath very many OF the speckicd
spoS could have been made; | feel con-
certain with what facility human skull could be
fractured by poker fnere poker shown; | pre-
sumo this - the poker ! saw Ia the Grand Jury
room.
Counsel for dcfencc-Now explain, Doctor, your
experiment.
not the one which was used ON Mrs. Hills head, aud
the head expcr'mented upon was not that OF the
deceased.
lection by having evidence to show that the iron OF
the poker used by Dr. Gross Is OF the same Kind as
that Of the poker found corner . Vine and Tent,
for the wound found on Mrs. lfs head TO have been
inflicted by that poker. DR.. shapeigl SAID y was
possible aud we think we can By an expert show
Judge Brewster-We understand That the counsel
wish 10 show tnat the wound on Mis. ii,lrs mead
in evidence and The result Of certain experiments
with another poker ON skull not that OF Mrs. Hll.
The first admissible and the second Is clearly In
admissible. The evidence desired 30 be elected IL
very dangerous. 7 remember case where n was
contendcd that certain mans skull could not nave
been crushed by blow or the lst and IN expert
testified to that belief and by experiments with
another skull yet when the dead PERSONS skull was
produced II found so thin thai even child's
hand could nave fractured II with slight blow.
Judge Ludlow coiicurred with Judge Brewster Ia
this opinion.
Witness resumed--T have read DR.. shapleighs tcs-
tmony concerning the wounds he found On Mrs.
HIS head poker shown: In my opinion as sur
geon. after reading DR.. Shapeigh's testimony con-
corning the wounds Mrs. HIPS head, do not
think that tins or any poker or the same material
could have been struck over four times on any thin
or thick human skull without producing
some change In the poker. ana l think
II might happen that poker used In producing
the wounds, beng small article, might escape
sprinked spots Of blood: having read the testimony
Of DR.. sharpleigh, think weapon OF thus elarac-
ter there lump Of lead nc the end Of twisted cord
called dypse was shown could have inflicted any
wound found on Mrs. Inns head.
r. y. Maury sworn--i am physician, residing AZ
No. 1005 walnut street, a surgeon or the fhiiadei-
phia Hospital and colleague OF Dr. levi at the
Medical College. likewise NJ the hospital: have
read the evidence In this case about the carrying Of
the body from the yard and tie bathing OF the heads
have examined the stains OF blood on the prisoners
clothes with good pocket lens: the sprlnkling OF
the blood ON the coal ! examined carefully: can
account for the spots on the clothes ny another
"A han xrau rpr