The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-29

DR.. James Bolton was next called and ex-
amined as an expert. Thought there were
circumstances which would render it i'm
possible to say how long body had been
dead. A body, in a certain condition OF
physical health when death ensues, either
5y violence or natural causes, will decom-
pose very rapidly. On the other hand q
temperature ranging from thirty-two to
fifty degrees will preserve body from de-
cay in proportion as the temperature ap-
proaches the lower figure. Above fifty
degrees, decomposition will ensue very rap
idly. Bodies on Mount St. Bernard, where
the cold is very great, have been preserved
for several months. Antediluvian ami
mails have been found imbedded in the ice
in Siberia which were probably in that po-
sition for thousands of years, the flesh of
which was in such state of preservation
that it was suitable for animal food. A
body lying in the open air in such tenn
perature as that indicated by the meteoro-
logical record shown would probably be
preserved from decomposition for eight or
ten DAYS. In this case witness showed that
the temperature had averaged only about
seven and five-eighths degrees above the
freezing point for the first four days pre-
ceding the finding of the body. 1t was IN
his opinion really less than that at
the point where the body was found,
as the radiation of heat from the houses
in the city would increase the range
of the thermometer. If the observation
had been extended to embrace the hour OF
5 A. NJ, as well as the hours Indicated IN
the record, the average temperature would
have been still further reduced. Does not
think it probable that the period Of death
can be in all cases accurately defined even
to within four or five days. The exudatlon
of serum from incisions made with O knl1e
upon dead body cannot be always taken as
convincing evidence on this point. z
DR.. Davis was examined, and concurred
in the opinion given by DR.. Bolton. The
medical science affords no exact rule Dy
which it con be determined how long body
has been dead. There are no data by Whlch n
anything more than q mere approximation
can be given. Certain temperatures are
more favorable to decomposition than others
Warm, moist weather will cause more
rapid decomposition than warm, drry
weather, while cold weather will preserve IT
Could not tell from an examination OF
BODY which had been dead for any length
of time how long it had been since death
had taken place. ~ -
The examination Of this witness was
temporarily suspended, and Mr.. J. W. Sat,
terwhite, the undertaken who had provided
the coffin and had the body buried, was
called. He had had it placed in a. certain
portion of Oakwood cemetery, on the 18Th
Of March, and was requested before inter
ring it to remove the only garment upon IT
which he had some difficulty in doing, II
consequence of its being Of home mannfac-
sure and very strong. The body was very
slightly decomposed.- He afterwards had II
exhumed to allow Drs. Knox and Bolton Z
examine it. Identified the body and cothn
B. F. BEDFORD, who had charge OF tht
grounds at Oakwood cemetery, was mex
Called. and testified to having received tht
body for interment, and afterwards Z
have seen the same body taken up and eI
anined. Identified it as the same BODY
which was given him to bury on the tStf
of March preceding. sr ,rlE " = ~. - /.
DR.. Dayis's examination resumed Aidee
DIR. Knox in examining the body when i
was axkumed. There was an indentatlon
as if by aleaden ball, on the right side o
the head. The teeth in the upper jaw wer,
nearly all gone the remaining teeth Wes'
yergssbad. The examination was .mad
5uiy g., 1867. e The right shoulder scenes
{o he broken OF disarticulated. The bod.
was then YerJr much decayed. -
The. Court then took recesa. G3IEa q
The Court ssassembled at quarter-pasti'
saIr. sMoncure was recalled, and testihe'
as to his presence OF Turner's on the cs