The national Republican., 1869-02-25
TILE oaulrn

A1As NWDRHbs
CRrusAL CouRr Jsdgs Rsan. - This
court was occupied yesterday with the trial
Of DR.. z. Howe Ripley for manslaughter In
causing the death Of Mrs. Minerva Martin
by prescribing an overdose Of morphine.
The prosecution continuing their evidence
called the husband of the deceased for the
purpose Of allowing him TO explain portion
Of his testimony yesterday.
DR.. Thomas AntIscll testified as to the
result Of his analysis Of the contents Of the
stomach Of the deceased and the remaining
powders. He testified as to morphine In the
stomach and that each Of the powders not
given contained six or seven tcnths Of q grain
Instead Of q grain as prescribed.
Drs. Miller and Bliss were then called, the
substance Of their testimony being that II q
patient were suffering great pain and nervous
disturbance, q single dose Of morphine OF the
strength Of each one Of the ten doses that
made up DR.. Ripley's prescription might not
be dangerous, but that unless there was
great pain such dose would be dangerous;
and that II would be improper to leave such
doses In the hands Of an ignorant or unskil-
full man, although instructed to stop the
doses whenever the palm ceased.
A bottle containing balsam apple preserved
In whisky was Identified as the bottle from
which, as the daughter Of the deceased told
q police officer, her father had given dose
shortly before the death. The evidence here
closed for the prosecution.
Gen. Ferry opened for the defence, and
after advertlng 10 the uncommon character
Of the prosecution sketched the general
course Of the defence. They would show
that m unhappy state Of feeling existed be-
tween the deceased and her husband; that
he had threatened her with whip on the
Christmas eve preceding; that he did not
use such precautions or take such means Of
preserving her life while she was sinking
under the influence Of an oplate as good
husband would have done, and that, In fact,
he administered to her tlncture of the
balsam apple, which contained an alkaloid
that would increase the action Of the NOR
phlne, and might itself prove poisonous. In
word they would try to show that II Mrs.
Martin died from medicine administered, 1t
was to administrations not made In accord
ancc with DR.. Ripley's prescription.
Cora Smith, Eugenia Dlgges, Mrs. L.
Smith, Ida Martin and Lottle Waite were
called aud testified, presenting no new facts,
and the case was postponed until this morn
ing. ...r
REPORT OF GRAND JURY-THE JAIL NUISANCE
PRISONERS NAKED IN THE MIDST OF
WINTER, &C.
The grand jury presented the following
reporti
w..ur.mo,. o pesc.sR 8 R.S SrfNi 4. RFsSS1' FssS
HSS Scati g;S;S S.iliss ss y sias, SSiass ' ''i"a
SIR; The grand Jury having finished their
labors, would respectfully submit TO you a
report Of their proceedings. The session has
been laborious one, which your Honor will
perceive by the number Of witnesses we have
examined and the cases we have disposed Of.
We have disposed Of hve hundred and ninety.
| six cases, and have examined one thousand
nj nj n haya Nhro
hundred and slxty-nlne true bills, and dis.
missed two hundred and twenty-seyen cases
for the want Of evidence or the trlnlng nature
Of the offence.
According to instructions given by your
honor In your charge TO us at the commence
mcnt Of the term In regard to the election
frauds, we have endeayored TO give II as thor
ough examination as the limited time would
allow. We have presented seventeen persons
for illegally registering their names on the
last registration. That there has been great
frauds committed Is fixed fact; that there
will he frauds committed as long as the law
remains as II ls, Is another fixed fact. As
the law Is now any citizen OF either WASH
hgton or Georgetown can vote In both places
In the same year who feels so disposed-the
law only requiring residence in the District
one year and q residence In the ward or pre-
cinct fifteen days; so that Ii would be easy
lOr u pttbOn 10 NOtt utOTBetOWn IN feDfu-
ary, remove to Washington fifteen days be-
fore the registration or election In June, and
become n voter, and rice rersd for n citizen Of
Washington.
We have visited the Jail twice during the
term. On our first visit we found several Of
the prisoners In an almost nude state, hav-
Ing neither coat, pants, shirt, shoes or stock
ings on; and this In the middle Of the winter
season, with nothing but piece Of blanket
fastened around the waist. We Immediately
ordered them to be clothed, which was done.
| Upon our second visit we found things In a
much better condition. The grand jury are
Of the opinion that the Jail should be under
the control Of the court. II such had been
the case we would not have found things as
they were upon our first visit. We would
respectfully refer your honor to the reports
Of the several preceding grand juries in re-
gard to the condition Of the jail as being not
only unsafe for the confinement Of prisoners,
but also unhealthy. We have also presented
the different station-houses as unhealthy.
We would call your honor's attention to the
great necessity Of having house of refuge
for Juvenile offenders. A large number Of
the lighter offences are committed by the
young Of both sexes. We have lament
able evidence of the want Of q house of
refuge In the case Of Mary Brooks, which
your honor will remember.
l5ignedl j. 3. BLACKfoRD, Chairman.
Judge Fisher thanked the Jury for the
manner In which they had discharged their
duties, aud discharged them from further
service. tf .
He also gave notice that no further cases
would be tried this term, and discharged the
petit Jurors not engaged In this case, now on
trial.
Adjourned.
Eourrr CouRr-Judgs Wyiie.-This court
made the following orders yesterday
Forrest va. Ely. Order TO notify absent
defendant Of the pendency Of the suit by ad.
vertisement.
Barbour ct nj. VS.. Morgan ct nj. Order OF
of reference TO auditor.
Swami va, SWann et nj Decree rntifyinu