The New York herald., 1870-03-09
THE ALEXANDER BOND MYSTERY.
Professor Dorsmus Analysis Completed = 10
Traces of Poison Discovered-A Ser-
want Girl Talks : The Case
Further Adjourned.

Tnis extraordinary case was ssumed vesterdav
afternoon before Coroner Fly an. Il win be re-.
membered that Captain Alexe .ader, or New Orleans
man who was reputed tc4 pe quite wealthy, died
about . year ago IN trle house OF Mr. and Mrs.
Gardner. IN l25th streex and that last January
Virginia O. Burke, daughter OF the deceased, made
afildavit against them charging them with having
caused the Death by poison her in order to
get possession OF large amount OF bonds equivalent
In value 10 about 500 900, 1t believed he had on
his person.
Tho proceedings yesterday were opened by Dr.
Shines reading the aldavls Of the witnesses In me
case where testimony had been taken 10 the absence
II the Jury These have all been published IN the
HERALD.
Mr.. and Mrs Gardner were present, as was also
the servant GIRL Rose, VINO was charged by MIS-.
Burke with having been an accessory in the poison
ing OF her father. Mrs. BurKe was also present.
Botn parties had their counsel with them
After the reading OF the aiidavits Professor Dore
mus was called and sworn. Whine he was giving
his evidence the utmost silence prevailed in the
room aud when he closed by saying that he had
been unable to find any trace Of poison in the
stomach Of Captain Alexander Mrs. Gardner burst
into tears. Mrs. Burke looked deathly paie but was
otherwise to oil appearances, not IN the least
affected Dy the decision.
The following Is Mr.. Doremus' testimony
h Oguen D0remuS, being duly sworn, teStlneS ana
says that he resides at No. 70 Union place, and s
Professor OF Chemistry and Toxicoo0y IN the Belle
Hue Hospital MEDICAL College and Professor OF Chem
istry IN Ine City College; that on "Wednesday alter
noon, Januarv 26, 1870 he visited the Morgue and
witnessed, IN company OF Mr. Wilkinson, his assist
ant. the post morem examination OF 5he remains OF
Captain Alexander (made by order OF Coroner Flynn
BY Dr. Snine. assisted by Drs Flnnell and McEwen;
that he received from them IN new AMI clean
glass jars tne stomach tied at It's extrimetes the
small and large intestInes likewise lgated; the
liver kidneys oadder neart, lungs and portion
Chronological or poison laboratory ano placed them
under lock and seal; nat on The following morning
the above named physicians, DR.. Budd and Mr.
Loew, examined carefully and took the measure
ments and weights oil said organs; that the stomach
was opened along It's lesser curvature from the
diac to the pyor,c orltice; that IL empty; that
afler thorough washing win distilled water its
inner surface was found bile stained over the pyOrc
haf OF the organ the remaiuder appearing OF gray
ish or pepper andsalt color; that there were ind
there any perforarions thar the mucous coat was
easily removed bv the finger nails; that the small
that they carefully washed and critically ex-
amined; that there were no signs OF recent inham-
nation or liberation; that the whole length OF the
mtestines was med with small hardened deposits;
that the surface felt like sandpaper; that the
large iniesnes were likewise opened; that
they were empty; that they were also washed
with distilled water; that tbev gave no indication OF
the action OF irritant; that they darker la
color the mucous surface tnan the smaller intes
gnes but covered with the same gritty par.
ucles, which ound 10 be careous; mat the
hver weigbed seventeen and threeauarter ounces:
that iEs tissue firm and, 10 all appearances
thy; that the kidneys weighed respectively two
ounces seven . sracnms anu Two ounces eight
In length. two and quarter inches IN width and
about an inch IN thickness: that they were reddish
In appearance. firm in texture and that tney
were impedded III iat tnat the bladder Was
empty and well preserved; that the heart weighed
four ana half ounces; that It's rlUht SIDE was fatty
thai the valves presented normal appearance; that
sne lungs exhibited Indications OF recent disease;
showed pienrI.ic adhesions and tnat in both ungs
small hardened deposits were found; that the WASH
ings Of the stomach ana large ana small intes.
tines were separately and critically submitted
20 chemical ana,s SIS for the volatile and
Tor the organic poisons; that as might be
anticipated from the length OF time eapslrg since
the decease no traces 0f the first class were OBJ
tained; ana although the most refined and accurate
methods for detecting such substances as morphine,
sfrycnnlne ana the ike employed, evidence
Of the presence Of any OF this class OF posons was
were also submitted to treatment for OBJ alalng
dicatlons Of the presence OF SAID organic polsons
but none were discovered the washngs of
the stomach ana intesEnes and the It's
sues ol said organs. after being dissolved,
were analyzed Tor the various metallic ara other
posOns but nc traces OF them were found; portions
OF the liver, kidneys and the muscular tissue were
dissolved and critically examined for the vari0ns
poisOns. eut were discovered; dep0nent there.
fore testies tha' with the employment OF the best
scientific skill ana knowledge OF winch he is pos
sessed ne has discovered no chemical evidence OF
the presence OF poison as customary IN these lnves
u2auons, all the vessels employed were new, aud
the various organs were KEPT under lock and seal
Al the 0se OF the testimony Dr. Shine proceeded
to put a lew questions to tile witness.
Y. W nat classes OF POISON Professor, WOuid rem
der person comatose. the deceased Is described
to have been the day Oi his cath I A. Narcotic.
z. That is 10 say vegetabe' 4. Yes. SIR.
U. II the contents OF The stomach had not been
absent 90 You think that the presence or morphine
coud have been discovered so ong alier death as a
year therelpOuIs. A. Ii the coneent5 OF the sLon
present II possibly might pe, Dut the PROB
abb tiles are against II.
Counse Tor the Gardeners then rose and said tnat
he did not like the way the evidence OF certain wit
mad been taken. Inc ai1daviLs read were all
ex parte statements ana great deal nearsay. the
II.
moned before the jury lie desired, however, no
pOstponement OIL the case.
Coroner fiynn renaik ked that the c0unse had the
right TO have tire W tnes5es su ninon"d before The
accused. lie had fahen tle evoence IN :he way OBJ
iected TO to tme, and III dong as he mad done
ne mad followed the advice o. ,he DlsIrict Attorney
lie would therefore adjourn the case 10 saturday
next.
The servant girl Rose. alter The adjournment, in
formed Dr. Snlne tLaL lasL suAilnec Mr.. Gardner
gave ner his pock. Dook 10 Keep or hin, and
saw that IL contained several govern neut oonaS
grtl gSTACg SAs.Es.