New-York tribune., 1871-12-30
THE WHARTON TRIAL.
THE PROCEEDINGS YESTERDAY.

THE PROCEEDINGS YESTERDAY.
,xrrprsr,NG TESTIMONY OF PROF. M'CULLOCH.
ANNAPOLIS, Dec. 29.-The court met at 10
o'clock Mrs Jennie Mcayer Of Baltimore and capt.
Henry r. Brewster of tho 9th Artillery were the first
t.o witnesses called. They testified to Mrs. Whartons
general reputation for kindness and amability.
Prof r. s. McCnoch.tcstifed follows: am a Pro-
fessor In the Washington aud Lee University teach
natural philosophy and chemistry. applied 10 metal
lurgy; made chemical analysis three or four years ago
for the Government; Chemist for tho Confederate
Government; heard the testimony Of Prof. Aiken. In
regard to his ANALYSIS Of the contents OF Gen. ketchums
stomach and also read his report to the prosecuting
attorney In my Judgment the tests proved by Dr. Aiken
been made by himself are insufficient 10 estao
lsh the presence Of antimOny; consider Dr. AIKEN
analysis radically defective; in order TO establish the
presence OF autmony. II s absolutely necessary 10 e'
the metal iself and, by test after test, prove
that it is really antmony; animony IA
a simple elementary substance, having many
properties by which 1t can BE- rcc"emheo'
and " any OF the experiments fail 1t wcakens thc impress
sion that it is really antmony. Tb" quantity ora'r'
with should sufficient to be subjected to all these 'ss
to preclude possibility Of its being anything else
consider DR.. Aiken's analysis radically detective De-
cause he-did get the metal but operated Oh suo
stances more or less mixed with organic matter WHICH
would render the tests faacous If Dr. AIKEN hao oten
operating metal. and knew 1t to be sneh' his WE,
would constitute strong probability that II was 'h
mony hut no absolute certainty because" IA new mo'"'
are constantly discovered IA chemistry 1t wonid oe pos
sihlc that il chemist passed metal II might cohI'in
these three properties, and yet fail III the QUIET iop
| erry, which belong 10 antimonv; IN any case
| consider 1t necessary to go beyond these 'eSts
in cases such that OF chemisttccratHg Oh the con-
tents of a stomach containing substai - Of organic
kinds which has held for years f'r "nch reasons s
these, the analysis Of Dr. Aiken nj = prove cn'iriy
faacous Witness explained the tests referred 10 WIN
those Of Dr. Aiken and said they did not prove the pres
ence Of untmony, because other substances give Inc
same result he had made experiments with reference L"
this peculiar case tried reaction OF sulphuretfed ny
drogrn on choratc and got from 1t precirate which
might be readily mistaken by seoor sulphurctted
anthnony; repeated the experiment with suipbine OF
| ammonia. and sulphurate Of sodium with Simi-
| lar results then experimental with hncVlre
/ " yellow jessamine, aud got also pre-
| c!pitatc which might resdily be mistaken by these
appearances for annony then mixed yellow iessamne
and cu"rlgp and found they .avt similar results upon
being mixed put such mixture into organic mat
such the white OF an egg and milk th" had some
beef BROTH TO which added two drops OF lactc acid and
snail g, ~ Td IN rs. and cc f re
last experiments for the purpose Of initiating as closely
possible what was SUPPOSED to be the contents o,
| Krtchuns stomach a red precipitste vas obtained
closely resembling such q one as antimony would give
did this IN Lexington, ard repeated here with similar
| another important experiment, which performed AZ
Gentlemen. !. thu The preciptate throw down by -ui.
phuretted hydrogen and tincture Of gcNemnn dsnves
in other words the two resemble each other in prop
erywhen this solution In hydro chOric acid is dropped
does and that white cloud is resolution in cxrrss Of
hydrochOrc acid. which is also true Of ant""ny and
| again a precpitate, which might be mistaken
| ion one OF an!mony; the resemblance of the
to sstonish me when made the experiment.
made last night mixture of chlora and yellow ets,-
Kechum by DR.. Williams and to this added what Prof.
Aiken added to the contents of the stomach in his search
Donate Of Soda for the purpose Of getting mixture
closely resembling the contents OF Kctchuns stomach.
here and show the reaction with hydro slpate of
ammonia; cannot do 18th sulphuretted hydrogen. be-
| causc ii would take some hours.
Witness prepared the he - .on'"n az, az aboye stated
su hurtt of ammonia spec ens Of tartar eneti and
got clear orange red r"% only , few ;h Of ,l ha,c put
there very little difference IN color; know gel
sclnium and eblora were given to Gen Hetcnnn heor.
10 find the results Of these organic and the
tests show eGneu'vey to my mind that Bat the medicine
| results, unless antmouy WAS known TO be pres
ent; such pfeer,,ae Nigh, t be COMPOSED en-
| tales which resemble each other. it IS Impossible
e oheT opersus 1S tie
because Of the influence Of temperature. &C. III anal
70 obtain Quantities the tests arped by Pro" Aiken
were my Judgment insufficient to prove the presence
metal and operated with the substance composed
largely Of OrSane matter the s,n metal M must be ways
not final result but as preliminary one that the
chemist may know that he is working the metal lone
Prof. Akens experiments IN relation t. the cfyraIs
would go to show the presence OF something Other than
antnony the fact tha, crystals formed from tartar,
TT the r G not Ms
port TO the prosecuting attorney he corrected II here
Aikens written statement before he corrected it here
presented chemical mpossihty under the ny ypnthrsis
Of tartsreetic atartmrtlc would not have produced
the seu a1d as anynT ""ua be that
beard Prof Topeys testimony consider that his tests
and as detailed BY him. did not show the pres,
having proven anything; he got number OF little spots
| but, even if tney were metallic they were in
Seeh' Sey xere and what sappasx f
then s,8 xa1 au1ony tn
sufficiently explained by Impurities II materials
used; hydrochoric acid is liable to contain Impurities.
often contains arsenic and contain antmOny; the
PROCESS used BY Ionsy ios The purity Of his sphure
by rcnsy Prof McCuloeS said have passed %p1 man;
tuns Of through dilute Of sulphuric acid in the
ss,ss That a xoS a s ars iS
obtained by Toney may have been caused simply by such
imHn'1ty IN theme, the znf' .u .,o,
about 80 spots each OF which he stated
in sht one forty part Of gram tartar
obtained BY TSnsy' WiIe.s ID detailed infinitely the
The witness was the stand for several hours. The
important part OF the testimony condensed
the following reply to question by Mr.. Steele: In my
Judgment the analyses OF Prpfs Aiken and Toncy did
prove the presence OF aDtiinOny or poisonous sub
stance Whatever Ill Gen. Ketc huns stomach; and ia my
mind only served to prove the presence In his stomach
Of the medicines given him by order Of Dr. Williams.
The crosse Examination Of this witness CONNIE need,
which he stated that tests used by him si-
lar in all particulars TO those used by Prof Aiken He
about To bc examined as to his knOwlrdg U color
tests when the court adjourned until 10 o'clock
PROF. ATKINS TESTIMONY
A SEARCHING AND IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF IT BY