The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-04
Mrs. WHlRTON'S TRIAL.
Maryland Politicians in the Anna
polls Court Room.
The Mysterious Drama Enacted
Before the Bench.
~~->~~>>>~~~~~-~~~
Haggard and Worn Appearance Of the
Accused.
The Attorney General and DR.. Reese in q Medi.
cO-Legal Struggle for Eight Hours.
Professor Aiken's Official
Report.
General Brice Believes the Pris-
oner Insane.
He Thinks the Trial Will End
Without Results"

lie Thinks the trial Will End
"Without Results"
ANNAPOLIS, Nd, Jan. 3. 1872
The long days and weeks OF Mrs. WhartOn's at.
bly, upon her health, and although she walks into
court each day from her carriage without difculty
yet the terribly revolving circumstances with which
she Is surrounded seem to have made her
step feeble and her face haggard. The trial
has lost none Of Its dramatic interest, and
o stranger accustomed to the coarse and re.
pulsive surroundings Of an ordinary criminal
court would be struck with ast0nishment upon
entering the court room at Annapolis. The whole
scene bears the impress OF O well played drama.
The accused worn down with patient waiting
trusting In Higher Power for her vindtcation; her
daughter closely veied but clinglng to her mother
with that nlial confidence which has never for q
moment been shaken; their faithful friends,
who have adhered TO them through good and
through evil report, form group which
naturally challenges the pencil OF the ar
tst. Tho Judges, VINO with the keenest
vigilance watch every movement Of the
opposing attorneys and mete out justice
and somewhat OF the sternness or Spartans are
study in themselves. the attorneys in their efforts
10 seize upon the slightest shade OF advantage put
to the blush the hair splitting OF the chemists and
physicians, and by their intellectual encounters,
give intense interest to the trial which has pos
siDly never before been experienced In any similar
case In this country. The jury too, oegins 10 show
the swear and tear" OF the prolonged struggle, ana
their individual characteristics manifest themselves
more and more IA each day Is added to the number
already occupied by the case. The lovely fair both
from the Naval School and the city proper, have
never wearied OF listening to tho dry details OF the
experts, not dozen words OF which do they proba-
bly, understand, and from Ten O'Clock In the morn.
ing until three r. N. they may DO found sitting
quietly IN their seats, specially arranged lO- them,
as though they were perfectly absorbed by the
weird details OF some fearful drama.
The great unwashed crowd thckiy gather
around the ratings which enclose the bar, and
gaze down from their perches with idiotic express
sion upon the scene transporting before them.
Great must be the interest which draws tue ladies
day after day 10 the halls OF justice anu enables
them TO Withstand the s,ining odor which arises
from the persons Of many Immediately around
thcm
MARYLAND POLITICIANS AMONG TIE AUDIENCE.
The Court House to-day was unusually crowded.
The state Legislature met In this city at twelve
O'Clock, and beside tile members OF the respective
Houses. multitude OF camp followers poured into
the town by every steamer ana train OF cars which
arrived; The town iseli Is, for the nonce, thing
life, and the Court House was crowded almost To
sunocation during the progress Of the trial. At ten
O'Clock tue Court met as usual with mll bench,
and the attorneys for bOtn sides IN attendance. A
nights rest mad some what relieved the teuousness
OF yesterdays proceedings, and both lawyers and
court appeared TO enter upon the case with re.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS A MEDIco-LAwYER
Dr. Reese, OF Philadelphia, who was on the stand
yesterday when the Court adjourned was
recalled for cross examination. The examine
ton Of tins witness was conducted by
gentle man appeared TO better advantage in
The court room. lie displayed searching analytical
him, and knowledge OF the laws OF science and an
insight OF human nature which, under the clrcum-
stances al were really surprising HIS questions TOOK
opinion seemed to he general that never had wit.
ness oeen compelled to submit to q more rigid and
mliarlty with medicine and chemistry which
the Attorney General displayed may In q measure
=. g. Williams, from tie clerks olce Kept him
bountllully supplied with questions by means OF
court room Dr. Reese Inc Wi,ness pas,ea ihrouaS
the fearful ordeal In . manner which not only
stamped him as perfect master OF his profession,
to protect him from all the assaults OF those upon
the side OF tho state. He never for moment lost
the witness stand after an examination or about
eight hours. HIS testimony comprised the case as
Ss e mas up W hs
yesterday and the day before, and which has al
ready appeared IN the herald, giving lucid expla.
have been conducted, and rendered ms former as
serions that the analyses Of both Professors Aiken
and TOrey were utterly worthless developing the
presence OF antlmony IN the stomach OF General
ketchum. He gave it as his opinion That General
gave an exceedingly interesting and lengthy de.
scription OF the symptoms attending that decease.
They were, as described by him, Almost Identical
Kechum's illness by DR.. Williams. DR.. Reese's
cross examination occupied nearly the entire day.
medical expert for the defence, was called TO the
stand as soon as Or. Reese was released, but mis-
testimony was Just commenced az the hour OF ad.
PROFESSOR AIKEN's OFFICIAL REPORT.
The following Official report Of Professor Aiken,
comprising his analysis OF the stomach OF General
Ketcnum and OF the stomach OF Mrs. wharton's
presented, tnat judgment may be formed as to
the correctness Of his conclusions from his own
batim Official statement
UNivEnsITY OF MARYLAND, Oct H. 1871
To A. LEO KNOTT states Attorney
DEAR s,sIp Inc compliance With your request made yeser
ms!ers committed 70 me II connection with the Of the
lie various MODES which night have BEEN or OBJ
tanning REQUIRED results coIhned myself 70 those which
N, opinion. have Is,c,.iCrs been presented and now ss
was formed should p' premise Sss no one ooa
aoee e. I q Ss 70
the utmost csanlInes, Of all the vessels and that
accidentally mingled with he substances under examination
both orlnces tied by Dr. Iiams, In company with Pro.
Professor Miles, and rs contents about four fluid
Of greensb, turbid fluid, poured into a
glass. The inner surface Of the stomach showed no
decided indications OF extensive violent innanmaory
action thus seeming exclude any very corro
si,e poison. The symptoms Immediately preceding DEATH
told appeared point strychnne the cause ana
that sought process based on The following
vegetable alkalies from acid whcn are so
uple In alcohol in aud when q solution OF this
kind dscomposed by mineral slkai and asitated with
ether the yeseses alksli Is SET tree from s combine
be recovered BY allowing the ether 10 svaporas
fhe qud contents the omach brourbt
mingled with alcohol and acid FED with tsrtssc
acid and dgessd at the temperature of degrees Fahren
he Until the liquid portion nearly ali The
!hok residue was exhausted with absolute alcohol BY digest