The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-18

men, remembered TINT DR.. Williams has 4
pe,chdnt for figuring in poisoning trials. II
seems that Aiken, several years ago, had ties.
tilted III the case of DIR. schoeppe in Penn
sylvanin, producing an analysis ef the
stomach of Schnppe's victim, and he sworc
that she died Of prussic acid. as prussic
acid exists in the human saliva and in the
human stomach during the decompo-
sitiou of animal matter, combined with
base, it was shlewdly suspected that
Allens chemical tests had separated
the base from the prussic acid, and
proved as evidence Of poisoning what
really existed in the human system rs a
bcnclicent component. The medical frater-
nifty therefore petitioned the Governor of
Pennsylvania not to sign the death warrant
of Shnppe, because the evidence was fraudu-
lent OIL which he had been convicted. 1t was
also remembered that about two years ago
young man was indicted for poisoning his
uncle with arsenic after having been guilty
Of an Intrigue with his unclcs wife, and that
Aiken, being called in, swOrc that he found
some ininitesimal quantity Of arsenic i'll the
dead mans stomach. AS he admitted book
called Taylor on Jurisprudence to be a true
book, the lawyers for the prisoner acquitted
their man by showing that the quantity
of arsenic he developed was ridiculorisy
small compared with the amount specified
in said book as the amount necessary to
prove poisoning. In short, the most enlight-
cned medical opinion in Baltimore and
throughout the middle States, stands COM
mitted to the belief that Aiken is not reia-
bic; and, on examining his professional re-
cord i'll Baltimore, it is seen that he putis
articles Of Bourbon whiskcy and canned con-
diments with the same confidence that he
finds poison in the human system, to the d-
rect detrimcnt ofsonie accused person. Thus
the question as to whether Mrs. Wharton is
guilty OF poisoning or no has taken the off
shoot of proving whether Aiken and his
school Of medicine have any responsibility.
L assume that there is scarcely doubt Of
this woman's acquittal, and then the case re-
examined, will show the danger Of the indi-
vidual victim of public opinion when as
sailed by modern sensational appliances,
chief of which is the cheap newspaper, that
bloodhound Of hyperbolc. 1t is monstrous,
also, that the female sex have with such
lnanilnity borne down upon their sister, and
that commerce and science have weighed Il
human life as nothing in the balance COM
pared to their investment against it. 70
sustain his cherished prescription physician
becomes prosccutor-in-chief. TO support
their poSt-mortcn, and analysis, and vim
dicatc their colleague, the chemist, whole
medical faculty bear down upon an aged wo-
mans lie, and Willie the trial is proceeding,
dig up kelclium's body again and pore over
it lur confirmation Of poison. The social am
hition Of Mrs. Wharton had nearly sent her
to the gallows; for the persons who preyed
upon her hospitality appear to have sought
to discharge the obligation by having her
convicted 1t is more natural that the rell-
tiycS o. the deceased k6tehum, between
whom and the defendant money quarrels eX-
i>t, should have shown temper against her.
But the hundred and one little points of
suspicion which have made the fabric OF i'm
plitution have fallen away from this cditicc.
The 5Gr@ia's series of crimes rnsolre to one
nan dyin@in her house after three days sick
ness. and one getting sick there and rccov-
crin"; and the doctors say both had natural
diseases. So the great public, swalmin9
around their edifcc Of horror, see it drop
ptccelrca! and show no contents, and they
arc naturally incGnsed 1t the poorncss OF the
show. and will not forgive the object oil 1t
for )riirlning 80 little. The trial teaches
Us tila 'st.yiciy,' when its pursuit is made
the absorbing Object Of existence, is snare,
and that it will turn and eat its fayoritcs. 1t
also reveals the credulitY of human nature
and It's susceptibility TO believe the worst OF
lis SPECIES and to marshal al! the points Of
association, real and apparent, to sustain IN
:lIjrinG theory Of guilt.