Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-02-13

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Winchester they are ~ cts
There is a haunted house in Wheeling 1t
is offered for sale
TURNING THE TABLEs.-Within the last
year we have had four exciting criminal trials
in which the whole defence rested upon the
doubt raised by lawyers and Psychological ex-
perts as to the accuracy of the chemical analy-
ses made 10 three of the cases by Prof. Aiken
and 10 the fourth by Prof. Tonry. In the
| Schnppe trial and 10 the two Wharton trials
there was great deal Of eloquence, learning
and possibly little legal and scientific trlckery
employed to show that Prof Aiken found no
| poison that his tests were delusve, and the
results obtained uncertain and unreliable. The
accused still live, because learned lawyers argu.
| ed that Prof Aiken imagined that he found
| poison where there was no poison,
In the Platter case, however, the theory of
the defence is exactly the reverse OF that set
up for Dr. Scheppe and Mrs. Wharton and
Mrs Lloyd The counsel for the prisoner at
tempted to show that Mrs. Platter was not MUIR
| dered by her husband, but died by her own
hand A small piece Of paper was found near
the spot on which she lay, with the word
''strychina' or 'strychnine" written on it,
The counsel for the prosecution will argue that
this was put there by the prisoner with intent
to manufacture defence for himself The
counsel for the defence will insisted she took
strychnine and diedfrom its effects The pros
ecuting attorney, anticipating this line of de-
fence, had the body Of the dead woman ex.
humed some four or FIVE days after burial, and
the stomach and its contents we're sent to Prof.
Aiken for analysis. No traces Of any kind OF
poison were found. 1t was contended, how
ever, that Prof Aikens tests we're insufficient,
and that be failed to find poison where more
skilfu and learned toXicooglst would have
found it. The very fact that he did find poi
son in other cases in which it was assumed
| that no poison had been administered was used
to show that he is not reliable expert. and
that his testimony that the stomach OF the
deceased woman contained 20 poison should
have no weight. 1t is thus that facts are as
sumed or denied, and scientific deductions
made positive or negative to suit the eNgen
cies of each particular case.-Bato. -1n1ertcdn~
LoUDoUN ITEMS. February Court on Mon
day, Judge Ball, presiding, was we'll attended,
but little business was done. TheCommonwealth
VS.. W. & 0. Railroad, for obstructing the pub
lie road. occupied the attention of the conrt un-
til noon Tuesday, at which time the jury rem
dered verdict against the defendant and as
sessed the damages at four hundred dollars.
The School Meeting called in HamilSon on
the 9Th inst, resulted in the agreement OF the
School Boards of Mt. Gilead and Jefferson dis
tricts, to apply $500 each, toward the building
of the first story Of the proposed Masonic Hall,
to be erected in that village. The arrangement
is understood to be conditioned on the raising
of some 5000 or 5000, by the citizens IN and
near that place privately.
in the case of Denhan vs. Adams, sold on Mon
day. tract of l26 acres Of land near Aide, be-
longing to the late VIM. f. Adams, for 800 80
per acre Dallas Fur, purchaser. -LeesJug
Mirror.
A CRAFTY" CoLoNEL.-A letter from Car
oline county, in the Richmond Enquirer says:
"Our community has of late been very much
excited by the arrival n the county of So
called wealthy gentleman from New York,
passing under the name of Col Van kortlandt,
who protested to be in search Of suitable
home for himself, and some eight or ten others
of his friends, who wished TO locate in this
county. He examined very many farms, spent
SONG eight or ten days, enjoyed the hospitality
of some of our best citizens, was teted and
carried about In carriages from house 10 house,
had some half dozen of our best lawyers buslly
engaged for days examining title deeds and the
like, with promise of many shining grccnbacks,
until he was finally satisfied as to title He in-
formed them that on Monday last he would
meet them at the clerk 8 Office in the county to
make payments At the time appointed law
yers and parties were all duly present, but grief
came upon them, for the Colonel came up mis-
sing. On their return to their homes, breast
pins, spoons and gloves, and other little items,
TOO numerous to mention, as the advertisers
cay we're all zone -