New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-10

who came to view 1t, and was very much
affected by the spectacle, as she herself told
me- 1t had token possession OF her mind.
so much as to be0er nervous, morbid ap-
preheneion that the came thing might hap
pen to herself. I endeavOred to laugh her
out of the idea; but she remained serious,
and to my great surprise made a request to
me that. In the event of my being present
at her death, l would take measures to
make her secure against the possibility of
scribed the mode, and herself gave me that
needle YOU hold in your hand. at first
fatty refused, and endeavored to dissuade
her from repeating the request. She did go,
nevertheless, urging 1t upon me; and to
gain my consent made mention of the large
legacy which, as you all know, she has lett
me-"
go on, SIR said the coroner.
Il need hardly expect" continued the
witness, with the air of an injured man
II need ecarce hope to get credit for having
opposed her wish. Much lesa am l likely to
be believed when say that it was not the
legacy that at length induced me to accede
to her request. She entreated me, end
yielded, as now fnG to my misfortune"
Have you any proof of her having made
this request, W hich l must characterize as
yerv extraordinary, indeed"
Il had-in her own handwriting, and with
her seal and signature attached-fOr pro-
lection against just such an eventuality as
has arisen. Shs gave me that document,
which, to my sorrow and chagrin, only
yesterday discov cred to be missing had
placed it carelessly in an open pigeon hole
in my dispensing room, from which some
one has distracted it"
"Have you any suspicion as to who has
taken it,"
mot any, at present. Many people at
tend at my house, and patients are often
left in the surgery alone
At this point OF the examination Captain
Walton, who had been all the while listen
ing attentlvely, was observed to direct
searching gle nee toward Lams0n's assist
ant, Nudir. who, as one OF the subpenaed
witnesses, was outside the inciOsure, " ait
ing for his turn 10 be called. From his GUS
tomary cadavetous hue, it would not be
correct to say he turned pale; but the cap
tain n0ticed-what passed un0tseryed by
the others-a singular t"itching in the
enews OF his crane-like neck, with an ex
preston in his shoulish eyes that seemed TO
say-though only to hImselt-'I am the
guilty one."
The coroner continued, still addressing
DR.. Lamsop, and holding out the needle:
Explain to the jury how you acted in
regard TO this. State the exact circum-
stsnces; tell everything"
"There ia not much more to tell. As
soon as was assured that life was extinct,
acted according to my promise given to
the young lady. and inserted the needle as
she had herself instructed me. Of course
l had an opportunity when no one was
present by the death oed. Had l done the
thing openly it is possible no one would
have objected; but there must have been
talk about proceeding go unusual, and l
should no doubt have been blamed--as l
am likely to be now
"More than blamed !" C. led a man from
among the outside crowd, the remark fol
lowed by chorus of similar observations
"Sileuce !" commanded the coroner. IL
shall order into custody anyone who may
again interrupt the inquest
Then turning to DR.. LamsOn, he asked:
Twill YOU swear that heart disease was the
real cause of Mics Ingleworth's death ?"
II will do swear it. But why question
ne furthers Complete the post mOrtem ex-
animation and that will satisfy you. AS
YOU see, upon that needle there is no stain
of blood; nor any extravasion around the
oritice where it entered. 1 need not point
out to nv medical brethren here that such
could not be the case had the needle been
insei ted into the flesh of living subject.
Let them lay open the breast and they will
find as stated in my certificate, case of
heart atrophy. On that l will stake my
skill as physician"
The medical examiners, accepting the
challenge, proceeded to determine the truth
OF his declaration. Indeed, it was evident
that on more than one of them his words
had produced conviction. STILL it was nee
essary they should be submitted to the test
of thorough post norton examination.
But the Inconvenience of completing this
in tho open air suggested the removal OF the
body into the vestry-roOm; and thither was
it taken--only the coroner, his jury, and
other official per- onages being permitted TO
accompany it.
When the breast was laid open and the
heart disclosed to view it was seen that DR..
Lamson's ords were made good. the de
ceased lady had died of heart disease-of
the special kind called atrophy, or, at all
events, she had such disease before death.
After all, it may not have been 1t that
caused her death; and the uncertainty
along with some suspicion still lingering in
the minds OF several of the jurymen-caused
come questions to be brought before the
medical examiners, in the discussion of
which there was a dissidence of opinion.
In the assumed condition of the heart,
was it not possible for it to have been
pierced without interfering with the flow
of blood? Outside it no vein or artery had
been touched. and therefore the absence of
was thus accounted for
Might it not be the same within the heart
itself, and the steel b ave entered it while
still beating2 In all like liho0d, such ques
tions would never have arisen, but for that
legacy of ten thousand pounds-an amount
credulity.
OF course DR.. Limson was not present
In the vestry.roOm, he with the other wit
nesses having been directed to wait in the
outside.
After considerable time spent in debat-
ing the above points, and night drawing
near, the coroner cav tit to postpone his un-
finished inquest till the following day, and
the witnesses were warned of the hour Of
Several of the jury advised placing Dr.
Lamsou under immediate arrest, but IN the
state Of the case this was over
ruled, and he was permitted to depart for
his own house. Some Kisses saluted him as
he passed out through the churchyard gate;
but hearing it with an Indifference that
seemed fortitude itself, the crowd became
of its condeot Snd desisted from
further demonstration.
Captain Walton returned home, accom-
panied by a gentleman named Charlecote,
whom he had invited to dine with him-an
old friend, who was one OF the magistrates
Of the neighborhoOd. .-,.-
As they sat over their wine, smoking an
cigar, the conversation natu.
rally turned Hpon the events of the day
soon coming to DIR. Lamson's testimony.
His story though certainly very strange,
seems probable enough" remarked the
"don't you think so, Walton9"
81 think IL not only probable, but true.
have more than one reason for 90 thinking.
The absence Of extravasated blood ID, TO my
mind, proof positive ss to the mans limo
cence of the higher crime, Whatever one
may think Of his conduct otherwise"
MAY ask what other reason you have
for believing him irnocentr
ss0uo NJ n uorv av,nrif3n and uv,l Law Ahor