The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-02-09
FOURTH DAYS PROCEEDINGS.

Thursday morning, after the opening Of Court,
the erossexamination Of the witness, DIR. :. II.
Sturgeon, was commenced by A. BlackfOrd, Esq,
Attorney for defene G. Previous TO treatmen. Of
the Charles families, never had been called upon
to treat case of poisoning Melissa Charles died
in Orange township, Hancock county, Ohio; wit
ness could, from well defined symptoms, form
judgment to the cause of the illness OF the fam
ilies: u person who had been on a drunk at night
would have headache and sour stomach in the
morning: can not say, from recollection, whether
| gave deceased small doses Of quinine the second
day; gave all the sick such doses of magnesia as
considered they required: all medicines are pOis-
ons when given in large doses; Elijah Charles
complained much of pain in his stomach and
bowels and irritation Of his heart; oldest daugh-
ter of lijah was neutrality-suspicious. on the bed.
complained Of excessive heat; second visit condi-
ton of the families was about the same; third
VISIT Malissa appeared better: cannot say whether
she slept or not that night; think she ate some
crackers in soup, and on the second day threw up
her food: third day her symptoms were worse.
Isaac. the pOisOner, was there ON Friday night
On Saturday | took charge Of the me'iieines-
magnesia, quinine and morphine; Old not give
the daughter any antimOny: she continued about
the same until Monday and then became con-
valescent.
The cross-examination was searching and pro-
tracted. and confined chiefly 10 the mode Of
treatment of the several poisoned people, eleven
in number, and elected no matter which would
be of interest TO any except legal or medical men
EE-EIANINED BI PsSECJIIOS
In regard 70 sick wheat" the answer to cues
ton Of defendant, made az the house of Elijsh
Charles, was intended TO be evasiye; prescribed
10 grains OF sub-nitrate Of bismuth- Two of the
patients were afflicted with ienesmus or straining
Of the bowels. end three with loOseness Of bowels
To knowledge of witness. there WAS no trichina in
old pork: that disease was generally eOmmunica-
ted as he understood il, through fresh pork and
sausage made of newlyslaughtered hogs; had no
knowledge OF an instance where poison had been
communicated merely through use OF a tea kettle
where pure water had been used Constable
came TO house OF witness and ordered him % AID
in arrest OF Isaac B. Charles was ordered about II
O'Clock at night, in June, TO aid In making the
arrest of prisoner; found him az his house; mad
rapped several times at the door, and finally pms
oner appeared and opened the door with revolver
in hand. but yielded 10 the arrest increasingly
By PRosEcUTIoS.
Did he tell yo'i why he was arrested.'' He had
aid before They viii never take me alive
DR. Ralph Davenport-Reside a. Ada Ohio had
been resident there Il years and praeticed medl-
cine - years; graduated at the Cincinnati College
of Medicine and Surgery; June 1th accompanied
Dr. sturgeon to house Of Elijah Charles. several
perz0ns there. aside from patients. and among
them Isaac b. Charles: examined Melissa Charles
tongue and throat very sore and inffamed-ex-
treInitie< not a. warm es rest of the body. Upon
inauiry was informed by her that she had yoinit-
cd freely. and suffered from constant nausea,
complained Of soreness and stiffness in the calves
of her legs-Of continued thirst and of pains In
head and back: examined all the patients, and
discovered the same general symptoms IN all. only
that one was more bloated than the others Was
present az the post morten: Drs. Sturgeon. Cas-.
Runkle and Soder were present.; body was re-
moved from the house 20 the church, where the
examination commenced The heart was found
normal in all its conditions. contents of stomach
xere placed In a vial and sealed; appearance Of
mueas Was q vhitish brown color. lower portion
of stomach diseolored by Irregular red spotx
length Of decesseds stomach about IL inehe@-
one-third. or rather more of the walls had these
purple-red spots which would indicate that 10
had been inhamed; did not examine duodenum
not an expert in pharmacy; had read toxicology.
and studied some, but not sufficient To consider
himself an expert, visited Melissa Charles during
her Last Illness, and from her symphonic, taken in
connection with what patient Informed him, wit
tant poison
Cross exar1ined.-5 to grains Of subnitrste Of
bismuth would be Larger amount thsn witue9