Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-06-14

those of arsenical poisoning, l thlnl
Helped dislnter the body On the 2l.h
September. assisted by DR.. Hopkins
tongue swollen and came ont even with tt
lips limbs and abdomen swollen skin {
abdomen yellow and had hard dry appeal
ance in cutting it; interior organs IN goo
state OF preservation some OF organs, c.
pecially the liver, appeared small; too
part OF liver, stomach, portions OF intestine
and the spleen, put them into jars an
sealed them took them to Prof. Collier, a
| sealed them, October 25. | made secon
disinterment; progressive change in body
organs in abdomen and chest decompOsc
mewhat, heart and lungs melted down
a. it were. put everything into ars an
took them to Prof Collier.
| SECOND DAY.
| MIDDLEBURY, Juno IL.
| DIR. Hopkins Is q practcing physician in Vel
gennes. and testified the same as Dr. hldder IN &c
| gard to visiting Mrs. Smith, and disintering tn
body.
| On cross. examination. he testified: That tn
| grave was opened before DR. kidder and hlmse
got there, but the coffin didn't appear to have bee
disturbed.
| Prof. Peter Collier: Resides in Washington, i
| c., am chemist by profession. In August, SEP
| TENDER and October, ls77. resided in Burlington
| DIR. kidder brought me portions of liver. stomach
| spleen and parts Of tho intcstines, purportns I
have abeen taken from the body OF Mrs. Smith
| Analy zed this portion but found poison that
could to; but the appearance Of the stoma ci
| excited my suspicious: afterwards | received tn
rest OF these parts. lie called my attention TO tn
seals on the jars being unbroken. Analysed thi:
second portion found about one-sevonth OF a grair
of white arsenic Very many times more must have
been taken into the system to have enabled me Il
find what did q to grains Is called fatal dose
Not over grain was found In tho liver alone.
arsenic had been put in the parts after death my
brou ght me by DR.. Kidder, and also the arsenic
thrteths and found no arsenic at all. Had con
yersation with Mr.. Smith and MIR. Burroughs il
the laboratory at Burlington. in which Mr.
report and on my saying that 1 had
not, he offered mo 1850 to discontinue the examin
ion. Burroughs was handcuffed with Smith, and
said he had been arrested with him on suspicion
Smith said might NEE. with an accident easily,
and thus stop matters.
On cross-examnation, Prof. Collier stated that
he had never found arsenic in but two human bod
les. In the liver, arsenic Is generally distributed
very unequally. Don't know but the liver might
contain much more than grain.eyen aye grains .
it. First lot received of DR.. kdder Sept. 2ith and
the second Nov. I'd. lS77. During the interview at
vat.ly together, somewhat While was talking
with Mr. smith about Mrs. Smiths death, Bur
roughs told him to tell me some things. had rea-
by Burroughs Tor the purpose Of getting Smith to
compromise himself, for knew that Burroughs had
been working up the case, ard supposed his arrest
was sham one.
AFTERNOON.
Dr. Middleton Goldsmith: Reside In Rutland /;
have been in medical practice since 1899, in Ken
lucky, New York city, and Vermont. Early in life
was myself poisoned. For three years examined
all the sudden deaths before coroner In New York.
In City Hospital, Louisville, KY. for 10 years. In
early life inlhospital most OF the time. II woman
should be affected rs Mrs. Smith was. should
think she had taken an irIitant poison, prob
ably arsenic. If one-seventh OF grain should be
found in a wcmen's liver as II was in hers should
not doubt at all that that caused her death. From
her symptoms as described should say she had
not the cholera morbus at all. From what know
cholera morbus Is not followed by Inflammation OF
the stomach and intestines, as here described.
On cross examination Not now 10 general prAc-
tice, but for the last twenty years have not done
much but consult. No physician who know. enough
to practice could mistake q we'll marked case Of
cholera morbus. Violent vomiting of acid matter
will sometimes produce soreness OF throat and pas
ssges. The first effe,t of arsenic takea In quantity
L. TO produce an irritation If the stomach. The
Effect ID different in different persons. In all the
asscs which have seen vomiting has commenced
within sX hours after the arsenic was taken Vomit-
Ing Is OF the first effects OF the irritation of the
stomach.
On INSTRUMENTATION Have had large ex-
peri ence in post-mortem examinat on.
Mrs. Lucy Gully: Reside in Addison, seven miles
rom Vergennes am sister Of the late Mrs. Smith
rst heard OF her sickness the Saturday before she
lied, when 1 went to Vergennes with my husband
smith waiting her: he asked me TO stay there
while ho went up street; she tried not to have him
20 he WAS gone good while; he said he Thought
rom the first that she wouldn't get we'll; was
here till nearly shutdown; while was there she
% seed thin bloody matter twice.
Mrs. sumner Reside In East Mddebury; re-
dei in Vergennes at the time OF Mrs. Smiths
Heath heard OF her sickness the Friday nj ght she
vas taken sick; saw her on Thursday morning
he vOniited three times within a halt an hour and
vas very sick; Mr.. Smith went away and Lett me
hero; went there Sunday just as she breathed
Ter last MIR. Smith told me he hal had no hope
# her recovery; have seen Mr. Smtn and Mrs.
,hauplin together two or three times have seen
Ter 20 to his store often.
Mrs, Edwin Gorham - Reside in Addison;
lister Of Mrs. Smith; went to see Mrs, Smith
thursday before she died Mrs. Smith was there
md Mrs. Champlin; in the night Mrs. Smith COM
ained Of burning sensat on in her stomach throat
nd mouth; gave her beef tea milk and ice wa
or; 1 stay ed till Friday night she very rcst-
ess; Mrs. Champlin stayed with me THURSDAY
light watched with Mrs. Smith; went back |
ain just as she died sunday; Mr.. Smith said he
lad not thought she would get we'll.
On cross-examnation had a sister who died about |
our years before this; sick some like Mrs Smith
here was post-mortem examination OF her body. |
Mrs. AlmedI Bristol Reside In Vergenncs, |
early opposite the house formerly occupsi by |
frs. Champ!in Have Mr.. Smith 20 often 10 |
be house OF Mrs ChanIplin. The iii st time was, |
hink, in Juno, ls77. Mir, Champlin was over tho |
axe. 1t was about 9 O'Clock in the evening. |
leard him say to Mrs. Champlin that he saw me |
hero. They went into the Champlin house. Saw |
im 20 thore several times after that. Saw him |
cave the house once betwee n and in the morn |
ng. Raw Mrs. Smith three times during her sick |
ess and she complained Of burning in her |
tomach
Mrs. Zeroa Warner Reside in Vergennes, |
q business there. Mrs. Champlin worked tor me |
year ago, but not all the time. Saw Mrs. smith |
no Tuesday morning before she died. She said she |
ias very sick. Saw her again Thursday evening. |
irs. Champlin, MIR. Smith and his daughter were |
resent next saw her Friday morning changed |
or dress for night dress and Dathed and rubbed |
er limbs; watched with her Friday night She
omplained OF tho burning heat in her stomach and |
ain in her back. Stayed there from Sat
riay night till after she died. Saturday |
light some beef tea was made and ! gave her
ushed 1t away and said IL was bitter. |
thursday, Mr. Smith was at my store with Mrs
hamplin they were alone together two hours or
iore; they had scuhle and she got something
way from him; some laughing between them
ley lett IN the evening about tho same time: he
anne TO my store often; have seen her comb his |
mes happens seemed very friendly; they were
here about one hour and n halt the Monday after
be died; she bought some silk and made necktie;
ccssionslly after the funeral.
On cross-exanination Have had millinery shop
l the same place for seven years: my daughter
larried Frank Smith; didn't think Mr. Smith in
'nded any wrong in comingito my shop l have
,ufhed with Mr.. Smith and been quite Intimate
18th him have seWed feather In his hat and
lrned itup may have locked the door to keep
i'm in in playful manner at the same time that
lrs. Champlin made MIN the necktie my dau ghter
,wed some Grape on his hat.
MRS. Fisher: Live in vergennes. was at Mr..
mlth's house the Thursday before she died she
1mplained of burning pain in her stomach and
Assases went again on Friday. she was much
orse, laid on her back with limbs drawn up; went
l Saturday afternoon; sho appeared TO be- worse:
ent In about o'clock sunday morning. her hands
nd feet were cold and she was very restless. Saw
er have two spasms; at the last one she died. Mrs.
hamplin and watched Sunday night. went TO
eep, when woke up Mrs, Champlin and Mr.
NTH were sitting together facing one another
18th his arm about her neck, Before he went away
e kissed her and said he hated to leave her. APP