The New York herald., 1878-09-28
More Evidence from Experts on Behalf
of the Defence.
BULLETS AND SKULLS.
Reasons for Doubling That Mrs. Billings Was
Killed with the Billings Gun.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

ing groups or knots outside OF the county buildings
and discussing the platforms adopted, candidates se
lecied and tho general tenor OF tho proceedings Of tho
! two State Conventions that yesterday terminated
| their meetings at Syracuse aud Saratoga There
few more enjoyable privileges TO the intelligent
ralte than to gather at the county seat and there
| meet his neighbors to canvass, in their homely
| but honest manner, tho political situation out
look. Consequently, when the throe hundred or
farmers who are daily drawn TO this village from the
| surrounding districts found the development OF the
| trial OF a monotonous nature they naturally con-
vcned around the hotels or Court House porch and
lawn for social gossip and interchange OF opinion.
| Among those present IN the court chamber to-
day were District Attorney Benjamin K. Phelps
aud Horace Russell, Assistant District Attorney,
| from New York city. 1t was stated at first that
these gentlemen would participate the prosecution.
but tho rumor lacks confirmation. Owing to tho
death OF sister OF District Attorney Ormsby the
Court concluded, with the assent OF the and
counsel for the defence, adjourn this evening
until Monday. The progress made with the evioence
to-day was small Tho only witness examined was J.
Halsted Ward, OF Troy. who called by the de.
fenoc expert The gentleman is prominently
| known scientist, but Counsellor MoaK
desired to give his testimony shallow look, If pos.
sble, and endeavor to Offset tho DOCTORS declarations
about finding gunp0wder or cartridge powder on the
Billings window frame. II that proof were per-
miIted to stand uncontrad,cted, then positive ad-
vantage would unquesIionabiy accrue to the defence
honco Mr.. Moak's pertinancy in attempting over.
whem the witness with seemingly abstruse ques-
lions. Many believed the shrswd attorney was
merely talking against tine with the hope OF pro-
ducing counter evidencs TO robut DR.. Wards asser-
tions. IL the conclusions OF this witness are not
| set aside, then II is definitely settled that
the shot which killed Mrs. Billings was
not fred from the Ballard cavalry carbinc that has
been recognized which Billings is accused OF
using to XIII his wiis Hence the perseverance, OF
the prosecution in endcavorng to reflect tho
| perps knowledge Last night Mr. Moak provided
himself win an armiul OF STANDARD works
scienthc subjects, and opening these IN succession
before tue witness. read questions tnererom that
might have discouraged Solomon. Hence YARDS en-
| barrassment, over which his willy intcrTosutor
cAuckied Ty ndaI, Ganot Contrac ma other noted
authors were emp.oyed TO bewiider the witness.
who so ehectualy tell vciim To the
snare actually Jailed co answer such qucs-
| iions as tne melting heat OF iron lead or tn A
synopsis oil Dr. Wards evidence Is gwen; also u few
samples OF the inquiries that were propouna aed TO
him. He first underwent a redirect cxamination,
alter which Mr. Moak's torturipg nnueudoes CON-
Incnced.
DIR WARDS TESTIMONY
Redirect examination Judging from the grains OF
powder on The window sash should think that the
shot wac fired IRON a distance vi between two aud
hve feet from the window; at a hign velocity u hole
made by ball Will DO cleaner cut or have puiver
izod look as IL the hole had boon drilled II at low
veiocily tho edges Of the hoio will be more starred
aud ragged, whie the side iarthest the part first
|
General Hughes here entered into IN explanation OF
whs. no desired TO prove. air. Moak and called
attention Of the Court to half column report OF Sir.
Lewis evidence as gwen the aay before, as printed
In Troy paper Mr.. Moak SAID II such eviaenoe had
been gwen he desired TO be so informed, to cross
examiHe The witness. Tho Court assured him that
sucn was not the case.
Cross.examinaton-I have beon called occas on aliy
expert in forgery cases. also in regard to stains
on clothing, clubs and handwrtlug am also
slitute al Troy; have gwen natural, chemical aud
philosophical sciences considerable study when IA
given velocity Is communicated to bail iorce lost
either through the barrel or Oy impact against the
stopping obsTuctiOn Oall fired iroin rifle or long
revolver or snort oafrc; tho powder has inc
ohsncs to enhance the velocity Oy expending all It's
force IN long barrel, whereas when fred from
short barrel part OF the forcc ~ lost Ia
the air; there Is a certain amount or de-
gree OF elasticity IN glass. which varies greatly
In proportion 10 tue neness OF texture. hardness or
soilness Of The glass, aud tho care OF manufacture,
aud the exactuess with which tho ingredients arc
mixed. tBaii shown to witness) should think that
The Billings rife carbino was hero brought into
court ana the small a. 100 cartridge lifted the breech
vi the gun, but would not go into the muzzc wuDout
The application OF considerable iorcc There was con
siderable difficulty to get ne bal out OF the
zle alter Mr. Moak had janmed II III.
wiMessIh hrst saw The bail that was taken ON Mr..
Billings neac week. "a gram ordinary cartridge
powaer was shown witness.j Tue powder that 1 took
from tho Billings window was about onc-iourth OF
gram OF thai size; dug the powder out Of the
winaow SASH with pockeikniie; when | iguilcd tho
powder the igniton was obtained IRON an alcohol
Il exri,ded.
q. Doctor did you hoar the report of the cxpio
sion Of that ono hundrcdth part OF grain weight or
POWDER A. distinctly heard ~
U Is your hearing abnorinalY A. No, tniDS not.
Y. Does not an alcohol lamp produce "a noise when
burningg A. Not much.
Q Does not ali combustion produce a nose2 A. TO
q. How lar your from the powder wnen IL
oxuiodedS a. About fifteen inches
q Did not The others Ia the room hear ~ A. Yes
| SArrRE AND ArrRBcTxs BULLETS
wltness-fhc weight OF commercial bullets vary ac-
cording to The amount OF metals used IN tueir conpo
siton TIN Is used TO regulate hardness or soitness;
ASSUMING the iorce, distance and weapon TO be tqua
soit bullet as general rule would bs more apt To be
nasnod. out not spattered. by IA sqoai amount OF
impact resistance or checking force tssgen dinercnt
q In your judg we're all these bu ots nred from
the same distance, on The same day, from the same
box OF cartridges from The same weapon, at tho
object apd against the same substanceT A. have
opinion.
stances under which ball may or may not 60 tarou ii
n pcrson's skull according 40 general ruler A. |
hardly thpk any OF these twv balls arc shkc differ
en Ipauuiacturers use dercut quantities ana qu
OF powder; DO not Know as 10 the sound OF the
bastion o. black ,ead; when tried to produce a
shadow from the burnDs o back lead II Jailed that
was since this trial commenced; am aware mat "A
centre nre cartridge shoots better than rim nfo
cartridge; should say tnat tho force with winch
bue, 10 stopped will heat The metal ana cause loss
OF the metal.
q. Al what ten peratare do you think theso ordi.
nary bullets OF commerce would DO mcitods A. am
unable to state.
CHARACTERISTICS SKULLS.
u Is the bone that comprises tue skull quito pc.
cuiar IN It's character, varying from any other boae
Ia The body 10 texture, briteness ana capacity TO ad.
bcreY A. shOuia cay that u n.
q DO you not think, from comparative thickness,
the human skull Is more dillicuit TO penetrate than
any otbcr bone OF tho body a. Tue suporstructure
is. but tue inuer texture Is less hard.
Y. DO you think the inner portion ot the skull is
easier vi penetration than the nucr part OF other
Uoner A. have not cxucrimerteu enough on that
suDJcot to gye an opinion tho human BRAN viii
deBoc u considerable resistance TO bullet, though
dead persons brau ~ generally credited with oner
more resistance than that OF live person. tBuilet
shown witness that was taken from Mrs BiIings'
hssd think tho largest part OF tho misshaping OF
tue bullet occurred nj tho point OF It's stoppsgc.
q Isn't 10 Iaid down that the amount OF vibration
OF the brain caused by pistol ballet produce
fracture VI tue sku opposite 10 tie point al when
the bullet entered A. IL II 80 lard down.
Mr. Moak-I once paid $500 Tor a human hoaa 10
fire into IA Ne~ York.
Mr. huenes--rnat will not bo charged to this
|