The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-12-05

~ NTN ~ 4. ~ 80 @s@"@' " - 't"@f>- $500"
ordinary.
II viii be remembered that the State
proved that the relations II Mr.. and
Mrs. Ratcliff. n observed by the guests
and servants II the hotel. were not
felicitous; that he rarely spoke 70 her AZ
table, habitually averting his face IN her
presence; that he wandered aimlessly
about the hotel for several days previous
70 his illness. apparently halt stupeiied.
~ il by the oppression Of some heavy
mental burden. and that when accosted
hy any one connected with the house he
started as il from 4 dream, and an
swercd incoherently il at all.
II was also shown that, by her hus-
bands death, Mrs. Ratcliff became the
sole mistress IF a large fortune.
The evidence bearing directly upon
the circumstances Of Mr.. Ratcliff's
death was very clear. For "a hours be-
fore physician was summoned, no one
had access 10 him save his wife. Al
dinner that day. in response 10 the POI
lite inquiry Of a lady neighbor At table,
Mrs. Ratcliff announced. with great
self-posscssion, that her husband was
seriously indispo>cd. Soon after III
O'Clock AT night, Mrs Ratcliff rang her
bell, and, without the least agitation q
manner, remarked that her husband
appeared 10 be dying. and that il might
be well 70 send for physician. pr.
Culberf, who arrived within a very few
minutes. found Mr.. Ratcliff in pro
found stupor, breathing stcrtoriously.
He swore at the trial that when he first
entered the room the prisoner, pointing
TO the bed. coolly said: - suppose that
have killed him.
DIR. Culhert's testimony seemed 10
point Enthusiastically to poisoning by
laudanum or morphine. The uncon-
scious mans pulse was full but slow; his
skin cold and pallid: the expression Of
his countenance placid; vet ghastly
pale: lips liyid. Coma had already SUI
peryencd. and il was impossible to rouse
him. The ordinary eNpedients were
tried in vain. Flagellation Of the palms
Of his hands and the soles Of his feet.
electricity applied 70 the head and spine,
failed 70 make any impression on his
lethargy The cvelids. being forci-
bly opened, the pupils were
seen to bc contracted To the
sizcscf pinhcads. and violently turned
inward Later. the sfertor0uS breathing
developed into the ominously loud rattle
OF mucous in the trachea; there We're
commissions. attended by copious froth-
ings AT the mouth: the under jaw fell
upon the breast; and paralysis and death
followed, four hours after Dr. Culbert's
arrival.
Several ~ the most eminent pracii-
ft.t.4.r.- q NV. ssffx r.stf ttf.Tu thu -.aul
by the prosecutions, sworc that, in their
opinion, the symptoms noted by DR..
Culbert not only indicated opium pois-
oning. but could have resulted from no
other cause.
On the other hand, the State absolute
II failed 10 show either that opium in
any form had been purchased by Mrs
Ratcliff in st. Louis, or that traces II
opium in ANY form Were found in the
room after the event. 1t il true that
the Prosecuting Attorney. in his closing
argument, sought to make the latter
circumstance tel against the prisoner.
He argued that the disappearance Of any
vessel containing or having contained
laudanum, in view Of the positive evil
dcncc that laudanum had been en-
/ pi0ycd, served ID establish deliberate
intention vi murder and 10 dcmolish any
theory Of accidental poisoning that the
defense might attempt 10 build: and he
propounded hall dozen hypothetical
methods BY which Mrs. Ratcliff might
have disposed. In advance ~ this evil
dcnce Of her crime. The Court, If
course, in summing up, cautioned the
Jury against attaching weight 70 these
hypothcscs of the Prosecuting Attor-
ncy-
The Court, however. put much en-
phasis on the medical testimony for the
prosecution. and on the calm declaration
q Mrs. Ratcliff 10 Dr. Culbert, :. sup
pose that have killed him"
Having conducted the autopsy, and
afterward made a qualitative analysis u
the contents Of the dead mans stomach,
was put upon the stand as a witness
for the defense.
Then saw the prisoner for the frs,
time in more than five years. When
had taken the oath and answered the
preliminary questions, Mrs. Ratcifi
raised the veil which she had worn since
the trial began. and looked me in the
face with the well remembered eyes q
Miss Borgicr.
! confess that my behavior during the
first few moments Of surprise afforded
some ground for the reports that were
afterwards current concerning my rela-
tions with the prisoner. Her eyes
chained not only mine, but my tongue
also. saw Jerusalem again, and the
face framed in blue sky pecring down
into the amphitheater Of the old Medical
College. II was only after struggle
which attracted the attention ~ Judge,
jury, bar, and spectators that was able
70 proceed with my testimony.
That testimony was strong for the ac-