The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-28

ly: Look, sir, do you recognize the body
of your wife?'
My Godp exclaimed Barberon, strug-
Cling to his feet and fixing an affrighted
gaze on the vacant eye-sockets that
seemed to stare at him. But the sight
was too CHASTITY, and he put up his hand
to shut it out. What barberous cruelty
this is, he moaned.
IF you murdered this poor woman, you
may partially atone, and perhaps obtain
mercy of men, by making full confes-
sion, said the Juge dInstruction, count
ing out each of his words slowly.
I have nothing to confess | am be
ing inhumanly treated answered Bar
beron, who was beside himself.
Then you maintain that your wife
died a natural death? inquired NJ. Vril-
lard, amidst poignant silence.
4 do; if these gentlemen discover
poison in the body, somebody else will
have put it there. 1t was not I. twill
have been done to ruin me-
| Enough. Gentlemen, you may pro-
ceed with your examination said M.
Willard, addressing the surgeons. you,
sir, must retire; but do not leave the
building
He made sign to the Commissioner Of
Police, who was standing near the door,
and that functionary escorted Barberon
to another chamber, where he left him in
the custody of a detective. Then the
dissecting operations commenced. The
Juge dInstruction took the seat which
Barberon had vacated, and drew out a
notebook and pencil He offered no re-
marks, and watched all that went on
with unobtrusive attention, Like one who
bides his hour; but every time one of the
medical men let fall an observation he
jotted it down.
The examination was long, and the
four doctors were far from being unani-
NOUS They managed to disagree at
starting, about the order in
which the chemical tests should
be applied. The physician who repre-
sented the Insurance Office was positive
that he could detect signs of arsenic; the
expert in toxieoiogy doubted whether a
doctor would have used such tell-tale
poison as that. DR.. Lenoir being ap-
pealed to as to the symptoms which he
had noticed when certifying to the
causes of her death, stoutly maintained
that he had observed nothing that indi-
Gated foul play. This young doctors
reputation was in some sense at stake,
owing to the certificate he had signed,
and this drew him to Barberon's side.
For other reasons, old Or. Legris likewise
sided with Barberon. His antipathy
against the latter was so notorious---the
two had 50 often mocked or abused each
other-that Legris was afraid of being
thought to yield to animus if he joined
in the cry against his unhappy colleague
the shrewd old practitioner saw that ht
would have a better chance of earning
public esteem if he played the magnani
nous.
So there were all the elements for ;
pretty medical quarrel between the foul
men of science who had met to cut VI
the poor young Noman's body, ane
search for traces of a crime amongst it
decayed organs.
AT last, however, after minute exam
ination which was protracted till morn
ing--for some of the experiments coult
only be performed by daylight testing
apparatus revealed the presenceof of arsenic
and then the question arose as to whethe
this quantity was sufficient to hav'
caused death. The Parisian expert
agreeing now with the Insurance dector
thought that it was; Doctors Legris anc
!, Lenoir, but especially the latter, took the
opposilcsview. In the upsbot, the quar-
rel, which was carried on warmly, wa:
cut short by the Juge dInstruction
who had sat all through the night
taking his notes with imperturbablt
silence.
Gentlemen he interposed, rising, 'tht
question which you are debating is ont
for Jury to decide. The moment yol
have ascertained that there is arsenic il
the body, justice must discover how il
got there.
4 think it is very hard, though, thai
medical men should be accused of mur
der on such nimsy evidence as this dc
INJURED cid Dr.. Legris; and then, making
sort of sentimental appeal TO the two
Parisians, he urged that the doctors
ought to stand by one another. 20
the honor of our profession, it should no
60 forth that there are murderer
amongst us
Stop, sir; must take those word
down., said the Juge dInstruction
frowning. They amount to contention
that out Of esprit de corps" you woult
feel justified in shielding a criminal
4 don't say that, but where one Of IN.
own cloth is concerned, would no
Judge harshly or ungenerously,' repliet
DR.. Legris, who was not sorry to let it b.
recorded that he had sturdily taken hi
enemy's part.
ITO BE CONTINUED