The New York herald., 1879-10-29

Professor Dana, Of Yale, Continues His
Lecture on Arsenic.
LEGAL HAIRSPLITTING.
The Defence Endeavors to Prove
Science in Error.
New HAVEN, Conn.,. Oct.

In the Hayden trial to-day the time was wholly oc-
cupied with expert testimony as to the composition
and characteristics OF arsenic. Professor Dana was
subjected to rigid cross-examnation by Mr.. wat
rous senior counsel for the defence and the result
was that several admissions secured calculated
to show that IN the delicate experiments and exam
nations made by the witness. there was something
OF uncertainty, and no little liability to
error. When pressed to the point, in one
or two instances Professor Dana admit
ted the impossblity of being absolutely
exact although he satisfied that the results OBJ
tanned sufficiently exact to be of real value in
determining the accuracy OF his assertions as an ex
pert AS rule the poisoning testimony was less
interesting in its character than it has been here
ofore. there being many repettions and much ques-
toning details of secondary Importance. viewed
nike from scientific standpoint or i'll their bearing
apon this The afternoon testimony developed
several excellent points. 1t is understood that ON
the redirect examination. possibly tomorrow.
Professor Dana will bring into court the
microscope with which he made his invesri-
cations in this case, and taking microscopic
slides containing samples Of the more notable
arsentcs will exhibit to the personal inspection of
counsel and jury the differences The magnifying
power Of the instrument is 200 dlameters. To-day.
rs daily since the opening of the trial. Hayden has
been accompanied by his wife, his parents and his
brother. He preserves his cool demeanor. and does
not lose word that is uttered. The attendance
large at the opening OF the court both morning and
afternoon but thinned out gradually. the testimony
proving unattractive to the spectators other than
those Of u scientific turn OF mind.
PROFESSOR DANA RESUMES.
Professor Dana said that his first connection with
The case when, on December 16, 1875 he re-
seived from Professor White sample of the Col
grove ut is untrue" he said ..that when
tho matter of identifying the arsenic first NEIL
toned to me secuted the idea" Witness in
terrogated at considerable length as to simarties
and differences. respectively. between samples from
the several manufactures Of arsenic, mainly to
the sizes Of the crystals Being questioned to i'm
purities aduteraions in arsenic, Professor Dana
said that while lie had personal knowledge. he
had been told that ground glass and chalk were
sometimes used.
"Of ten specimens of arsenic manufactured at Tav-
lstock between 1871 and lS79" continued Professor
Dana. II found five with crystals composing three
fourths and five with crystals composing one-haf
Of the bulk of each respectively The brilliancy Of
crystals appear to me to be less when the broken
fragments and dust arc most plentifully comminged
In the mass. Close packing. extended exposure to
air exposure to the action Of any liquid having
chemical action. agitation Of the contents OF the
Jar. would affect the brilliancy. examined three
samples Of arsenic from the Garland works. and in
the first two found it about half crystals
and in the other one-third. Basing my
statement tho ten samples from Tav-
istock and the three from. the Garland works
should say that there characteristic differ
ences in the sizo Of the crystals. The Dayton
arsenic which received from DR. squibb. of Brook
lyn. probably came from Tavistock, and is COM
posed OF ninety per cent of crystals. Dayton is
probably erroneous spelling OF 'Drayton,' the
name OF man who at one time placed large lots Of
Tavistock arsenic on the market"
'How. then. do you account for one lot Of Tav-
tstock arsenic having ninety per cent and the other
Tavistock specimens obtained by you ranging from
atty to seventy-fve per cent of crystals?"
This was telling point against the witness and
his answer was awaited with great interest
IL think the sample showing the smallest proper
ton OF crystals had before grinding the largest pro-
portion of large crystal which were ground up"
could have passed through untouched in one in
stance and smaller proportion in anotherY'
..Then you recognize as fact that the same cham
ber might have produced ninety per cent of small
crystals at one time and fifty per cent at auother?"
The Affirmative answer given was satisfactory to
the defence. in that the witness thereby admitted
the possibility OF great differences in the manufac
tured product at different times.
THE JURY EXAMINE ARSENIC.
At the afternoon session the cross-examination
resumed ON the point. and Professor Dana
stated that it impossible to give the absolutely
exact ratio between the number OF crystals and rreg
ular fragments in the specimens he had examined.
An approximate ratio, however, may be given. In
the Cogrove arsenic. for instance, the number Of
irregular fragments was always equal to greater
than h IL the whole number OF PARTICLES In all my
examinations never found any two microscopic
fields presenting exactly similar appearances.
At the request of Mr. Watrous witness then placed
side by side upon book cover samples of the Col-
grove" and barn" arsenics. They were taken from
miniature vials about the thickness of ordinary
lead pencil, and two inches in length.
"Why do you rap those Walls with your knifeT'
interrupted Mr.. watrous.
Because the arsenic is compact at the bottom.
and preferred to jar out the particles than to have
them when they started all tall out Of the mouth
together"
"a larger quantity in larger jar would stick in
the same way?"
81 presume so."
the Cogrove arsenic being taken from the bottom Of
the jar from which Hayden bought might have
there
Professor. now that you have finished. I want the
Jury to look at those two samples"
The book cover then passed to the nearest
1uryman. Professor Dana remarkng, "Of course
samples were passed around the double bank Of
Jurors criticsing them sharply others scarcely
giving them glance.
Upon the isO microscopic slides that have pre-
pared there were. continued the Witness probably
ten grains.
''And the annual production of arsenic is several
thousand tons?
eyes, sir"
"And your ten grains may have como from lots
manufactured ut various periods within ten years."
''Yos, SIR"
Mr.. watrous hesitated. and glanced meanngly
through his spcctacles at tho jury AZ though ques
tioning whether they tho point that Professor
Dana had gene little ground. after all. in
his Investigations.
At this point the Court adjourned until tomorrow.
MooNsHINE FOR PRovINcIALs
Tho New Haven Register publishes this evening an
account OF u curious interview with Lottie Fowler,
Spiritualist in reference to the trial. The spirit
OF the murdered girl, Mary stannard. communi-
eating through this medium, is represented as say
ng:--"I was unfortunate earth aud have been In
the spirit world. loved my friend treferring to
Haydcn) and loved him too WELL but IL not
fated for us to be together. The passion great
on my part, but was not rcciprocated, and l knew
I could not have tho object of my affection
because he was welded to another. L suffered
for this reason more than tell and at times
was almost insane because Of IT. Fate dccrced that
should pass away AZ did, for born to trouble
and lated to pass away suddenly when my time
came In another part of the so-callcd spirit utter
ancos 1t IL predicted that during the trial Hayden
will have painful illness. that the jury will dis
agrcc and that there will be second trial IN which
he will be acquitted. The communication ended