Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-02-12
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have thought it due to myself and to
my professional reputation to recount
these facts before briefly speaking of my
recent testimony, as an expert. i'll the
Ratcliff murder trial, the character OF my
relations with the accused having been
persistently misrepresented.
The circumstances Of that celebrated
case are no doubt still fresh in the recol-
lection of the public. Mr.. John L.
Ratcliff, wealthy, middle-aged mer-
chant of Boston, came to St / ouis with
his young bride, on their wedding jour
ney His sudden death at the Planters
hotel, followed by the arrest of his wife,
who was entirely without friends or nc
quaintances in the city, her indictment
for murder by poisoning, the conflict of
medical testimony at the trial, and the
purely circrmstanhal nature of the evil
dence against the prisoner, attracted
general attention and excited public in
terest to degree that was quite extraor-
binary.
1t will be remembered that the state
proved that the relations of Mr. and
Mrs. Ratcliff as observed by the guests
and servants of the hotel, were not felic-
itous; that he rarely spoke to her at Ia
BILE, habitually averting his face in her
presence; that Ne wandered simlessly
about the hotel for several days previous
to his illness, apparently half stupetied,
as if by the oppression of some heavy
mental burden, and that when accosteu
by any one connected with the house ne
started as if from a dream, and answered
incoherently if Mt all.
1t was also shown that, by her hus-
bands death, Mrs, Ratcliff became the
sole mistress of large fortune.
The evidence bearing directly upon
the circumstances of Mr., Ratcliff's death
was very clear For twenty -four hours
before physician WAS summoned, no one
had access to him save his wife. At din
ner that day, in response to tie polite in
qtliry of the lady neighbCr at table, Mrs.
Ratchtf announced, with great self-pos-
session, that her husband vas seriously
indisposed. Soon after eleven o'clock at
night, Mrs. Ratclff rang her bell, and,
/ without the least agitation of manner,
remarked that her husband appeared to
be dying, and that it might be well TO
send for physician. DR.. Culbert, who
arrived within very few minutes, found
/ Mr.. Ratclif in a profound stpor, breath
ing stertorously. He swore at the trial
| that when he first entered TIE room the
prisoner, pointing 70 the he'd, cooly
said: - suppose that have Killed him. .
DR. Culbert's testimony seemed 10
point Enthusiastically to poisoning by
laudnnum or morphine. The unconscious
mans pulse was full but slo.; his skin
cold and pullid; the expression of his
countenance placid, yet ghastlE pale; lips
Gvid Coma had already sapervened,
and it WAS impossible to rouse him.
/ The ordinary eXpedcnts wee tried In
vain Flagellation of the palms of his
hands and soles Of his feet, Electricity
applied to the head and spine failed to
make any impression on has lethargy.
The eyeGds being forcibly opmed, the
pupils were seen to be contracted 70 the
size OF pinheads, and Violently turned
inward. Later. the stertorous breathing
developed into the ominouslv ldld rattle
of mucous III the trachea: there we're con-
WILSON'S, attended by coplous hothings
at the mouth: the under jaw fell upon the
breast; and paralysis and death Showed,
four hours after DR.. Culbert's arrival.
Several Of the most eminen. prfchtion-
ers OF the city. put upon the ssnd 10y
the prosecution, swore that II their
opinion the symptoms noted N DR..
Culbert not only indicated opium poison
ing. bu. could have resulted iDm nc
other cause.
On the other hand. the state ABSOLUTE
" failed to show either That Opium il