Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-04-15
[Conmunicatcd.l

EDroR Pass The publication in the =. C.
IdreIiiser of the evidence offered before the Coro
ners Jury summoned to hold an inquest on tho
body of Mrs, tanner, has naturally called forth
comment of various nature and from various
sources. That such a matter should afford much
for reflection among the better informed, or
naturally thinking portion of our community, is
not Mt all strange, excepting under the absurd sup
position that such could be indifferent to the ques-
ton of prcventable death, or to the discovery Of
crime. But to be brief, have only to refer to the
testimony of DIR. Cummings; and TO summarize
this in connection with collateral facts for tho
substance of that upon which am to dwell
The deceased lady died and was buried. Upon
tho refusal of the physician who attended from
the ncipioncy to the fatal termination Of her dis
ease, to grant certificate TO tho cause of death,
coupled with the latent suspicious of interested
parties suggested by collateral circumstances, Il
demand for the exhumation and expert exaIniua-
ton of her body was made. A grant In accord
anse herewith was made by the ahl critics, and
autopsy duly held. Evisceration Of the codavcr,
according to the testimony Of Drs. Hutchinson
and Cummings disclosed pathological appearances
were strongly indicative of irrtant poisoning
and therefore corIoboratiyo OF the ladys prior
disclosures to DIR. Cummings. Upon his first visit
the doctor had been told by the patient that abe
had been poisoned; and according 10 his testi-
mony, the symptoms of the disease were strongly
corroborativo of her assertions, and pointed In
his opinion 10 arsenic as their cause. SO far
any evidence to the contary appears, the patient
was allowed to die and DO inferred without s,is-
picion having been uttered To the authorities, or
To any else. And not only this but further
opportunity was conceded to the party accused
supposing criminal intcnt-by making him the
medium by which medicines were TO be disvei,sed
and through whom knowledge of the condition Of
the patient was 10 be received. The question
naturally arises Could the patient, by precau-
L....~
Supporting her TO have been poisoned attempt
no answer.
Again, relative to the discovery Of crime lot mo
premise by saying that many deaths, have
demonstrably resulted from the administration Of
irritant poisons, where the most refined post
norton analyses have failed to detect their pre-
5encc, even IN cases where onorinOus doses have
been taken and more especially has this been W
with arsenic wide, Horsley, Taylor, and Beck.)
ION the other hand mineral posols, anti
mOny arsenic, etc, have been readily detected In
the urine and faces before deaH but none in the
body afterwards -Horsey. DR.. Taylor speaks
of girl who took one ounce of arsenic and died
IN seventeen hours, aud another who took two
ounces and died in eight hours but in neither
ease could the poison he detected. In consitissa.
ton Of such facts as these, known ~ all educated
practitioners, would II MOTTO say the least--have
been advisable that the appropriate excretions Of
tho patient, while living, should have been Sub
iected To analysis especially Ia case where
suspicion lay 10 strongly from the first 7 An
analysis Of the excreta OF the patient IL seems 20
me, was impcratiyely called for under the circurn-
stances, as Developments resultant therefrom
might have relieved an innocent party from All
unjust impntation, and the authorities from
unnecessary annoyance and expense ; or, have
established the Iief ~ poisoning fwhich now may
never bel aud Affixed the guilt upon this prs<sner.
The questions involved la this ease are belisys
| vital aud cannot DO ignored laughed away,
inasalnoh as like eases may have occurred before
nnnoticed, may occur again. Saws n sane
author; "A low degree of civilization places low
estimate individual human life !" aud while
We pretend 10 high state VI civilization Ne cnI,-
better preservation. l speak without snirnus "
Ill VIII 70 any; but from sense IL the
needs OF community justice. l night ssy
fraia. trial may depend, aud I wish 10 pre
lndice NO one IN the eyes VI their fellows ana
trusf mat my remarks will bs ques1ino,sd ~
" motive by no reasoning mind. Ihe unorkfoas
involved are varied, and grave, aud viii n1 nm M
suggest themselves ~ any oIe II thinkina ~