The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-08-05

An autopsy OF drowning case Jus
made by members of the medical stat
connected with Coroner Janney's offic,
explodes the theory of the Malley prose
cution in reference to Jennie Cramer'
death. and is likely to lead to revolu
tion'in that branch of medico-legal testi
mony which bears upon death from
drowning. The theory advanced by the
medical experts on behalf of the Com
monwealth, that the dead girl was NOT
drowned because there was no evidence
of water in the lungs, is one that has
never been disputed, although frequently
members of the medical fraternity have
been found doubling the soundness OF
the proposition. Since the Malley pro-
secution promulgated the old theory,
Prof. John Reese, the Coroner's ana
lytical chemist, professor of toxicology
in the University of Pennsylvania, has
given the subject considerable thought
and attention. Prof. Reese was sought
for by one of the attorneys for the NAL
ley boys as an expert in arsenical pois-
oning. but preferred to remain at home.
1t is this, perhaps, that augmented the
Professors interest in the medical testi-
mony. However that may be, he has
been watching drowning cases very
closely of late, and at last found what
he expected to.
On the evening of June ~, while pa
trolling his beat at Delaware Avenue and
Queen Street, about half-past nine
o'clock, Second District policeman
observed an old and decrepit woman in
rags wandering aimlessly along Della
ware Avenue. She was clad in diIap-
idated calico dress and scarcely anything
more. Her feet were bare, her gray
hairs were unprotected, and to the sur
prise OF the officer, he found when he
approached the woman that she was
sober. She told the policeman that she
wanted to 60 to South Street, and he
took her to that thoroughfare, turned
her head in the right direction, and she
started off Westward The next morn
ing very early her body was found float
ing in the Queen Street dock. The YER
dict Of the Coroner's jury was an I'M
known woman found drowned. 1t was
impossible to ascertain the old woman's
identity, but the evidence of drowning
was undisputed. 1t being an opinion
entertained by the Coroner's physicians
that the length of time body will re-
main under the surface depends upon
.he quantity of water taken internally,
it was apparent that this case was an ex-
cellent one 10 establish or shatter that |
belief. On Friday last Prof Reese, ac-
,ompanied by DIR. ID. Willis Cadwalla-
Ter. who is also an attache of the Coro- |
1er's Office, and who is also deeply in |
crested in the subject, went to the
norgue and made thorough examina-
ion OF the drowned woman. Upon |
opening the body there was no water
whatever found in the lungs, nor the |
lightest evidence of having been there.
Neither was there in the stomach.
There was very slight congestion found
n the lungs, but from natural causes,
nd the liver was considerably cirrhosed,
caused by drinking. The
Their organs of the body were compare
ively healthy. There were no marks of
buse upon the body in any wav, and
violence whatever of drowning. There
Tas not even anything in the gulIet to
1dicate that water had passed the wo-
mans lips.
The physicians think that they have
discovered demonstration of the falsity
the theory set up blythe Malley pros
cution, and, what is more important to
hem, they feel that they are in posi- |.
on to render some valuable aid to
,ience. This one case conyinces DIR.
'eese, beyond any doubt. that persons
jumping overheard. especially from
n eminence, can come to death from
lffocation or shock, and without taking
drop of water inwardly. The work |
egun by the Coroner's physicians with
ich remarkable developments will be
SO that repeated autopsies of
ROWING cases may confirm or deny the
ledical point raised by them. DR..
eese said that if his conclusion as to
le cause of death in the case of the
oman found in Queen Street Wharf ,
I'd been drawn from the autopsy alone,
ithout any other source of information,
, would have pronounced it death from
rrhosis of the liver, there being no evil
snce OF drowning about the internal [
gans.-PAiiadelphia Cor. 81. LouiI
LOBE Democrat.