Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-07-13
OPENING UP.

I VI ENANd It.
Court commenced Monday afterno
at the appointed time. The first with,
called was Geo. Z. Mathes, who testif
rs to the general correctness of diagra Il
| of Hamilton premises used in court. ] +,
prosecution then rested and the defen
then called their first witness,
DIR. GEORGE W. ROBERTSON,
who testified as follows: am physic /
and Surgeon, have practiced betwc
thirty-five and thirty-six Years. Il !.
general experience in gun-shot WON :,
i'll private practice and while in hos :
tai number ,, at Nieksburg, during !.
late war. Made examination of b.
of Mrs. Sisley after death. Was su
moned by the acting coroner and W,
out some time in the afternoon. Did
examine her until coroner's jury /
got through with their cxaminati
Don't know whether they moved her .
not. Did not see any pistol when | "
there. Body was lying extended on
back. Upper portions of clothing W. {.
SO burned | found | could ascer
nothing by that and had clothing tai
off Am under the impression but
not right positive that | could see
wounds before the clothing was rem,
ed. There was a streak of coagula {
blood from the corners of the MOI
down the cheek some distance; espec
" on the left cheek The discolorati
from the burns was of the color O
chestnut; some parts n good deal da
er, nearly black. Neck and face
clear and pale | then began exami
ton of wounds and found their orit
almost in line. Did not measure t
think We're between Il half an inch
an inch apart. Started to probe woul
but found for some reason that | 60,
not get the probe TO enter those III
nearest together. Could not probe til
hall nm inch. In endeavoring to pr,
them | bent the probe. Tried them j
every direction and my conclusion Ii /
was that they We're imbeddod in /
sternum. Gould probe wound near
/ nipple much further than any of the o
erS. ! then cut the cartilage and rai> |
/ the stciuum. Found three holes on a.,
under side nearly corresponding to /
three on the opposite side. think q III
/ tie lower down the body Could
two had passed through lower port !,
of left lobe of the lung. One had pas
/ through left ventricle of the heart. T..
fourth one near the chest had not pei,
trated the chest. Found left plcug )
full of blood; probably three or foa9
pints. Run my finger down and foul
the ball had penetrated the upper ed,
of the eighth rib and passed into mu
cles ut back; did not come out b
lodged under the skin. Turned bod /.
over and took ball out (ball produced
The missing balls merely made ST.
pericial search for Just what coul
do with my hand. Thought it not ne,
essary to look very much for them.
saw where they had passed through III,
lung and heart and saw enough To know,
that ball had killed her; that that woul,
have killed her had there been nothin-
else.
Three of these balls might SAY woul.
have produced conditional death. Tn,
one through the heart was positive o.
certain death. Examined lungs am
heart and found them in normal coudi
ton. Did not deem it necessary to cx
anime stomach and bowels. then eN
amined her entirely externally and dis
not see any scratches or bruises indepen
dent of the wounds and burns. Their,
was slight abrasion on shoulder Fix
amined genital organs and so far n,
possible found nothing out of order
Nothing 10 indicate that population
had or had not taken place. Mr. Gassel
assisted me in the examination. Wen
out TO place with full impression tina
it was case of suicide Have beer
asked the question when on the groun,
and since whether she could have don,
it herself. replied that did not thinl
any body could have done it in theil
right mind but as TO the possibility o
her doing it there never was nor never
had been a shadow of doubt in my mine
but what she could. | came to this con
ciusiOn from observations of my owl
and high authorities. DIR. here quoted
cases that had happened of wounds oil
different descriptions. some of lungs
Authorities stated suicides rarely gave
up their attempts no matter how MANY
wounds were inflicted. Cited eases
from own observation. Could hardly sec
where there could have been much ex-
ternal hemorrhage in these wounds
Don think il strange at All, rs subject
was lying on her back Could not tel
whether was any powder burns or just
black ashes but the rigid appearance,
of weapon was in close contact. ball.
fired nj a distance produce very rount
hole. Ball holes were not round, did
not say were by no means round. Wa,
present when second examination was
made. Did notnotice any light streaks
rs testified to by former witnesses
/ Blood viii very soon begin to ooze on
II a person dies violent death Had
wiped Oft face. Dd not know whether
enough coagulatcd blood would b. left
10 produce achemical change Did not
know whether it would or wouldn't
Did not see anything but clear fac,
and neck, very pale, of course. Did
not see any evidences on right side d
neck or left side of head of any scar on
her. If there had been any bruise
would have seen it, but bruises do nDi
come sometimes until after long time
anyway it had not made its appearance,
then. The fact of the matter is an %,
fully satisfied as to the cause Of hcl
death as though had dissected all lien
body. Sometimes, authorities State
body will show signs under the san
where body has been taken hold 81 d
handled. Don't know as it is stated
how long.
Continued next week