Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-28

iodoeu HUH uutleS at harUIOTd) ana many other professional gentlemen of this city. West Haven was represented by Drs Painter and Barnett, Justice Booth and others Dr. Prudden remained in court during the after noon, listening to Dr. Chittenden. Hundreds sought admittance yesterday, but found no chance, all the seats being promptly taken when the doors were opened.
 Morning Session.
 The court opened at 10 o'clock
 The examination of Dr. Prudden was re sumed. In reply to questions by MT. Doo- little witness said In regard to the internal appearance of death by drowning, there is usually found water in the lungs, stomach and windpipe. The most prominent external sign is light froth at the mouth and nostrils
 In what manner is this froth produced? By a churning up of the water, and air in the lungs and windpipe
 MT. Doolittle-Were any of these signs found on the body of Jennie Cramer? '" Witness-Some of them that l consider characteristic were found.
 Cross examination by MT. Jones.
 What is your age, doctor. Witness-Thirty two.
 Witness continued: I have been in practice seven years, have been teaching the past four years I cannot state definitely how many post-mortem examinations I have made. Think l have made or assisted in two hun dred post -mortenl examinations. Think have made post mortem examinations of ten persons where death was caused by drown ing. Have examined only three for arsenical poisoning, When made this post -mortem of Jennie Cramer's body, it was at the re- quest of the coroner's jury. The reason why the parts were taken away was for the pur- pose of ascertaining the cause of death. I had the intention, of course, to make chem ical examination, or supposed that there would be one.
 Yes, I observed the usual odor of decom- position when held the post mortem. There were evidences of decomposition in some of the vital organs I observed no signs of de- composition in the lungs.
 Yes, first examined the brain, and found all the internal organs in healthy condition except the womb and the brain. I took 8 analysis became necessary the part could be sent to chemist. I did not weigh the brain, but estimated that it was about one- quarter of that organ. I did not weigh the portion of lungs taken, but only estimated :; l took, by estimate, about one half the spleen; l had in all six jars which were sealed and taken to the Medical College.
 MT. Jones-Doctor, if that body was plac- ed in the water with the mouth closed, would you expect to find water and sand in the windpipe?
 Wltness-I think it might be possible. It is only an opinion.
 MT. Jones-Doctor, have you intended to convey the idea to this jury that this girl did not come to her death by drowning?
 Witness-Yes that is what nay statement would seem to convey.
 MT. Jones-Are you willing to say that that girl did not, from your examination, come to her death by drowning ~
 Witness-That is my opinion.
 MT. Jones-Is there any one sign in re- gard to drowned persons upon which strict reliance can be placed ??
 Witness-I don't think there is
 MT. Jones-Doctor, is it of any sort of i'm portance in forming conclusions to know how body is taken out of the water?
 Witness-I think it is. I had no know ledge of how the body was taken out of the water at the time made the post stmortem examination. Mir. Jones-Do not reputable authors lay down the fact that the knowledge of how the body is taken out of the water should be known before an examination is made?
 Witness-Yes, I think they do.
 Mir. Jones-And you know nothing about this
 
 Witness continued. I have no personal knowledge that the body was not turned over on the stomach so that the water could run out.
 Mir. Jones then read from Ogsten's medi. cal jurisprudence in regard to post-mortem examinations of drowned persons and the method of procedure, to which the witness acceded as correct.
 Mir. Jones-Doctor, do you know whether thara xyas any rrnts7ra of the luDo2
 Witness-I did not discover any.
 Mir. JOnes-Do not your authors lay down the fact that absence of water in the stom- ach is no evidence of drowning? /?
 Witness-I don't know of any such
 MT. Jones read from medical works in proof of this, which the witness aeceded to as correct. MT. Jones continued to read from the authorities to show that if a drowned per son was kept constantly immersed little or no water entered the stomach.
 Mir. Jones-Have not great many authors eaid that water in the lungs and air pas sages in cases of drowned persons is not always found :?
 Witness-It is not necessarily found in those organs.
 To Mir. Cassidy-If 8 woman or man should fall into the water in half uncon scious state and become stunned by concus- sion or otherwise 1t would be no reason why there should not be water in the stomach or lungs; it might be so and it might not
 At 1925 recess of five minutes was taken
 After recess tho re direct examination of Dr. Prudden was commenced by MT. Doo- little.
 Witness said he took six jars to the Medical College :; he said before the jars were used they were carefully washed with ordinary wa ter and then rinsed with distilled water; they had never been used before.
 MT Doolittle then read from medical au- thors regarding evidences of drowning,
 To MT. Jones-No one sign taken by itself would be conclusive evidence of drowning, but half dozen might.
 Dr. William Hotchkiss was the next wit ! ness called by the State. In reply to MT. | Bush he said I was present at the post mortem on the body of Jennie Cramer on the evening of the l4th of August went to I the Medical College with Dr. Prudden and he I delivered to me the key to the laboratory, and also a key to a closet in which were three l ars which he requested me to deliver to ! Professor Chittenden locked the door in | pr. Prudden's presence, sealed it, and also | ocked the door of the laboratory; on Tues lay morning, August 18th, 1 went with Pro- lessor Chittenden to the laboratory, and gave Jim three jars as requested by Dr. Prudden then sealed the door again and gave up the | keys.
 There was no cross-examination.
 Professor R. H. Chittenden was next called. n reply to Mir. Bush he said he was lnstruc- or in physiological chemistry in the scientific department of Yale College. There were de. iye-ed to me in August last certain jars con- aiming or said to contain portions of certain organs said to be parts of the body of Jen lie Cramer On the morning of the 16th I vent to the Medical College with Dr. Hotch- Ziss and saw him open closet in which were hree jars. We took these jars, which were ealed in two places, to my laboratory. One # the seals bore the name of Prudden and he other T. M. Prudden. One jar was abeled stomach and esophagus, Jennie Ora ner, August Sth, 1881 the second was abeled liver, and the third brain, with the anne name and date. On the 18th day of