New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-28
THE AUTOPSY or COLONEL DWIGHE
PHYSICIANS TESTIFY ABOUT TIE FURROWED NECk
AND THE CONDITION OF THE LUNGS.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUSEl

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rMBUSEl
NoRwIcu. n. Y, Nov. 27.-Dr. Fred rick
HYDE. OF Cortland, the first witness
called in the Dwight insurance case to-
day. He was present at the autopsy There
were about thirty persons present. full view OF the
body was presented 20 all there. The body was OF nat
ural appearance. He discooration except thai
which naturally comes dead bodies He then explained
the method OF the autopsy and the examination OF each
mart He saw no cicatrices on or about tho lungs
ON the upper part OF the right lung there
were two or three little kernels, nodular In
shape Putting all the parts OF tho lungs
affected together they would not occupy more than one
fourth Of an inch in space The heart stomach Kidneys
inostpcs and other parts examined 10 any extent
desired by those present The stomach showed slight in
nammation.
The witness saw nothing unusual about the neck; no
idcutaon bruises OF fuTow nothing different from the
surrounding parts Of the neck There was no marx
bruse or furrow from the chin down 10 the breast bone
no iudcnltion or pressing back OF compression of The
wndppe There was little fold on the side Of the neck
Ike the wrinkle on ones face ny The side Of The
no,e ;, nothing but what would De natural lie did not
see any bloody about the body. Some portions OF
the internal ORGANS were bottled and taken away the
balance were put back IN the body. The witness was
also present at the Coroners inquest lie saw nothing
wrong I'm the external appearance ~ the body The notes
made at the time shown to the witness and identi-
fed and their correctness attc.ted by him. They were
read before they were signed by the doctor, present On
cro,s-cxamlnatoa his testimony was not changed
DR. Daniels. Burr. who was then sworn was present
N the autopsy and took down the n'tcs DR. Dealcld
dl-sectcd the body The clothing removed and the
body carefully inspected Tho witness took the notes a.
dictated by Dr. Deahcld nearly "a he could In the
exact words The notes were then shown TO the witness
and identified After concluding the notes he read them
over 40 that all could hear and every doctor present a
pcndcd his Signature. The witness explained several IN
rncatlons n the notes 10y saying that they were made
by him before they signed, ana 10 chongcs have
! been made since
! The witness was the attending physician OF Colonel
DWIGHT during bis lat sickness. and asked 70
describe what he heard and This was objected "a
by Attorney General Russell long argument then en-
siIcd AZ 10 the admlssiby OF the evidence. Several
authorities quoted by both sides, but Judge Foct
said he would take until tomorrow before deciding the
The witness had known Dwight for long time before
his last sickness, and examined him for lie Insurance
saw his body the Third day after his alleged death when
being di-sected lie noticed he neck thsis wa no
witch could have been caused 10y rope. There Were
mark ON the neck a. noted the autopsy directed 10y
i Wr DeIiaa@d and agreed TO by DR. swnburnc m,
folds were SIMPLY the sides OF the neck folds OF feel
which had become stln by being cold, and caused by
| bending the head backward and upward.
James L. Lee, an cmploye at the Spnlding House
ions testimony ~ TO lu the dying mans
lie saw no crease or line or mark upon hi- neck III
went for the undertaken about fifteen minutes after h'
Dr. James IT, Chittendcn the last witness for the day
| examined him for the Wa-hng ~ Life Insurance Com
pany IN 1865. Dwight was then sound and In pcrfcc
health. The witness examined him again In August
1873 and found him In the same condition before
lie Dwight after death at tho Hrs
autopsy. His attention called to th
crease on the neck by DR.. Swnbumc
There thorough examination Of the neck by all th
physicians. The neck was th'ck, short and hcshy I'M
head falling backward, opened folds The witness Eel
Of and looked at the ncc IN all lts parts There was ~
convex surface on the back part Of the fold
or different feeling from any other por
ton Of the body. There was no discoloratioi
about the neck whatever. No feeling like leather o
parchment. Upon crOss-examinatiOn, the witness SAT-
that some portions Of the lungs COngestcd. The
were almost fully hllcd with air. Or. John Swinburu
suggested at the autopsy that Dr. Dellacd should max
ON incisOn In the throat. There might have been
ira amount Of blood IN the internal organs. lie c0u
not have found the nOducs the lungs 10y auscutaOn
The witness signed the notes made at the autopsy Tn
nhrous noducs found did not necessarily Indicate pu
| mn ~ disease.