Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-12
THE WILLARD CASE.
THE EXPERT EVIDENCE ALLOWED,
The Court Room Crowded Again
Conclusion of Prof. Prescott's
Testimony Lengthy Argument

The court room was crowded all day yes
terday, and ii proved 20 be the most inter
esting day since the trial has commenced.
The attorneys are lighting, and taking ad-
vantage Of every concsisable 10 n, and q
good deal of time was consumed in arguing
as TO the admissibilify of certain testimony,
allusion 10 which will be made further on.
The morning session opened at nine O'Clock
sharp. The prosecution putting DIR. Pres
cott again on the stand, Mr.. Marston for the
defense objected 10 the testimony of the
witness, as that of an expert, on the grounds
of incompetepcy; that his knowledge of
arsenical poisoning was obtained entirely
from books; that the witness had had no
practical experience in searching for arseni-
cal poison, hence was disqualified as an ex-
pert. Judge Montgomery read from the
rulings of other courts and explained his
reasons for holding the testimony admiss-
able. Defense took an exception.
PROF. PRESCOTT AGAIN.
The redirect examination of DIR. Prescott
was continued by Mr.. Mitchell: In many
cases two TO three grains of arsenic will
cause death. A dose of any size does not
was retained III the stomach ii would not be
true; if retained in the stomach four grains
would be sufficient TO cause death; If there
were vomiting the dose would not be fatal:
in general terms call nine grains fatal
dose; when asked if the quantity of arsenic
found III the portion of the liver and kidney
analyzed, was sufficient 10 cause death. Mr..
Marston objected, stating in his argument
that ''unless the prosecution could show that
death was caused by arsenical poisoning
evidence as to the amount necessary to pro-
duce death should not be admitted" The
discussion between the counsel on this point
lasted over an hour, recess was taken and
upon reassembling the court ruled that the
question could not be answered until the
counsel had shown to the jury that arsenic
had been administered prior to death. When
this was shown testimony tending to show
how much arsenic ii would require To cause
death would be competent
Witness continued-I made MICROSCOPE
cal examination of the stomach and rectum
for poison; for any kind of poison that could
be detected; examined the contents of the
stomach, scraped the Innings and examined
the findings. Very few poisons are In the
metallic state, and none are able TO be
identified under the microscope as being
metallic.
Re-cross-Did not examine the mucous
mem brane: put the scrapings under the
microscopes: saw no spots IN the stomach.
can't state positively the length of the piece
of rectum sent me; think il was from six to
twelve inches: cannot give the length of the
rectum in body ii is the larger bowel; the
organs sent me were badly decomposed;
the was very strong odor of put efaction
IN both jars, stronger in the smaller jar; my
memory is somewhat at fault rs to whether
there were spots In the stomach.
SUSAN BELL.
n al ! \ a \
the respondent was her second cousin; had
known him since ne was a little boy; knew
his wife after he had married her; knew of
the death of his wife, and was present at her
funeral: think she had been sick a week
when | saw her first: / was there three or
four Ii ~ after T. at. Mr.. Mars on objected
to the question a. TO how she found Mrs.
Millard at each of these visits, and desired TO
speak upon the question. The Court then
took recess until half-past one.