The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-12-12
Fourth Day.

Fourth Day.
The concluding portion Of Mr.. Reeves
testimony, as given above, occupied part of
the forenoon OF Thursday The court room
was again densely packed, especially in the
afternoon, when there were fully 100 per.
sons inside the Enclosure. Wednesday
Weast's little girl, the mascot of the great
murder trial, was present with her nurse.
She ran about from seat to seat and was
eyed by the curious spectators. She hung
around her fathers chair most Of the time !,
climbing into his lap, playing with his
heavy gold chain, or taking his pencil,
would mark up papers lying on the desk :.
Her petite and pretty childish face, with its
bright black eyes, Vas now turned towards
the judge, anon at the jury who held the
life Of her father in their hands but she did
not understand, and it is to be hoped that
she never will.
| /. b. IRONS
Have lived at Benson for the past years
Was in StreatOr Sunday, October IL. Saw
Weast that evening. John Weast was with
me. On going out the entrance to the
Plumb House saw him standing near by.
Asked him why he shot Parks, and was he|
drunk or crazy when he did it, He said
that if he had taken second thought he|
would not have done it for all the worldl|
On the cross. examination by Duncan he]
stated that he worked for Parks since Dec j
10, 1884. In answer to the question as toI
whether or not he was acquainted with
Parks handwriting the witness evidently
'smelt mice" and would not permit him.
self to swear positively, although he hadI
seen Parks handwriting very frequently, as
he admitted He was disposed of In short
metre.
DIR, MINOR.
The most important witness for the prose-
cution, DR.. Minor, was now called The
taking of his testimony occupied the atten-
ton Of the court from 1890 until 2:30. II
may be well to preface this expert evidence
by stating that it knocked the reporters
completely out of time, and only at disjoint-
| ed intervals could they ''catch on They,
however looked wise and pretended to be
taking it all down. 1t is not to be wondered
al, however, that they were lost in a laby-
rinthian maze of medical terms fired from
Duncan's battery, which evennonplussed DR..
Minor AMI caused DR.. Chalafant TO capitulate
nnconditionally. Dr. Minor took the stand
and droppel into his seat gracefully, show
ing his white teeth, which he is fond of dis
playing Said his name WAS E. Il. Minor.
Lived in Streator IL years. Came there
from Eureka, Ill. Am a physician and sur
geon Graduated at the University of
Michigan, June 20, 1888. where he studied
three years, and under DR.. Finley two years
Was assistant demonstrator Of anatomy two
years in the Michigan University. Was
called upon to attend Parks. Found a
wound little below the middle Of the mid
die thread. The ball entered the thigh
from the inside. Remained with him al
night Weast came there about o'clock
that evening He stayed about fifteen min
utes. By Duncan: Saw Weast two or three
times that night. Parks died from the eff
fects of a gun shot wound. Was the first
physician called Was not the physician in
real charge. Drs. Smith, Head, Slope,
Boner and Chalfand claimed the responsible.
ity with me and were equally responsible.
They selected me to perform the operation.
Parks said that if there was any cutting 70
be done that should do it. There has been
no controversy to my face regarding the
treatment of the case. At the amputation
Drs. Smith, Bonar, Chalsfant and Taylor
were present. Prepared no questions to be
submitted to other doctors regarding the
line of testimony to be sworn to before the
coroners inquest. May have told DR..
Boser, and told him that DR.. Chalfant wanted
TO see him. but did not know of any arrange
ment as to what was to be sworn. Operated
on Parks Oct. lS. There was but very lit
tie bleeding. Don't know whether it was
vein or artery ligated. Made the legation
in the middle of the bullet wound. There
were other vessels injured by the bullet along
with the femoral artery. Here recess
five minutes was tsken) After the first Ii
cation, cleansed the wound. Made another
operation nine days after. At the time
the first legation made no attempt to ligate
the injured vessel. The second Opel alton
was continuation of the first, cutting up
wards. Drs. Smith and BOnar did not say
that the vessel ligated was vein, and NOT
an artery DR.. Smith, at the same legation
placed his finger on the vessel and said il
was the femoral artery, and that there was
pulsation. After the operation expressed
a doubt that | had ligated the femoral ar
tery Don't know whether | tied vein OF
an artery. Will not swear positively wheth
err | tied the femoral vein or the femora
artery. On the occasion of the second oper
alton | told DR.. Bonar that was afraid tbt
cat gut ligature had slipped. Performed the
third operation Oct. %. Will not swear
that the vessel ligated at the third opera
tion was the same as that ligated at the sec
onh. The patient was placed under thf
inAu, nee of annsthetics At each operation
Had some experience in surgery since
came TO Streator. Practised on cadavers a
the University. The redirect examination
of the witness was continued in the after
noon, States Attorney Moloney taking Dr
Minor in tow. Was called to attend Parks
Oct. 9. The wound was not bleeding
probed the wound with my finger. Their
was no hemorhage. The limb was swollen
to double its size. Treated the wound WITT
An application of cold water. DR.. Chatham
and Dir. Smith were present at both eIapi
nations. There WAS in attendance phyh
clan with Parks all the time. DIR. Mlno
had the anatomy of the leg at his tongue
end, but when duncan adroitly led him Of
into the region of tho liver, and questione
his witness closely, the doctor squirme
under the attorneys scalpel, as he Piled
RIGHT and left. The result Of Duncan s eros
examination on the subject was that Ut
Minor did not know the difference betwee