Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-15

Shatteu tOSelneI pleaSantly lOT ROOu
while. The pine box containing Lii
lian's clothing was on the platform OF
the witness-stand right in front Of Clu-
verius. Only few people had been
admitted to the courtroom, and the air
Of it was cool and damp, correspond
ing with the cloudy and semi-wintry
weather without. The Jurors were all
well, all in good working trim, and
they answered cheerily to the roll-call,
which takes place Immediately after the
record of the previous days proceed
ings is read by the Clerk.
Corener w. III. Taylor.
Coroner Taylor returned to the stand,
and in answer to questions said to
Judge Crump; Yes, ] observed a
missing tooth, but there was nothing
to indicate to me whether the loss was
a recent one. | think / could have
told whether it had recently been taken
out If | had made an examination for
that purpose. ! was not present when
the remains were taken to the aims
house. went by and asked Superin-
tendent Bigger to send a wagon, and he
did so. | know nothing personally
about the removal, but it is generally
done in such cases by putting the body
in coffin and the coffin in wagon.
The jersey and all the clothes
have been washed since then. They
were covered with mud, and in
order that she might be identified
the clothing was washed. There
was red six handkerchief nicely
fixed around the neck as though
it had never been disturbed. 1t was
fastened with little jet brooch. The
handkerchief was smooth around the
neck, and the pin in place. There is
no rent or tear in that handkerchief !;
there NAV be some minute opening,
made by the pin Of the clasp. The
Jersey was buttoned up tight. Here
the Doctor tied the handkerchief on
himself Just as Lillian wore it, Her
hair was washed out a little in front :;
! suppose it was fixed in wha; are ordi-
narily called bangs. | take it that that
was done by the water. The rest OF
the hair was in a knot, which did not
appear TO have been disturbed.
looked at the body all over, and
have given you a full account of
what saw. There were no
other fnger-marks or bruises. |
think can say that DR.. Pettus
and / made a thorough examination
OF the body. The front curls had been
washed out; if they were curls the
water had taken the curls out. 1t was
not like anybody had palled them out.
She was of fair complexion. When |
first saw her she looked rosy, but grew
paler. She was very plump, well de-
veloped, and fine-forned. Hair was
light brown some persons might con-
slider it dark brown.
To Colonel Aylett The body was
first identified, with some misgiyngs,
by Miss Emma Dunstan. The knot in
the hair was secured by hair-pins-a
great many of them. The hair was
twisted. The knot was we'll secured.
As to the missing tooth, all saw was
the gap, the vacant space where the
tooth had been. There may have been
some water in the stomach, but if so it
was so mingled with the food that it
was not perceptible. A blow upon a
woman who is in a pregnant condition
is more liable TO cause insensibillty
than if she were not in that condition.
II is not improbable that the blow was
received from the side. nv opinion, re-
ferred TO by Judge Crump yesterday
| Wednesday,, as to suicide, was the
opinion of an individual; | sm not an
expert in murder or suicide.
Here MIR. Meredith questioned DR..
Taylor upon the interrogatories Of
Judge Crump as TO a theory of suicide
which the Doctor held two months
ago.
Dr. Taylor said that at that time he
did incline to the theory Of suicide but
not upon his information as a medical
man alone-upon that and many other
facts he had learned. One thing he
then regarded as supporting suicide was
the red shawl left on Dunstan's fence,
which he was disposed to regard as a
farewell token. Other people viewed
that differently. The opinion defence
questioned him about was the opinion
he held two months ago.
To question by Mr.. Meredith if he
had not modified his opinion of two
months ago. DIR. Taylor said he had.
To Judge Atkins: recognized the
body at the almshouse, where | made
the post-moTtem, as the same body |
saw at the reservoir.
To Juror c. \. Harrison: The effects
Of the blow could have been produced
if the blow had been delivered very
shortly after death. There is no medi-
cal method of disseminating.
To Mr.. Meredith: After death it re-
quireS more force to produce the same
effect.
Judge Crump: How much more?
can't tell.
To Judge Crump: The act Of drown
ing itself may cause spoplexy and rup-
ture a blood-vessel.
Mr.. Meredith But it requires more
severe blow after death!
The Doctor Yes.
Colonel Aylett at this point made a
formal tender as evidence Of all the
garments found on the dead body.
Defence made no objection.
A summary Of Coroner Taylor's evil
dence is
/. That the woman died in the water
and that she was in q more or less un-
conscious state at the time she reached
the water.
2. That the wounds were made in
all probability before death, but that
there is no absolute certainty that they
were not made very shortly after death; ;
that such injuries as these would not
ordinarily prove Immediately fatal, and
that tbs amount Of injury to the brain
is not necessarily indicated by the ap-