The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-05
THE PUBLIC ON MRS. MAVERICKS SIDE.
How Popular Sentiment Has
Changed During the Trial.
Growing interest In the Case OF the
Beautiful American.
Wad-eI-JumI and His Emlrs Slain
In Battle.

LONDON, August 3.-Interest In the May
brick trial grows daily, and London news
papers print many columns Of the evidence
morning and evening. When Mrs. Maybrick
was first arrested, and the damaging disclos-
ures made Of her relations with Alfred Bri-
erly, popular feeling was all against her, and
little doubt was expressed In any quarter, of
her guilt or Of her ultimate conviction on the
charge Of poisoning her husband. Sir
Charles Russel's admirable preparation OF
her case has, however, completely revolu-
tlonized public sentiment, and If his work
produces upon the jury anything like the
impression 1t has already made upon the
public, Mrs. Maybrick's cony iction is out Of
the question.
1t is generally believed that she will be ac-
quilted, or, at the worst, that the jury will
fail to agree. The medical testimony intro
duced by the Crown Is very weak, and is far
from supporting the theory of the prosecu-
tion. Doctors Humphreys and Carter, who
attended the deceased in his last illness, and
upon whose testimony the prosecution re-
lied very largely, fatty contradicted one an
other on the stand upon some very material
points. and. upon their cross-examination by
Sir Charles Russell, both became confused
and showed themselves uncertain of their
ground.
A sensational feature of the case and one
during which the prisoner apparently came
near fainting, Observation-Disclosures of dress
ing gown Of Mrs. Maybrick's on which spots
Of arsenic had been found, together with a
small quantity of the drug in the pocket.
But this may prove boomerang for the pros
ecution, the defence using it to show that
Mrs Maybrick used arsenic as a cosmetic.
With this branch OF the case the pr0secu-
tion rested. and Mr.. Russell rose, and amid
breathless stiffness began his address to the
Jury for the prisoner. He did not dispute
the presence Of arsenic in Maybrick's body,
but said he expected to prove that the de-
ceased was confirmed arsenic eater, bablt
extended over series Of years. The ques-
| tion would be whether the habits OF the de-
| cease were sufficient to account for the small
| doses of arsenic found In the body. Pro-
| ceeding with an elaborate anysis OF the med
| ical evidence, Mr. Russell commented that
| no distinction could be drawn between gas
| tro-enteritis and symptoms of arsenlcal pois-
| oning. Professional evidence would be
called by him which would support the theo-
| ry of gastritis. and would explain that there
indicate poisoning. If the jury found that
the man did die from arsenical poisoning the
question would be, did he
administer it. He must point. out that
| the lady bought papers from per
sons who knew her perfectly we'll. That
arsenic was in the house was undeniable,
but after all there was no suggestion that
Mrs. Maybrick purchased poisonous sub
stances other than paper. While there were
| circumstances to cause suspicion. there was
no distinct evidence to justify verdict OF
guilty.
Several witnesses testified that Maybrick
had been confirmed arsenic eater. Mrs
Maybrick will be allowed to make state
ment.