Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-09-28
THE BIRCHALL MURDER TRIAL.
More Expert Testimony as to the "Rigor
Mortis"-A Difference of Opinion.

WOODSTOCK, ONT, September 27.-The
case for the defense was continued this
morning BY half-past a. IN. the seats
were filed, and the body Of the court house
and the gallery was filled with ladies. The
prisoner was as unconstrained as ever as
he walked up to the court and chatted with
lawyers and reporters DR.. Kearns said
he had heard the medical testimony given
by the three doctors for the Crown. He
did not agree with DR.. Wexford in the state
ment that rigoT mOrtis would set in so soon
as stated. 1t would take generally,
he believed, from 10 hours
in a healthy young man during cold
weather, the thermometer not being higher
than - degrees, who had not suffered eX
ceptional fatigue. He thought ri0Or mOrtis
would not set in sooner than from 5 TO 10
hours. As to the testimony concerning
bruises described as of a blush green ap-
pearance, he thought the body falling after
pistol shot could rot produce them. Such
bruises must have been received from two
TO three days before death. He was posi-
tive of this He had practiced medicine in
PetrOlia, where he had considerable expert
ence among men bruised by machinery.
"Supposing there is a bruise not involv-
ing the true skin. does that make any
differencer asked Mr. Osler
If it is Druise, that does not make any
difference"
If there is no thickening of the tissues
would il be. an indication that the wounds
had been received about the time of death. -
mot necessarily. AS to wounds after
death, some say that the signs are manifest,
but others deny this"
DR. Richardson, of Toronto, a venerable
/ looking practitioner testified that he had
been practicng since lS47, and was pro-
/ fessOr Of anatomy in the University medi-
cal school He gave his opinion that a
healthy young man dying suddenly as the
result of a pistol shot rig0r mOrtis would be
considerably delayed Four hours was a
short time, and some authorities put IL al
| eightOr ten hours.
When Birchall returned TO jail last night
/ he ate a hearty supper and freely discussed
the evidence with his attendants. He was
not as lively as usual, but he seemed "a
think some very strange points were
/ brought in his defense. He passed a very
good night, retiring about $3.50, but not
/ falling 10 sleep until some time after TO-
He slept quite sOundly. He showed
some signs of weakening, moisture
| being noticeable in his eyes
at one time. but he soon rallied and for the
rest of the day was as calm as usual
Though TO all external appearances he
seems cool and collected, nevertheless he is
nervous and excited. Mrs. Birchall had an
interview with the prisoner tonight She
was accompanied 10 the door of the Jail by
/ Mrs. West-Jones. but the latter did not &c
/ in. Both ladies read the evidence in the
papers every day.
Mrs West-Jones, it is said, has given up
all hope of the prisoners acquittal, and the
/ faithful little wife of the prisoner is alsC
very despondent as TO the result. Should
the verdict of the jury be against the pris
oner Mrs. West-Jones will try to induce
/ her sister 10 return at once to England.
/ The cost of the prosecution of Birchall will
| be in the neighborhood of ten thousand dol
] 1s,.e