The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-07-24
Gus coats of tho stomach, the following

toned. First test applied was n largo
needle Immersed in liquid obtained from
stomach for several hours. Result, the
needle wns slightly but plainly coated
with red layer of copper. Second test
was to add to tiltrato q solution of am
monia. The result of this was first to
give blush white color with precipi-
tate, which was readily dissolved by the
addition of solution of ammonia, Civ
ing violet blue color, showing plainly
the presence of copper.
Third test: A weak solution of toro-
cyonide Of potassium added to filtrato
in test tube. There was q precipite of
n red color, showing presence of copper.
We then put solid tissues of the stom-
ach in n porcelain crucible and applied
heat with bellows Tor two hours, rcduc.
ing it to ashes. Added diluted nitric
acid to ashes, adding small quantity Of
water and then drove off the acid by the
aid of heat, then filtered and applied
first, the ammonia test by adding so
luton of ammonia 70 small quantity
Of the tiltrato in tho test tube. Result
deep violet bluo liquid, showing moro
plainly than the first test the presence Of
copper. Next, immersed Il large needle
for short time i'll tho iiltratc; result: n
dcpoSltc OF copper on needle. Again +,
added weak solution of fcrocyonilc po-
tassinm to small quantity of tho filtratc
III the test tube; result: gave liquid of
a light red color with Il prccpitatc
Tho above tests were made in tho Of
iico of DR.. Frank Green in Coumbia
S. G., by him and myself.
Bluc%tOnC is a sui phato Of copper.
Ono Of the copper poisons. twas not
natural. There is Il small amount Of
copper III some kinds Of food. We did
HOt make Il quantity test | think the
&a'tmtis Of which tic deceased died was
caused by some corrosive poison. The
symptoms given by DIR. Williams would
result from Il copper poison. Blucstone
is uSCd i'll small quantities as u tonic,
and III larger quantities as an cmetic
Some physician" use it in their practice.
! do not. There are few cases of cop
per poison accord.
Cross, examined: l remember of no
case OF copper poisoning on record. Tho
results of tho analysis were not prcsery-
CT. Calomci would not have produced
the prccipitatc described. Did not know
what l would find. Hoped / would not
| lind blucStUnC. L change the stomach
from fruit jar to anothcr-a clean Jar
and scaled it up. The stomach was in Il
process Of decay, and WAS carried in u
tin bucket from the grave to my Office.
Blucstone would have some effect or tin.
| Dr. Williams WAS not present when the
change was made. We analyZed the
stomach and contents separately. The
eating, aS DIR. W. testified to, might
have caused the gastrtiS. \ trace OF
copper might be found whore it had not
been uSCl as Il poison. The symptoms
OF acute gastritis and copper poisoning
are very similar. PurGiug is one Of the
symptoms Of blucsi ono poisoning. I
never knew Il case without this symp-
tom.
Redirect: We might find somo traces
OF copper when Il person died from nat
uTal causes. There was more in this.
than,would ho in case of natural death
Did not test for the quantity in stomach.
Rc-cXamined: The tin bucket and
jar had nothing to do with the copper
being found in tho stomach. The best
evidence is the finding Of tho poison. 1t
is better than the symptoms.
Irwin fMiller sworn: J. live ono mile
from where Wiggins livol. I WAS there
on Sunday before Mrs. Wiggins died on
Thursday. Also on day OF her death.
Did not go III first time, second time
did. She was on the bed and seemed to
be bad oil. | left before she died.
Charlie Wiggins, the clcvcn-year old
son OF tho accused, was the next witness.
lie seemed to DO n bright, intelligent
lad. lie said my mothers namo was
Lizzie, fathers name is Bill [ was liv-
ing with them when mother died. She
was sick two weeks. / told Pa and Mr.
Clardy to come to tho house, mothcr
was dying. Father gavo the medicine
all the time. Mother said he was giving
her poison. 1T made her sick every time.
She would throw it up and say that her
stomach was burning up. Father drove
ns out every time he gave her medicine.
She complained of the burning every
time he gave it to her. Father was az
rested on Monday night after Ma was
buried. lilo had just said he was going
ont to sleep in tho woods.
Cross examined: l live in Laurons
with grandma. She IS not much mad
at father that | know Of / have not
talked about this only when / was before
tho coroner. Don't remember talking
to yon (1r. Bowon.) l did not say Mrs.
ltlrkScy gave Ma green looking tea.
There was eggs there all the time. Did
not see father give mother any tOddy.
She never got any only what Alr. Kirk
Scy gave hrr.
Decdic Virgins, fourteen years old
Mother complained Of her stomach
burning up. Sho vomtcd green stuff.
Nobody there but ncighbors sometimes.
Dont know what father gave her; he
would go into the kitchen to fix it and
max" rs go ont when he gave it to hor.
She told us ciil(rcn she WAS burning ND
inside. | went to Piedmont after Ma |
died. J. have heard father and mother
quarrel, bat never saw him strike her.
Tea WiGGins, the nine year old taugh-
ter OF the accused was tho next witness |
oho was examined by the Judge to learn
If she WAS aware Of the seriousness of
bearing false witness. She proved to be
unusually bright and WAS allowed to tcs-
tify:
| live with grandma now. I was bo
side Mas bed all the time she was sick.
llcr name was Lizzie. naw father give
her blue medicine in some coffee. [ was
standing side Of the bed when he gave
1t to her two times. After Ma died he
got some OF the bluo stun 0ut of tho
tool box niL throwch it in the fire.
Alice Turner was next sworn and gave
substantially tho Slmc tpcfimnnv cb