The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-09

TestiAes That DIR. Baker Was RESPONSE
bic For the Embalming OF his Wife's
Body-Mrs. Gilmer Contradicted-The
Defense Closes Rather Abruptly.
ABINGDON, Va, Aug.-[Speciall-Dr.
George E. Wiley was recalled by the
defense at S:45 this morning to
strengthen the testimony of DR.. Clark,
DR.. Bakers nephew, as to tho predis.
position of Mrs. Baker to commissions
while in delica.e condition and the
danger to her therefrom. His examina-
ton took wide range and aroused con-
siderable wrangling among the lawyers.
The prosecution was determined to
maintain the advantage gained yestcr-
day afternoon from tho testimony of
Undertaken Baldwin and DR.. Taylor,
witnesses for the defense, and tho latter
to recover lost ground if possible.
The witnesses said Mrs. Bakers death
might have been caused by troubles in
cidental to her condition, such as urcmic
poison, nervous exhaustion of the brain
or nervous exhaustion Of the spinal
cord
The question that elected this answer
included the word Jerking" and the
prosecution urged that it had not boen
proved as symptom of Mrs. Bakers
illness; that defense were cndeavoring
to lug it in as symptom of commissions;
therefore it should be excluded The
wranglo over the word was full of Jerk
ing on the part of the Trigg brothers.
Con, tho youngest, 'rked Dan into de-
feat, as the court decided that DR.. Wiley's
answer was already before tho jury for
what it was worth.
If sufficient arsenic, continued the
doctor, had been given the patient to
have caused redness to diffuse the
stomach some of the leading symptoms
OF arsenical poisoning ought to havo
been noticed. If tho body was en-
balmed FIVE or six hours after death
with fluid containing arsenic, mere
curry and zinc, employing the cavity
process, the redness of the stomach may
be due to these poisons in the fluid.
He had visited Wyndham Gilmer in
consultation with DR.. Baker. There
were no symptoms of poisoning and
patient was not seriously i'll; thought
at the time that he was suffering from
nervous prostration and mental depres-
sion. 1t is not customary for country
physicians to keep hydrocyanic acid.
Witness carried very little and used
very little in compromising his own pre-
scriptions. Prescriptions involving this
drug were very common. however.
DR.. Wiley was subjected to sharp
discrimination and said he had never
treated patient for arsenical poison
ing, nor seen the stomach OF a person
who died of it. His information was
derived from books and physicians who
had treated patients for poison. Taken
upon an empty stomach, symptoms
might manifest themselves in few
minutes, but tho time is generally from
half 20 an hour. There are cases re-
ported in which symptoms did not APP
pear until from five TO seven hours.
Nausea, great nervousness and restless
ness are sym otoms that attend arsenical
poisoning. So is intolerance of light.
Chronic arsenical poisoning PRODUCES
moro intolerance Of light that acute.
Assuming that Mrs. Baker, tho de-
ceased lady, was pregn mt, had nausea
the day before death and on day of death
had great rcstles 5ness, nervousness, ap-
prchensivencss and pains in the
stomach it is hardly poSsible that
she would mistake arsenical pains for
labor. In case Of arsenical poisoning
nausea, restlossness, nervousness and
intolerance of light might be present
and all other symptoms except pain be
absent in an acute case, but pains
might come OF late.
Counsel for the State asked if arsenic
was administered to n woman in Mrs.
Takers condition twcnty-four hours
before death, vas it impossible, with
other symptoms present, for pains to
he delayed twenty-four hours. The
defense objected and a spirited argu-
nlent followed. Mr. Buchanan warmed
up and went into the contest with gloves
off for the second time since your cor
respondent arrived. His opponent was
the irrepressible Dan Tcigg, who
tucked the Congressman legal
scalp, in tho shape OF q favorable deci-
sion from the court, under his belt, and
the examination proceeded.
The doctor said this would be an
anomalous case. Pains might not come
on for tWenty-four hours; they might
come on and cease, and then come on
again, but he did not think there would
be an entire cessation Of pain He had
no authority that laid down the rule that