The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-12
DIED FROM ARSENIC.
Defense Ask If 1t Might Not Have
Been Pneumonia.
DIDN'T CARE TO TASTE IT."
The Integrity of the Death Certificate OF
Mrs. Barnaby Attacked - Testimony
Taken To-day I'm the Graves Trial.

| lsPEciAL 10 THE NENs.J
| DENVER, Col, Dec. 12.-The greatest
crowd yet assembled followed yesterdays
proceedings in the Graves trial. DR..
| Graves himself maintains his composure
and notes every point made in his favor
with smiling serenity. When the theory
was advanced that Mrs. Barnaby died of
pneumonia, he nodded his head approx
ingly. The defence has now outlined the
course it will take, and judging from the
| proceedings up to date, will not admit
| that Mrs. Barnaby died of arseniCal pols-
| oning. Any other theory, however, Will
be hard TO establish, in view of the results
of DIR. Eskridge's examination OF Mrs
| Worrell last evening. He reports distinct
| traces OF arsenical poisoning in her system.
DR. Anson NJ. Holmes was very guarded
in his answers when called to testify yes
terday afternoon. He said he was the
| physician called when Mrs. Barnaby and
| Mrs. Worrell were taken suddenly sick
on the afternoon of April 3. He found
| both patients vomiting: with irregular
| pulse, cold extremeties and burning SEN
sations in stomach and throat, with ex-
cessive thirst and "A little later diarrhea
and purging. He continued:
From the first | expected that both
accordingly. After ] had been there
short time, DIR. Griffith came, and we
treated them together.
Both ladies seemed very much de-
pressed, and their temperature averaged
nine-two degrees to ninety-four and half
degrees. They were treated from Monday
until Wednesday evening, when DIR.
Bonestoel, the regular family physician,
returning, took charge.
IL discovered no symptoms other than
poisoning on the night | was called, Mrs.
Worrell seemed TO recover about mid
,f..kt l,,tt narY I.ty, Y,aI oh
the same.
Mrs Barnaby told the doctor on his ar
| rival that she and Mrs. Worrell had taken
whiskey "A short time before the symptoms
were felt. She said that the toddies con-
tanned wotablespoonfuls each of WI. skey,
which she had diluted with sweetened
water DIR. Holmes then called for the
bottle from which the whiskey had been
| taken, and touched his tongue to il. He
instantly suspected something was wrong
and send out to drug store for sealing
| wax.
In the presence of ALL after taking ont a
small quantity, he sealed the larger bot
! tie. The day after the autopsy on the
body of Mrs. Barnaby, DIR. Holmes gave
this bottle to Dr. Sewall, the seal being
then intact, The bottle had pasted upon
it label, on which was written in lead
| pencil: wish you happy New Year.
| Accept this fine old whiskey from your
friends in the woods"
DIR. Holmes was present at the autopsy,
which was conducted by DR. Bucknam.
| All the organs were examined carefully,
the condition noted, and certain portions
| OF the viscera were removed. A new jar
was obtained from neighboring store,
| which was carefully washed, and the Wis
| cera were placed ill IL and the cover sealed.
| He tried TO deliver the jar and its contents
| TO Coroner Valley, who refused TO accept
| it and the jar was taken back to the un-
N L. tnfr md lnaly yn1 nv, in nf Ia
| The jar was at no time allowed TO stand
| open in the undertakers' shop
The importance of this last statement
| will be appreciated when it is understood
! that the defence have advanced the theory
that the jar might have been left uncov-
cred, and that either by sitting of arsenic
or the precipitation of arsenical dust fall
| ing from wall paper, sufficient quantity
| of arsenic might have been deposited III
the jar to make up that found In the
viscera by chemical analysis.
| On cross-eXamination witness stated
| that he signed certificate, which gave
congestion of the lungs as the cause Over
an hour was then spent by Judge Macon
in questions whether congestion of the
lungs might not have been caused through
colds or other ailments Numerous medi-
cal authorities were then quoted by the
prosecution to show that congestion was
! generally caused through arsenical poison
| ing. Witness stated that the two ladies
were confined TO separate rooms, and that
| the symptoms of both were alike. He
could not remember how the liquid tasted,
excepting that il was very strong.
Jadge Macon then asked: DO you be-
| lieve upon your oath that Mrs. Barnaby
could not have died from any other cause
than arsenical poisoning ?"
Replying, witness stated that in his
| opinion death was caused by .arsenical
| poisoning At the time of deceased's
death he was not positive rs TO what kind
| of poison caused death. but thought
| FowrSTs solution most plausible.
Profs. Headden and Haines were both
| recalled and questioned as TO whether
| there were any other formulas by which
arsenic or Fowler's solution could be made.
/ Neither gentleman knew of any.
DR. Samuel A. Bonestell was the last
witness called. He knew Mrs. Worrell
and was called on the evening of April l5
and attended both ladies' Mrs. Worrell
was complaining of some sickness
of the stomach; temperature was
normal, pulse - degrees, very nervous,
! somewhat depressed and excited
| Mrs Barnabv had cold skin, not very
rapid pulse, temperature 9S degrees, very
nearly normal. and complained of coldness
| i'm stomach. She was perfectly rational
| and very weak
| lie treated Mrs Barnaby until the time
| OF her death and Mrs. Worrell until the
| time of her depart ure for Chester. IL was
on Friday night that Mrs. Barnaby's
condition changed with congestion of the
lungs. When asked the cause Of death
witness replied by saying, "arsenical poi
soning."
To-Day's Proceedings.
DENVER. Col, Dec. 13.-Court opened at
/ q O'Clock this morning. The public did
not know this generally, and the attend
/ ance was light The usual gang Of alleged
detectives were lounging about TO spot
witnesses and swear 90 the conversations
| they might allege themselves 60 have
overheard. II is expected OF them
that they will come into court and will