Omaha daily bee., 1891-05-20
EXPERT MEDICAL TESTIMONY.
Opinions Of Doctors as to the Cause of
Sheedy's Death.
SYMPTOMS OF MORPHINE PolSUalNG.
Conclusion OF the Brain May Also
Have Been the Cause.-The
Evidence in the
Case.


EFT consumed the major portion of the day
and some interesting testimony was elected
from him. The doctor helped dress Sbeedy
wounds the night he was injured, was called
In the next morning at o'clock,
participated in the consultation n few
hours later helped at the coro-
ner's inquest, and little over three weeks
ago helped to dig up the body again, and had
made careful examination of the skull. The
liver and bladder had been turned over to
Prof. Haynes of the Rush medical college,
Chicago, one of the most famous toxicologists
in the country The latter statements
caused considerable CONSERVATION among the
attorneys for the defense.
DIR. Gannett, who was on the witness
stand yesterday, was put on again today
He testified mainly concerning the effects of
morphine poisoning. He declared that ordi-
narily toxic dose of morphine showed its
effects In from thirty to forty minutes.
At this iuncture Strobe seized a small
book bound in calf, and walking up to the
witness held it in his face. He then asked
"What book is thatr pointing to the vol
ume.
at is labelled Taylor on Posons'," was
the reply.
those lines"
The witness read "The effects of NOR
phine poisoning are noticeable within from
fifteen to thirty minutes"
"Now," said Strobe, "hav emit you read an
authority which says that the effects of NOR
phine poisoning are noticeable within from
fifteen to thirty mlnutesIn
Lambertson objected that such was not a
fair and proper way of making an examna-
Il I,l.f,
men educating the Witness" The Judge
sustained the objection. Strobe then asked
the witness: what medical authority can
you cite that says that it requires from thirty
to forty minutes for a toxic dose of morphine
to make itself manifesto
The witness stated that he believed he had
gotten the idea from a table of statistics
published IN certain medical work. This
work was lying on the table near which the
attorneys were sitting, Strobe seized IT.
ana demanded:
Nov show me where it says that it takes
from thirty to forty minutes for a toxic dose
of morphine to take effect. Just point it
outn
The witness took the book but after look
ing through it for few minutes, said that he
could not find anything. Whercupon Strobe
remarked:
''Then you were mistaken. weren't your'
The witness admitted that he was as far as
the authority for the same was concerned
The witnesses was then again asked when the
effects OF toxic or poisonous dose of NOR
phine was administered how long it would be
before the effects would be noticeable He
replied;
"In from twenty to fifty minutes, judging
from my own experience
Are YOU in tho habit of administering
poisonous doses of morphinel" demanded
Stcarns. "You speak of your own exneri-
encen
LamDertson objected to this question as an
insult and the interrogation was withdrawn
Tho witness then was asked concerning his
experience with patients who had been
pois oned by morphine. He related one In
stance. In that case the symptoms were the
same as those manifested by John Sheedy.
Witness had also had several other patients
suffering from the same cause.
Attorney STROBE, counsel for Mrs Sheedy,
then asked
",rhe symptoms in concussion of tae brain,
compression of the brain and morphine
poisoning may be the same, may they notr' :.
"Yes, sr,n was the reply.
"Cannot death result from conclusion of
the brain without showing any disturbance
in that organ at the post mortemP'
at might
"Such blow as that received by John
Sheedy might cause concussion of the BRAIN
might it notl'
1T might"
as it impossible to diagnosicate case of
morphine poisoning from the post mortem
examination alone!.n
-.
The witness then continued: "Such blow
was sufficient TO cause death, but / do not
think that in this case il did. There was
some extravasation of blood, but 1t was from
an old wound at the back of the head"
Strobe then asked:
SIN death from morphine poisoning are not
the convulutions of the brain somewhat
tiattenedW
~ don't know"
The witness then continued: SIN the post
NgtG Aft tna hn.l ~
excessive moisture of the BRAIN There was
coagula in the heart. The lungs were
slightly congested, From what saw at the
post mortem examination, / do not know
that John Sheedy had died from the effects
of morphine. | would not have suspected
morphine poisoning from what saw"I
Recross examination: Ibid you make an
examination at tho time of the upper part of
the spinal cord or the medulla oblongta"
81 did,
estate its conditions"
"The vessels were very congested at the
surface. | would expect to see such an en-
gorgement of the blood vessels at that point
In case OF morphine poisoning"
At this iuncture the witness was asked to
show the jury certain discolOrations on the
skull. This was objected TO by Strobe be-
cause the skull had not been offered in evil
dence. Lambertson then said;
1--WE Offer the skull in evidence Now we
VIII soc what you will object to-"
STROBE then said; 1--WE object TO the pres
entatiou Of the skull in evidence because il |
was taken from tho body long after the |
Official examination; because it has not peen |
In the official custody of anybody and because |
no person on the part of the defense has !
known or been apprised of the fact that the |
skull was to be offered in evidence
Objection overruled.
The doctor then stepped forward md |
showed the jury the various discoorations ON |
the skull. The witness then stated: "On |
the re-cNaminaton of the skull after the |
autopsy have come to the conclusion that |
the blow was OF greater force than had at |
first beleyel," ~
~, On going back to the witness stand he con- /
tlnued; II have seen several cases of NOR |
phine poisoning. Tho congestion OF the |
nervous cord might have been caused by |
compression or conclusion Of the brain, or by |
morphine poisoning"
"Who hired You to make this examina-
tionw demanded Strobe.
"Dr. Everett asked me to assist him in the !
work.
"How much money are you to get for III" |
and Strobe cast wicked look at the witness. |
II don't know. Nothing has been said |
about pay"
$50 It is a labor Of love on your part, is it," !
sneored Strodc, ''or are you interested Ia tho |
conviction of Mrs. Sheedyin
To this MIR. Lambertson objected "Mr. |
Strodo,n said he, "may go on the witness !
stand himself II he carries out his threats,
and he would not like TO nave me ask him |
how much he was n uet for his sarvicas r.