The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-08-06

Col. Summers, Commonwealth Attor-
ney, requested me to go, There were
present DR.. Taylor, the chemist; DR..
Barr, DIR. Philips, Col. Summers, w.
H. Campbell, H. B. Roberts, Mr.. Clyce,
the cornorer, summoning a young
medical student and two negroes from
Abingdon who did the digging to dis
inter and recognized the body as that
OF Mrs. Baker. / took the body up |
and turned 1t over to DIR, Taylor. At
ter removing it in the coffin about
twenty feet west of the grave. The
body had not been disturbed; the
corpse was handled in the coffin.
told DR.. Taylor the body had been en-
balmed. BY his request l opened the
dress and he made an incision.
Here the defense objected and the
question OF irrevelancy on The ground
of ex-parte proceedings was discussed
at length. Messrs. Wysor, Trigg and
Hutton for the State and Capt. Blair
for the defense. Wysor held that how
ever the exhuming was made, accord
ing to law or not, the evidence in con-
nection with exhuming and autopsy
could not be otherwise than relevant
/
Mr.. Trigg cited the definition of the
term relevant as used in law. Col.
Blair held that said evidence should
not be permitted, on the ground that
fraud could have been practiced by
these men in their ex parte proceed
ing.
The Judge stated that he had no
evidence of the exhumation having
been illegal, that even if it was, the
testimony WAS relevant and could be
weighed according to the legal or il
legal procedure as further develop
ment would show.
The witness continued: DR.. Tay-
lor made an incision in the stomach
then cut in above the stomach, took
out the right kidney and part of the
liver; put said organs in fruit jar
got in his buggy and drove home. /
with my assistants reinterred the body
then came home. The coroner re.
quested all disenterested par
ties to get out OF the Enclosure
while the autopsy was in progress
was told to keep the fact quiet thai
there was going to be an elimination
Summers said he didn't want the pub
lie generally to know it that he didn'
want to excite the curiosity of thu
people.
Col. Summers testified: The pris
, oner and counsel were present whel
! the exhumation was discussed il
court. / made affidavit for a warran
, by which to proceed and supposed i
had been issued. 1, as Commonwealth
= attorney, notified DR., Taylor to come
| also notified Esquire Cumming
to act as coroner, and toll
! him to go there and see that M
! one disturbed the grave. l wante
the exhumation kept quiet to proven
it from getting out over the Who'll
country. Did not notify the defense
supposed they knew it, as it was ger
orally talked. l was acting under tn
impression that / had full authority
Don't know that anyone was sworn o
. account of elimination.
Acting Coroner Cummings testi
fed was there didn't have any wa
rant; supposed that any jury woul
l. understand that it was not necessar
q under the circumstances.
0 r. r. Campbell testified: was dept
ty postmaster my term expired Apri
q 2, 1899. DIR. Baker called for mail {
Flanner, or some such name. One c
It two of these letters / noticed wer
e mailed at Montgomery's Switch, all j
e same handwriting as we'll as | remen
b Der.
q Ellen Loud testified that she was {
. DR.. Bakers on Monday preceding tn
L death of Mrs. Baker, who died on Wee
G nesday said Mrs. Baker was well, ws
u peeling peaches and in perfect goo
e humor.
Jno. p. Summers testified to DR.. b
: ker getting the alleged letters address
D. ed to fictitious names, and said whe
+ they failed to put them in his box at tn
post-office he would call for them
u the window; said they were for SOM
g body who lived on his place. Said h
n didn't know anybody of the names az
e dressed and Vas we'll acquainted
g that section.
Miss Mamie Jessie, of MontgomeI
O Switch, was next called. Was at MI
|, Gilmer's the day after the burial
d Mrs. Baker. Dr. Baker was there TIL