Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-12-15

The preliminary examination Of Mrs.
Martha Taylor, wife of John Taylor,
deceased, on a charge of numbering her
hush nd last September, began In
Quinn's court this morning, G. s.
Crawford and Stambaugh, Hurd &
Dewey being for the defense and Co.
Atty. B. O. Cranston for the prosecu-
tion.
The prosecution has had the stand
all day.
Glen Bell was the first witness, tes.
tifyiDg simply TO having known the
deceased.
j. W. Gibson was the FIRST to see the
deceased's body after death. Found 1t
tretched out, arms folded, chin tied
up, eyes closed. Body had begun to
color, Widow showed no signs of
grief.
Mrs. Underwood and Mrs. Andy
Taylor testified that Mrs. Taylor had
told them how John died. SAID he had
eaten hearty supper aud went to bed.
At IL O'Clock woke her up, sald he was
going to die, she wanted to go after
some neighbors, he would not consent,
said hs would rather die with her.
Had her kneel down while he offered
prayer, then stretched out, folded bis
arms, slut mouth and eyes and died.
Dr. j. W. Felty was next. Had pre-
scrlbed for him in July. Last prescrip.
tton few days before his death. Saw
hin last the friday preceding his
death. He complained of diarrhes.
On day of first Republican rally saw
him; he complained Of numbness, said
diarrhe continued, complained of not
being able to work, said he tired easily.
Treated him for diarrhUl in connection
with milarial trouble. Prof. Bailey
and DIR. llazlett assisted in postmortem
Nov. 10. Took stomach, left kidney,
right lobe Of liver and part of brain
and heart, placed same in jars as taken
from body and gave in charge of Prof.
Bailey. Taylor complained of violent
beating of heart. Sometimes this is
symptom Of poison, sometimes not.
In conversation with Mrs. Taylor day
after burial asked what had happened
and how John had died, IL he had any
pain. She said he died peacefully.
Saw her once or twice after that, do
not remember what she said, Day
before po5tmOrtem she asked IL 1
would make it and If 1t could be pre-.
vented.
State Chemist Il. IL. ). Bailey, for |
nine years at head Of tue chemical de- |
partment of the State University, fol- |
lowed. Said he had only made a
txdminary Of part stomach,
liver aud brain. In stomach and con-
ients found trace of arsenic small, of
'trychnine one fifteenth to one twen-
-ieth OF a grain. Strychnine practically
pure. Examined liver, estimated 1t to
weigh go ounces. Found small guam
.ity of arsenic, Tested portion Of
brain and found evidece of a trace of
lrsenic. He was asked, "Would the
amount of strychnine found In stomach
produce deathY" Answer, ~ think
lot."
Prof. Bailey is on the stand as we 90
20 press. The courtroom is crowded
with onlOokers.
Prof. Bailey continuing said that in
ils opinion Taylor's death had been
'aused by strychnine. Being asked il
t was the poison found that did the
work, said no. The poison that kills
'nters the circulation and is never
ound. StrychRine is the quickest
POISON to be absorbed, entering the
ystem in from l5 minutes to 2 hours,
The hnding OF as much as he did In.
Heated that n considerable quantity
more must haye been present and
absorbed.
DIR. Felty was recalled and asked what
n his opinion was the cause of Taylor's
leath. Said he thought poison did it.
Thos. Mcconnell was then sworn.
lie helped lay out the body. Mrs.
Taylor told him the same story she
lad others-that her husband called
Ter, refused to let her call help, pre-
erred to die alone, crossed his hands,
hut his eyes and died in most exem.
'lary and accommodating manner.
Mrs. Tolbert testified that Mrs. Tay-
OF said her husband put his hand on
Iers before dying aud that there were
10 convulsIons, only severe pressure
hat made her wrist lame for several
lays.
Miss Anna Mahaffey, of Missouri,
nd Miss Eva Adams, of Abilene,
estihed that they had been employed
II Mrs. SINNERS millinery store aud
hat Mrs. Taylor came In week
'efore her husbands death. She
ooked at some hat frames, asked il
hey kept mourning goods and wanted
'rices. Said her husband was III aud
lad told her that as she was coming
o town she would better look for some
nourniug millinery, as he would prob.
Ibly die.