The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-16
THE DOCTORS TESTIFY.
POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION OF
THE DROWNED MEN.
Death Ensued While I'm the watcr-No
Marks OF yiolence-The Coroner's In
quest-wife in Convulsions.

AS told In The Times yesterday. the
Wilkinson. for whose death Philip l..
Nicholas now in Richmond Jail. was ar
rested, were found Wednesday
Yesterday morning Commemorative At
torney Conway r. Sands set out for the
scene, near Lorraine, Va.
He was accompanied by Officer Tomlin-
son and Drs. Charles III. Chalkley and
]. N. Ellis, as medical experts in the
left at 10 o'clock A. NJ, driving in the
face Of a cold wind and through a dense
fog.
The bodies were found in an clubhouse
on the Wickham farm, one mile from the
place where they were brought ashore
The Commemorative attorney Of Hen
rico, deciding that the matter came into
his jurisdiction. a post-mortem examina-
tion was at once begun by Dr. Chalkley
the county physician, assisted by Dr.
Ellis
The bodies were found to be well pre-
served, and there was not the slightest
evidence of violence upon them, not even
upon the hands, as though they might
the boat.
1t was the opinion OF the experts that
death resulted from drowning The doc
tors feel positive, from signs Of the or
ganS of anatomy, that the bodies were
Immersed in the water before death.
The faces of both men were placid
and peaceful, and the post-mortem rigid
ity OF the bodies very marked. The
brains OF both were found congested, and
IL, h. 4
gested blood. Water was found in the
stomachs of both Of them, and in Will
kinson's stomach was found some I'M
digested matter like corn beef.
A lot of foamy mucus filled the mouths
and nostrilS of the dead men,
and, as before stated, not a
mark or abrasion on the bodies, nor
any evidence of a blow upon or in the
mouth. larynx, trachea or lungs of either.
The pupils Of the eyes were relaxed
and the eyelids closed. The mouth of
Wilkinson was closed and his arms fold
ed over his breast when found Mills
mouth was open, and his arms fixed in a
sort of pugilistic attitude, with the right
arm over his breast and the left extended
Both were stout, well-built men, full
bearded. Their clothing hands and faces
Eere covered with mud from the bottom
OF the river They wore brogans on their
feet. Wilkinson had no coat on, but had
on three shirts and a waistcOat and
trousers. Mills wore two shirts, coat
and waistcoat, yarn socks and two pairs
of trousers.
The hearts OF both men were filed with
fluid blood.
There were many people from miles
around In attendance. and the greatest
interest and excitement prevailed.
The jury. summoned from Henrico, was
not completed till l o'clock Z. NJ, and
the inquest began, with the prospect Of
continuing in session all night
Mrs. Mills the wife of one OF the
drowned men, and the woman with whom
IL is alleged Nicholas was unduly inti-
mate, was close by during the beginning
Of the proceedings. She could not, how
ever. be induced to look at tie bodies.
~ even the corpse Of her husband. and
finally went into commissions and had TO
b.. removed to her home, and DR.. Fuller
Gaskins was put in charge Of her.
The bodies were prepared for burial,
the collins being sent from Richmond by
the afternoon train, and will be buried
by the county authorities to-day.
The bee tree was cut down and found
full Of honey, and raccoon was found In
II besides marks of an axe were found on
the tree. but not In sufficient amount to
have caused its fall.
The prisoner claimed that when he and
the dead men reached the tree. II was
found larger than they had imagined, and
too valuable to cut down, as they feared
arrest for trespass. Nicholas, the prisoner,
was a trapper ard hunter. The country
in this neighborhood is full of game, en-
bracing beavers. wild ducks, wild geese,
mink musk rats and other game.
The party suffered for lunch and din