The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-07-30
EXAMINATIONS OF BERGFELD.
Considerable Interest TAKEN in The Gas,
tsS';.' by The People.


Considerable Interest Taken in The Case
+;S5..' by The People.
Justice Schultz court room was filled
to suffocation last night at $50, by an
anxious crowd to listen to the testimony
taken in the.case of.the state of Oregon
against VIM. Bergfeld, accused OF the
poisoning of his mother-ih-law, Mrs.
Matilda Rogers.
The prosecution opened by calling DIR.
Hollister, the physician who had been
called to attend deceased on the. morn
ing of her death. He reached the house
about s O'Clock, or little before, and
found the woman dead. There were no
unusual appearances to indicate that
death had resulted from poisoning. Con-
siderable time was taken up by questions
relative to the action of poisons on the
human system. Conversations between
witness and Mr.. and Mrs. Bergfeld, re-
garding the funeral were detailed; and
the condition of the body was described,
as the witness found it. There was
nothing apparent by which he could tell
the cause of death, and all that he knew
respecting the case he had learned from
Mrs. Bergfeld. twas ascertained that
the poison Rough on Rats, and some
laudanum, was in the house. Witness
sent an undertaken to the house by re-
quest of Bergfeld. No further instruc-
tions. There was no glass nor nothing
in the room to show that deceased had
taken dose of any nature. No signs of
| frothing at the mouth. Body appeared
natural for corpse. kilograms and
messages were prepared to notify friends
at distance of the death. The time
necessary to Keep the body until these
scould arrive was discussed. Conditions
OF the stomach in cases of poison were
explained by witness. Had never heard
of a case of death from taking chloride
of zinc.
D. L. Gates was called by the prosecu-
ton. Witness. had q conversation with
defendant on the street the day of the
funeral. In his capacity as sheriff he
had previously served some papers on
deceased, and Mr.. and Mrs. Bergfeld, in
a suit of the First National bank. Mrs.
Rogers told him that che knew moth
ing of the cause of action that she
was living in dread of Bergfeld; that he
had threatened her life; that he had
drawn q revolver on her son, etc. These
things witness told to. defendant that
day; defendant said If deceased said she
didn't know of the suit she was -
old liar; said his family was wealthy
and would prosecute any one circulating
damaging reports about his character.
Told the coroner what Mrs. Rogers bad
said, and told others who asked him
about it.
/ Joseph Nitschke was called by. prose
Ecution. Arrived at the house at 80 a
m. az undertaken. Found the body in
the bed, covered over, and handker-
chief over the head and under the face
to keep the chin in place. After talking
with Mr.. and Mrs. Bergfeld about keep
ing the body four or Eve days, proceeded
with an assistant to embalm and pre-
pare the body for keeping it. Used 81
quarts Of embalming preparation. Ont
quart was placed in the Stomach. Found
the corpse natural; no signs of froth a
the mouth; arms and legs natural for {
corpse. Had taken sample Of the fnie
from the same Bottle used that day anc
gave it to the coroner. The fluid come
in bulk, 5 gallon kegs, and is drawn OF
in bottles for use. AZ
After the testimony of this witnes
! had been taken court adjourned until
! a. m. today.
On reassamblinc this roorninc await