Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-03
DOCTORS DISAGREE.
Three Chemists Testify as to PalsonS
in the DR.. Baker Trial.
ALL HAVE THEIR OWN THEORIES.
Professor MaIlst Says All Anatomical Bvf-
dences wereSisisted by the Ere
cess Of Decay.
Especial telegram to the Dispssoh.l

I lbpecidl tclckfhut " 49, 1-~>-'~--'
ABINGDON. Va, March At was UNDER
stood that to-day would be an important
one in the DR.. Baker trial; perhaps de-
velop the controlling feature of the case,
and the firm step and cheerful expression
of the Doctor as he entered the courtroom
this morning indicated that he expected
something in his favor. The examination
of DIR. Taylor was continued and he told
OF his connection with the case, and again
described the methods used by him In his
search for strychnine, arsenic, and otner
poisons i'm the body of the prisoners vile.
He attached considerable Importance TO
the red stomach, and knew OF no theory
by which he could account Tor the redr ess
being caused by arsenic injected into the
stomach after death.
NOT POSITIVE OPINION.
At the. eame time he repeated his re-
marks of yesterday that 1T might nave
been caused by gastritis, or causes un-
known. or even after death oy tne psobes1 bess
Judgment as to how the arsenic got INTO
the stomach and liver of the deceased
woman he said his best Judgment was
that it was taken during life, but consiu-
erinp all the circumstances he had hereto
fore detailed TO the Jury his opinion was
one in which he could place very little
confidence. This evidence virtually ciosed
the prosecution. as no witness was intro
duced on any important facts sfterwaros'
Fon THE Defence.
With the evening session the prisoners
counsel commenced their work by asking
the Court to exclude all testimony re-
lating to the poisoning OF W. X. Gilmer'
which motion was overruled.
Professor Jarman, who ls professor Oh
chemistry at Emory and Henry College.
was sworn and stated be had analyzed 2
fluid said to be of the same as that with
which Mrs. Baker was embalmed.
WHAT HE DID NOT FIND.
He found zinc, chloride corrosive subli;,
mate. white arsenic, alum nitrates. and
tartrates. The important feature of his
testimony was to show that the fluid con-
tanned no chlorate of potassium, which
was one of the substances found IN the
fluid furnished DIR. Taylor. and WHICH he
said should have been IN the liver II the
arsenic found was carried there by the en-
balming fluid.
amined and sustained himself well, and no
doubt he helped the prisoners cause.
NOT CONCLUSIVE.
Professor Mallet, or the University Oh
Virginia, WAS the next witness for the de-
fendant, and he said that he did not con:
sider the analysis made by DR.. Taylor OF
the embalming fluid as conclusive. as TO
chlorate of potash if there was any organic
matter present; neither did he attach any
importance to the appearance OF the
stomach twenty-one months after life as IN;
dicatIng whether arsenic was administered
before death, or injected after. He thought
that the fact that an embaiming
fluid containing arsenic had been used
vitiated any chemical evidence OF ar,
senical poisoning. while all anatomical
evidences were vitiated by the process. OF
decay in the long period the body had
been inferred. he was closely cross-ex-
amined. but the prosecutors' shrewd ques-
lions fell as harmless as "snow on the
brlne,n and he was as calm as II engaged
in a pleasant conversation with an old ac'
ouaintance. The defence will continue
their expert testimony tomorrow morn
ing.
HIS BEST DAY.
This Is admitted to have been the bes
dey for the prisoner since his arrest. ex
cept perhaps the day the Circuit Court SCI
aside the verdict and granted the doomed
man new trial. Unless the prosecution
can rally their hard work has been In vain