New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-16
THE COMMONwEALTH'S CASE CLOSED.

LAST EVIDENCE AND EXHIBITS INTRODUCED By
THE PROSECUTIONS LAWYERS.
New Bedford, Mass, June 15.-The case OF the
Commonwealth ended, from the dramatic pint Of
view. unfortunately. II Is mistake for an attorney
to reserve a piece Of evidence the admissbilty OF
which ne himself has doubts OF 10 the last OF his
case because after having contended for II and being
finally beaten, his statement that there his rests
has all the appearance OF collapse. The States case
has not collapsed unless 1t turns out that its police
witnesses have been engaged In monstrOus plot
But II weakened by the occurrences Of this morn
Ing When court adjourned last night the judges
bad decided receive tie drug clerks evidence about
Lizzie Borden's attempted purchase Of prussic acid
the night before the murders. But there was
timidity In Judge Masons manner OF announcing this
decision, and he expressed II with so many rcserva
lions and qualifications that instead OF sencing the
defense, he encouraged 1t to renew IT'S protest. lie
said that the evidence would be received, but that
II would be necessary TO charge the jury that they
10 consider IT for what they might think it
worth as establishing purposes and intent o. the
part OF the prisoner. The defence was quick TO OBJ
serve that II could be useful In that respect only In
case pIlisslc acid could be shown by the prosecution
TO be-, when obtained by an ordinary person not Ell
gagged In Its constant commercial use, necessarily
Iurderous weapon
Mr.. Robinson said that murder might he com
mitied with any one OF dozen drugs that are In
common and necessary II might he committed
with the composition known as Rough OIL Rats"
but would the purchase OF a quantity OF q Rough on
Rats 60 to show a murderous disposition? The
prosecution thought 1t might II 1t were susceptible
Of proof that that disposition had manifested Itself
IN murderohs acts committed with different I'M
pIement. Bnt the Court thought the point made by
the defendants lawyers important, and 1T was FINAL
ly decided that II would be necessary for the Com
monwealth to lay a foundation for the evidence 1t
sought 10 introduce, and that task was essayed at
the opening OF court this morning.
EVEN GREATER CROWDS THAN USUAL
There was the usual scramble for seats, and much
more than the usual crowd outside scrambllng TO
enter the Court House. Miss Eordens arrivals and
departurcs from and TO the Jail furnish the occasion
for large and none TOO orderly asscmblages around
the Court House door. These people are not only
urchns from the street and roushs and " torghs'
from the back alleys, but welldressed persons who
ought 10 know better. They struggle for positions
where they can stare at her. and by their mpudent
curiosity add 10 her unhaprincss. She appeared
to-day looking almost i'll. For some time there has
been q pallor in her face. well there might be-,
but It has become polor indicative of bodily as well
as mental distress She did not manifest her usual
interest the proceedings. Notwithstanding that they
soon began 10 travel fast In her, favor
Tho prosecution summoned experts to prove their
theory that prssic acid In the hands OF an ordinary
person was 10 be looked upon In the same light as
a person with bowie knife or revolver The en-
perts were local druggist furr'cr, an aGilyticai
chemist residing IN Ncw-Dedf,rd. and the wise DF.
Dolan, Of ral River.
The first witness. a Mr.. Lawton, who In indicating
lis competency 10 testify on this subject was care
full 10 say that he carried the heaviest retiil
busIpess OF any one In this city, profcsscd long
ana intimate acquaintance with prisslc acid. The
defence took formal objection TO all the questions
aimed by the State TO show that this poison was
never sold n, retail for any other purpose than that