Evening journal., 1893-06-15
ABOUT PRUSSIC ACID.
Chemists and Furriers Before
the Borden Jury.
MISS LIZZIE GETS MANY FLOWERS.

The Defendant in the Famous Murder
Case Overwhelmed with Floral Oner-
ings-Expert Testimony That Prussic
Acid Is Unsuitable for Cleaning Furs
and is Never. Sold Except for Medicine.
NEW BEDFORD, June 15-The tenth
day of the Borden murder trial opened
hot with a big attendance Miss Borden
was overwhelmed with floral offerings
this morning and appeared in excellent
spirits, despite the seeming dishearten
ing significance Of yesterdays proceed
ings.
The first witness called was Charles II.
Lawton, a New Bedford druggist, OF
twenty years standing. He was &C
quainted with the drug prussic acid and
kept it in stock the proper name is
diluted hydrocyanic acid. He was asked
if it was used for any specific purpose If
it was sold under any other formulm than
on physician prescription; If he had
sold it in any other form, but all these
| questions We're excluded. He was then
asked if it was put to any other purpose
than for medicine and to this latter
question he replied that he know OF none.
/ There was no cross examination.
| Objections to Prussic Acid Evidence.
Henry II. Tillson, of New Bedford, in
the hat, cap and fur business, testified
He cared for the furs Of others as well as
his own. He devoted some Of his time
also to preserving furs. He was asked
if prussic acid was ever used in the care
of furs, but his answer was objected to
by the defense and ordered stricken out
He had no knowledge of the effect Of the
acid on furs.
Unsuitable for Cleaning Furs.
Nathaniel Hathaway, analytical chem.
ist, New Bedford, was next
called He was acquainted with
pFussic acid in both forms; it is
usually sold in two per cent. solution
He was asked about the suitability of
the drug in connection with furs, and
the question was objected to. The court
considered the question a very broad one
and the matter was ruled out. The
question was put in substantially the
same form, using seal skin furs as the
basis of the inquiry; and the answer was
that it was unsuitable and also insult
able for use in cleaning furs. Witness
said it was quite volatile and in that
volatile form had no effect if distributed
in the air upon any poison in its reach
1t had no use as an aid in cleaning furs
Cross examined-By volatile / mean
that it passes off in the air, as Other
acids do. said the witness, and the
names of other acids were cited; among
5 them benzine, and benzine he knew wa
used quite extensively; also ether, anS
, naptha, and chloroform, but which wer
dangerous to have about because o
their explosive tendencies.
Witness considered that because al
q article was volatile this was practically
no ground of objection if person wa
careful about using it, Witness
said he considered arsenic a dangerou
= drug; he never used it to beautify hi
: complexion and Governor Robinson, VIII
was conducting the examination, said h
would not insist upon it that he ought L
use it.
Some Evidence Excluded.
After consultation the justices a
y 1920 announced that the preliminar
evidence did not come up to profier an
< bexcluded the evidence Of attempted pur
T chase of,prussic acid.
After introduction of exhibits, at 10
. the commonwealth rested its case an
y recess for fifteen minutes was take1
During the recess the prisoner talke
earnestly with Mrs. Fessenden, of Boston
the first lady who has spoken to her i
the court room.