The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-06-15
NOW, 4 NEW HAqCHHT.
Queer Discovery by a Boy
Near the Borden House
in Fall River.
GOLD ON TIE RUSTY BLADE
The Prussic Acid Testimony Ex-
cluded = outline Of the
Defence.

Defence.
FALL RIVER, Mass. June Is. 1S93,-
Last night boy named Potter, son of G.
e. Potter, clerk in The Fall River water
works office, while looking for ball,
found a hatchet on the top of John
Groves barn, which is located j ust in the
rear of the Borden property. Mr.. Potter
this morning reported his find to the po-
lice and also sought an interview with
the counsel for defence, but was unable
to find Mr.. Jennings. He still has the
hatchet in his possession and describes it
as an ordinary implement with hammer
head. The handle was weatherbeaten
and the blade covered with rust. Soma
of the particles of rust being removed a
slight coloring of gilt was disclosed,
which would either indicate that the
hatchet was at one time used as an orna-
ment or was quite new VIII lost or dis
carded,
THE TRIAL.
The tenth day of the murder trial
opened hot, with a big crowd in attend
ance. Miss Borden was overwhelmed
with floral offerings this meaniug and
appeared in excellent spirits, ispite the
seeming disheartening significance of.
yesterdays proceedings.
The first witness called was Charlie 8
II Aawton. New Bedford druggist of
twenty years. standing. He was ac-
quainted, he said, with the 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 formula than
on physicians prescription; If he had
sold it in any other form, but all these
questions were excluded He was then
asked if it was put t) any other purpose
question he replied that he knew of
none. There was no crosse Examination.
PRUsSIC ACID FOR FURs.
Henry HI. Villson, of New Bedford, in
the hat. cap and fur business. testified:
He ca red for the furs of others as well as
his own; he devoted some of his time also
| to preserving furs. He WAS asked IL
| prussic acid was ever used in the care of
| furs, bat his answer was objected to by
| the defense and ordered stricken out. He
had no knowledge Of the effect Of the
| acid on furs.
Nathaniel Hathaway, analytical chem
4 ist. New Bedford, WAS next called. He
L
4 forms; it Is usually cold In 2 per cent.
| solution He was asked about the suit
| ability s the drug III correction with
| furs assd the question was objected to.
! The Court considered the question very
| broad one and the matter was ruled out.
| The question was put in substantially
the same form, using sealskin furs as the
/ basis of the inquiry and the answer that
| it was unsuitable, and also unsuita BILE
| for use in cleaning furs. Witness said 1t
| was quite volatile. and in that volatile
| form had no effect il distributed In the
air upon any person iu its reach; 1t hai
no us, as all acid, in cleaning furs.
Cross-examinalion =" 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 them benzine, aud bsnzine he
knew was used quite extensively; also
ether and naphtha and chloroform, but
which were dangerous to have about
| because Of their explosive tendencies.
article was volatile there was prac-
! tically no ground OF objection if
person was careful about using
| it, Witness said he considered arsenic q
dangerous drug; he never used i5 TO beau
| tify his complexion, and Governor Rob-
inson, who was conducting the exalni-
| nation, said he would not insist upon it
eh !. nyrrrI rI.t RI nj MOI a
solution OF prussic acid could be fu rther
diluted by water or alcohol. The two
per cent, solution will kill insects
promptly. but whether any greater d.
luton would have the same effect or not
witness didn't know.
Then Daniel Hathaway, an analytical
chemist of this town was put upon the
stand.
He was asked If there was anything
in prussic acid that adapted it for the
cleansing of furs. There was not. he
said.
On cross-examination by Ex-Governor
Robinson. he was asked about different
were volatile. The witness had said that
prussic acid was not fit to be used for the
purpose mentioned, because pruss ic acid
was volatile.
Ex-Gov Robinson wanted to know IL
1.-the volatile substance like benzne would
not kill small animal life. The witness
thought 1t would.
RULED OUT.
At 1920 the Court ruled that the pre- :
limiuary allegations had not been made
by the prosecution, and that therefore
the testi mony relating to the attempt OF
Lizzie Borden to purchase prussic acid
must ne ruled out.
This is the third and perhaps fatal blow
to the GoverEment's case. The f1rsI was
the exclusion OF Lizzie Borden's own teas
timony. given at the inquest, the second
was the exclusion of the testimeny Of
Anna Borden, the cousin, and this last
seemed r6 be the inal setback.
Mr.. Kuowlton Then afo-e. and after put
ting the various exhibits in evidence;
created sensation by announcing:-
s.rhe Government rests" This was at
1o:25.
THE DEFENsE's TURN.
Ex-Governor Robinson arose and said
that time might be saved by allowing q
recess of ten minutes that the counsel
for the defence might hold consulta-
tion.
A recess of ten miuu tes was granted.
During the recess the prisoner talked
40 rp octlv with Mrs Ft.sS0ndau of Boston.