The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-16
MRS. SHANN TESTIFIES.
The Accused Mother Relates Her
Story.
SEE DENIES MANY STATEMENTS.
The Prisoner Breaks Down Several Times
During the Recital OF Her Sons Illness.
A Carpenters Testimony Creates a Mild
Sensation.

During tho Recital of Her Sons Illness.
A Carpenters Testimony Creates a Mild
Sensation.
TRENTON, Aug. 16.-Counsel for Mrs.
Shann, who is on trial for poisoning her
son, stated yesterday that two of their i'm
portant witnesses were too ill to attend
court and they asked for an order to allow
them to take Mrs. Kate Stryker's evidence
at her home in Princeton. The court
granted the order, directing Associate
Judge Wright and the oiiicuN enographer
to be present. Mrs. Stryy will testify
that she heard a vehicle stop near the
Sham residence during the night that
young Shann's body was tampered with.
Immediately nfter the vehicle came to
stop she heard the bell of the Shann house
ring.
The defense put number Of relatives
and neighbors of Mrs. Sham on the stand,
all of whom testified that they visited the
Shanns during the illness of John, and
witnessed acts of tenderness and devotion
to him on the part OF his mother
Dr. Arthur j. Wolf, medical expert OF
Hartford, Conn, was then called TO tho
stand. He testified that in his opinion the
autopsy performed by County Physician
Cantwell on young Shann's body was not
proper one. The portions OF the body in
his custody were not all examined to ascer-
thin whether discuse existed or not. No
one but person understanding anatomy
could have disemhowcled John Sham.
Dr.. Wolf read from the highest known
authority on the subjects to show that
dead bodies can absorb poison; that they
have so absorbed poison, which has been
found when the tissues were subjected to
chemical analysis.
Mrs. Mamie Kelly, being recalled, testi-
fled that during her brotl er's illness she
frequently read religious publications to
him. Her mother used TO read the Bible
to him. lie asked her to do so, and several
times when John asked his mother to pray
for him she did So
The witness described what occurred
when Calle Pyatt was in the sick room.
The latter is the colored woman who
swore that she saw Mrs. Sham force
decoction down Johns throat. Mrs.
Kelly denied the occurrence emphatcally.
John took his medicine willingly and
made no objection to ii mt all.
Under cress.examination Mrs. Kelly
made several statements contradictory of
statements made by her at the coroner's
inquest. In explanation she said q mis-
take had been made concerning her words.
The witness broke down and began to
"etp ~ BlilSS vi WdltT WAS given TO ntT,
and she was soon composed again The
points in which she seemin sly contradicted
herself were not considered important.
Peter Sham, n carpenter who OCCASION
ally assists ]. Watson Sham. the under
taker, testified that they are brothers, and
that the witness helped to prepare young
Shann's body for burial. On the morning
following the disemboweling he called at
the Shann house to attend the body and
was told by Mrs. Sham that 1t was in good
condition. This was ut Z o'clock. The
testimony of the witness created mild
sensation, as it WAS in evidence that the
discovery of the disem boweing was made
at least four hours before his arrival.
Mrs. Matte G. Sham, the prisoner, was
then put on the stand. She testified that
she was Al years OF age and a member of
the Episcopal church in Princeton. Johns
habits, she said, We're irregular. The first
she knew Of his illness was through his
coming to her for money To 90 to n physi-
clan. She gave him a dollar His eyes
were sore then, and he complained of in
ternal distress His eyes continued sore,
and he visited DR. Bergen many times, lie
grew worse and the doctor gave him
gargle aud pills and some green medicine
He also used medicine in tablet form. The
witness gave all the details OF her sons
Illness.
Mrs Sham broke down several times
during her recital and wcpt. Weeks be-
fore her son died, she said she insisted
that his physician, Dr.. Bergen, should
bring another doctor with him. Dr. Ber-
gen put her Off a number of times, until
finally he brought DR., l.ytIe. Several of
Dr. Bergon's prescriptions were relilled a
number of times, Witness never used the
disinfecting tablets for any purpose other
than disnfection.
Mrs. Sham gave the names of about a
dozen different persons who called to see
John during his sickness, She denied q
statement of witness for the prosecution
that John once complained that his mother
was too lazy to cook an egg for him. Mrs.
Shann also denied the truth of the story
told by CGddic Pyatt that she forced medi-
cine down his throat. The witness de
sefibed her way OF administering the
medicine, showing that she had always
been gentle with her son. She was still
on the stand when the court adjourned fos
the day