The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-15
lie Showed the Poison Could bs Used
Kill Moths
AND THEN THE DEFENSE OPENS.
qucnt Opening I'm which Bc Tells
tho Jury What Must be Proved to
Connect Lizzie with the Crime Lizzie
nesses for the Defense Called.


COURT HOUSE, NEW BEDFORD, Mass.
June 15.-The interest in the case of Liz
zie Borden grows more and more intense
as the days pass. and this morning
Sheriff Wright, in his desire to please al,
had the main aisles partly filled with
camp chairs. They were all filled by
eager members of the weaker sex. most
of whom were nicely and neatly dressed.
Lizze appeared tired and her eyes
wore a heavy look. Her step was firm 4,
however, and it was evident that she is
much better than few days since. She
carried a large boquet of Aowers-pinks, S,
roses, heiliotrope and ferns, She sat
down in her usual seat Immediately be-
hiud the lawyers.
Morning Work Begins
The frat work OF the government this
morning was To introduce expert t, ,sti-
mony To show that prussic acid is a poi
son only used for deadly purposes
Charles Lawtop, druggist, first testified
that prussic acid Is a dilute form OF NY
drocian acid lie was questioned as To
its uses, but when Mr.. knowlt1n asked
If he had ever sold IL except on physi-
claus prescription for medical purposes,
objection was exercised by he defense,
and the judges excluded the testimony.
Mr.. Knowlton tried repeatedly to see
whether he could question 80 as TO reach
the same result. out with no en-ct.
Henry 1T. PUrSOU, a rurrfer, was called
anc he testified that 50 lar as lie knew he
lad never USED prussic acid in business.
This answer was likewiss excluded. 1t
seemed that the prosecution were not To
got their questions answered, but finally
Nathaniel Hathaway Was called and Mr..
knowltJn asked:
HAS prussic acid any suitability or
adaptabllity fur use In connection with
seal-skin fursg" In my opinion IL is un-
suitable" sald the witness.
Could IL be used TO clean seal-skin
furs?" "No, SIR"
'lt is a volatile fluid. is it notp" "Yes,
SIR" Being volatile, what effect would
IL have upon a person near To whom IL il
exposed?" 1T would produce headache
aud nausea" The witness was then
turned over TO the defense for cross-ex-
animation.
Governor Robinson's Victory.
Ex-Governor Robinson first tried to
show that prussic acid is Mt objection
able because it is volatile, To any greater
extent than many other drugs like chlo-
rofor.n, ether, etc. Ia this lie was sue
cessiu.
Mr.. Hathaway considered all of them
Objectionable because they might bs
mlssused and because they are harmful
except when used ny experts The next
point was as To the use OF prussic acid o
Kill insects.
Have you had any experience as TO
the use ot Irus ,ic acid To Kill insects p"
asked Mr.. RoDiuson Yes, sir"
How mucn =" "Considerable
"When WAS it 2" Between last
night and this morning"
IL appeared that Mr.. Hathaway had
sp.nt two hours last night and some
time this morning. lie had discovered
that n two per cent solution wound
realty XIII aats, spiders and Other mon.
descript animals"
"Otner thau its deadly nature as a
volatile drug then" said Mr.. Robinson,
there is nothing In prussic acld that
make IL unsuitaule 10 ki.l moths or in
bects on sealsKln furs." NO SIR"
Tuen u ere was some discussion arose
4. as TO the nature of the Testimony offered.
The jury was ASKED To retire and the
poinJ was discussed. 1t appeared that
the government was no. able 10
show that prusslc aclu could not be u.e
ior any innocent purpose. aud as that
WAS their claim wuen the evidence was
adm tied, their failure now to prove their
CAIN was ample reason for excluding
the testimony.
The judge tuen said that all that had