The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-15
MRS. SHANN'S DEFENSE
Afeotionate Relations Existed Be-
tween Mother and Son.
WHY THE STOMACH WAS REMOVED.

The Prisoners Counsel Claims That 1t
Was Done to Hide tho Fact That In
surance Agents Had Passed n Man
Who Was Not Safe Risk.
TRENTON, ". j., Aug. 15.-Dr Horace G.
Wetherill, Of Trenton, was put on the wit
ness stand by the prosecution in the Shann
murder trial yesterday. He has had
fifteen years experience as practitioner,
and he gave it as his opinion that young
Shann's death was due to chronic mer-
curial poisoning. This opinion was based
OH the assumption that his symptoms and
treatment were as described by his own
physician, DIR. Bergen, and other wit
nesses.
DR.. Arthur r. Mcdonald, Of Princeton,
testified that he examined Sham for tho
Manhattan Life Insurance company last
November, and that he found him to be
sound and well. He was under the re
qured weight for his height; but, as that
was family characteristic, be was passed.
Witness admitted under cross examina-
tion that his examination for disease was
not complete.
Coroner Contier testified that he had
been opposed by Mrs. Shann in the per-
formance of his duties.
Captain Holt who has assumed the bur
den of the work for the defense, made on
its behalf the opening address to the Jury.
Captain Holt outlined the defense fully,
saying that the prisoner at tho bar was
not murderess. All her acts in this
matter were consistent with innocence
and honest intent. The boy died leaning
on the breast Of his mother and giving her
his last thought
The state charges that she administered
tn him tho .l,i a.,
her motive was the procuring of 81 100
insurance on his life; and that for weeks,
while he was languishing and prostrate,
she fed him daily the drug that finally
robbed him of his life. The defense would
show that young Sham did not die of poi
son, but was afflicted with disease, for
which he was treated with mercury, other
than the disease that lie is said to have
died of
The state charges that the mother re-
moved or hrd removed the viscera of her
dead son to conceal the murder of which
she was guilty. The defense holds that
they were removed because they were dis
eased; and the object was to conceal tho
fact that Sham was diseased and unfit
Tor the insurance risk placed on his life
Eslnsurance companies discharge, il they
do not prosecute agents who certify that
and sound. Captain Holt dwelt longer on
the connection Of Insurance Agent Cough
with the case, who went to Princeton, he
said, in the guise of detective and who
demanded the autopsy. He threatened
Mrs. Sham, and the night after his de-
parture from Princeton the disemboweling
was committed. These insurance men had
as much interest in Johns death as his
mother.
James Packer an intimate friend of
John Sham, was the first witness for the
defense. He testified to having visited
houses Of i'll fame in Trenton in company
with John. William McNcy and Hugh
6hann, the latter u brother of the dead
man, testified that John was afflicted with
private diseIse.
Mrs. Harriet b. Gray, sister of Mrs.
Sham, testified that she visited at her
house almost every day during Johns
illness. Ills mother gave John most loving
care. John could not bear to have her out
of his sight and wanted her always to oc-
cupy certain seat, so that lie could sec
her when he awoke. Mrs Isabella Up
dyke, II half sister of Mrs Sham, also
testified that the latter was devoted to her
sick son. Their relations were very tender
and loving. Mrs. Mamie Kelly, daughter
of Mrs ShRnn. testified that she fire.
quently saw john talse medicine during
the months of January and February last.
His mother was always kind aud affection
ate to him. DIR. Bergen said his sickness
was due to several causes, but one of them
he did not care to tell the family. Mrs
Kelly repeated the story of the three mys-
tcrious men who mutiuted the body, as It
was told by her mother.