The Portland daily press., 1893-06-16
IN LIzzIE'S BEHALF. !.
Lawyer Jennings Makes 9 Strong
and Eloquent Opening.
THE PRUSSIC ACID STORY RULED
OUT OF COURT.

N~>>-A-
cerning Strange Men and Queer Noises
Tho Governments NIouIdy Story of
Undisturbed Dust in the Barn-Evi-
dence Concerning the Paint Covered
Dress-One Witness Saw a Woman
Come from the Bsrn.
COURT HOUSE, NEW BEDFORD, June
15.-The little court room blossomed this
morning like one Of the old-fashioned
gardens about one of the whaling mas
ters' homes in the city. The severe and
wrinkled front of Sheriff Wright was
lined by big vase of pinks on his desk,
and SO was that of his deputy at the
neighboring desk.
Meanwhile before the court opened
various other deputies throughout the
room became possessed .of carnations
and pinned them upon their coat lapels.
These flowers were sent into the base
ment of the court house this morning
with request that they be distributed
among the court officers.
They came anonymously but certainly
from somebody who thinks either that
the hours need Frightening or that the
outlook is joyous enough for the prisoner
to call for blossoms of red and pink and
white.
In the spectators seats today women
mingled indiscriminately with men. The
sheriffs are relaxing the old Quaker meet
ing house rule of separating the sexes,
and now between the acts Of the great
human drama the women neighbors of
the men strike up little conversations,
the younger ones flirt, the older ones ask
some men to explain the legal knot which
District Attorney KRowlton is trying to
tie, and Gov. Robinson topull out as soon
as tied.
There was great deal of legal quib-
bling and verbiage going on, but right at
the bottom of all the prosecution was at
tempting to get in its testimony in re-
gard to prussic acid.
Finally the judges admit the testimony
that prussic acid is terrible deadly poi
son and that it has no use in cleansing
furs. But Gov. Robinson leads chemist
on long detour to finally land him in
the trap that other volatile poisons and
prussic acid as well are extremely useful
in killing vermin. Then the prussic acid
story is finally ruled out.
The first witness of the day was Chas.
H. Lawton, a New Bedford druggist. He
was asked several questions as to prus-
sic acid, its uses and formula of its sale,
but these questions were objected to by
the defence, and were excluded by the
court. He was then asked if it was put
to any other purpose than for medicine.
and in reply he said he knew of none.
There was no cross examination.
IT = =
dealer in furs, testified that he had at
times preserved furs, and was asked if
prussic acid was ever used in the care of
furs. but his answer was objected to by
the defence and ordered stricken out.
He had no knowledge of the effect Of
the acid on furs.
Nathaniel Hathaway of New Bedford,
analytical chemist, was asked about the
suitability of prussic acid in connection
with furs. The question was objected to
and ruled out, the court considering it
too broad. The question was put in
substantially the same form, with seal
skin furs as basis of inquiry, and the
answer was that it was unsuitable, and
also unsuitable for use in cleaning furs.
On cross-examination he said two
per cent dilution of prussic acid would
kill insects promptly. It would not hurt
the furs.
DR.. Dolan was recalled but the de-
fence objected to his testifying further
because he has been in consultation with
one of the counsel for the prosecution.
He was allowed to testify although gen
| eral objections were entered. He was
asked practically the same questions as
the previous witnesses relative to: the
use of prussic acid and gave about the
same replies.
DR.. Dolan was excused from further
testifying, the court ruling that his tes-
timony was incompetent.
When DR.. Dolan left the stand the iury
| were retired to their room and the coun-
sci and justices engaged in a whispered
consultation lasting ten minutes.
The jury was then brought in and the
court stated that further delay asked for
by the government could not be granted.
After consultation the justices at 10. 20
announced that the preliminary evil
dence did not come up to the claim of
the prosecution, namely that the al
legged purchase of prussic acid by the
prisoner on the day before the murder
had weight and bearing on the homicide,
and all evidence as to the attempted pur-
chase of prussic acid by the defendant
was excluded.
Jennings Opens for the Defence.
Itwas at exactly ten minutes of II when
Hon. Andrew j. Jennings stepped before
the panel and gravely and solemnly, with
impressive utterance, began his opening
for the defence. His bearing and his
tones brought back vividly that thrilling
plea of the eloquent young counsel be-
fore Judge Blaisdell at Fall River last
summer In the little police court room of
the Border City. he prefaced his address
with manly personal explanation, that
one Of the victims Of this homicide had
been his client for many years. he had