The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-08-15

The Prisoners Counsel Claims That IL
Was Done to Hide the Fact That In
surance Agents Had Passed Man
who Was Not a Safe Risk.
TRENTON, n. j., Aug. 15.-Dr Horace g.
Wetherill, of Trenton, was put on the wit
ness stand by the prosecution in the Sham
murder trial yesterday. He has had
fifteen years experience as a practitioner,
and he gave it as his opinion that young
Shann's death was due to chronic mer-
curial poisoning. This opinion was based
ON the assumption that his symptoms and
treatment were as described by his own
physician, DR.. Bergen, and other wit
nesses.
DIR. Arthur r. Mcdonald, Of Princeton,
testified that he examined Sham for the
Manhattan Life Insurance company last
November, and that he found him to be
sound and well He was under the re
quired weight for his height; but, as that
was family characteristic, he was passed.
Witness admitted under cross examine
tion that his examination for disease was
not complete.
Coroner Coutier testified that he had
been opposed by Mrs. Sham 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 the bar was
not a 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
TO him the poison from which he died; that
her motive was the procuring of $1,000
insurance on his life; and that for weeks,
while he was languishing and PROSTATE,
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 he is said to have
| died of.
The state charges that the mother re-
moved or hau 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
| sased; and the object was to conceal the
! fact that Shann was diseased and unfit
for the insurance risk placed on his life.
| 6Insurance companies discharge, If they
| do not prosecute, agents who certify that
| unsound ap, icants for policies are healthy
| and sound. Captain Holt dwelt longer on
| the connection of Insurance Agent Cough
| with the oase who went to Princeton. be
| said, in the guise of a detective, and who
demanded the autopsy. He threatened
Mrs. Sham, and the night after his de
parture from Princeton the disemboweline
was commits ed 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 ill fame in Trenton in company
with John. William McVey and Hugf
Sham, the latter a brother of the deac
man, testified that John was afflicted witt
private disease.
Mrs. Harriet B. Gray, sister of Mrs
Sham, testified that she visited at hel
house almost every day during Johns
illness. His 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 he could Sc,
her when he awoke Mrs. Isabella Up
dyke, half sister of Mrs. Sham, alsC
testified that the latter was devoted to hel
sick son. Their relations were very tender
and loving. Mrs. Mamie Kelly, a daughter
of Mrs. Sham, testified that she fre
quently saw John take medicine during
the months of January and February last
His mother was always kind and affection
ate to him. DIR. Bergen said his sielInes,
was due to several causes, but one of then
he did not care to tell the family. Mrs
Kelly repeated the story OF the three mys
terious men who mutilated the body, as i
was told by her mother