New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-15
CHEMICAL EXPERTS HEARD.
THEY GIVE TESTIMONY IN THE TRIAL OF
MEYER.

MEYER.
orEsrIONs OF THE DEFENDANTS COUNSEL HINT
AT SEVERAL LINES OF DEFENCE-JUDGE
RARRFTT's SIGNIFICANT LANGUAGE.
Further expert testimony was produced by the
crosecution in the case Of Dr. Meyer yesterday
"a the State rested The medical part Of the
c,se has been threefold in character Two ply
.,c,ons distinguished as pathologists. have given
,,aence as to the general condition of the body
=, the man Of whom Meyer is accused Of killing.
with coloress result That Is to say. beyond
showing that the body and its organs were In
fairly good state Of preservation three months
sfter death, their testimony had no great weight
AS indicating the cause Of DEATH 1t was not at
all significant. This is not important either to
the prosecution or to the defence because there
is nc issue between them as to the fact that
Baum died from a disease whether dysentery
ar arsencal and antimonial poisoning which has
an irritating effect the entire gastro-intesti-
mai tract The pathological examination OF the
men,branous lining of the stomach proved moth
ing. They were not, however, examined with
m,croscope and the evidence of the physicians
all tends to support the claims that there may
have been considerable Inflammation at the time
of death without evidence to the naked eye
three months after death.
ANTHONY AND ARSENIC FROM THE BODY
The chemical experts supplied the proofs OF
the second part of the States medical case
and they brought into court substances winch
they said were antimony and arsenic. and which
they declared they had obtained from the body
of the man Baum. The third branch OF this
general subject occupied yesterdays session. II
was treated by DR.. Peabody and Prof wood. OF
Philadelphia, experts materia medca and
f1air x
plain the effect Baum of the poisonous min
erals that had been extracted from his organs
by the chemists Their evidence was inter-
estrg and powerful against the prisoner They
had no doubt that Baum had died as the direct
result Of the anthony and arsenic. and they
gave many reasons for this opinion.
The questions Of the defendants counsel limited
at several lines Of defence. They sought to make
1t appear, In the frs, place, that these doctors
were not familiar with cases OF antimonal pois-
oning that resulted fatally. and in no sense fami'-
lar with the action the human system OF both
anthony and arsenic acting a: the same time.
The object of this line Of questioning was 10 cast
doubt on their ability testify with that GER
tainty which was necessary 10 justify verdict
against the prisoner II sought TO make II
appear too that Baum's trouble might have been
dysentery and that the presence OF the arsenic
and anthony after death could be accounted Tor
by the fact of post-mortem injection. or II not
by post-mortem intr usion. This would Involve
the belief that death was not part OF the
scheme to swindle the insurance companies. put
that it resulted accidentally and because OF phv-
steal idiosyncrasies which rendered the extra
powerful dose Of croton oil he had taken SO ter
,ible In it's action as to cause death in spite OF
efforts to check it. In all probability this VIII
prove to be the theory of the defendant case
DIR. WOOD STRONG WITNESS.
DIR Wood proved to be strong witness In the
same respects that had distinguished Professor
Chittenden Of Yale. He was scientist ana not
q noliceman Moreover, he did not seem TO be
testifyng to vindcate his own opinion Out
simply for the truths sake. TIE great dmcui'y
with medical experts is that they seem 10 De 30
cock sure about things which are clearly matters
of opinion that they appear 10 be more anxious
about their personal reputation than about the
life OF the prisoner at the bar, ana that they
seem TO want TO vindicate the States theory oi d
crime more than to reach the simple TRUTH WIN
ont regard to its effect on individuals. 1t re-
ouires man great enough to appreciate inc
limitations Of human knowledge. big enough to
concede that what Is called wisdom is generany
the issue Of speculations and argument rather
than demonstration and wise enough TO under
stand that equal and exact justice is OF more
inheritance than professional opinion. Professor
Wood was such man, and the result was tna'
his evidence told against Meyer with especial
strength. because IL given with such SIN
cerity and such reservation.
But IL was not doubted by either Of the ex-
merits that Baum's death was due to poison ad-
ministcred in rapidly succeeding toxic doses
Mr. Nicolls hypothetic question was offered
In two ways The first gave history or the
essential facts in evidence, including those
of oh nj
IS the only witness In the second he elm
mated Mullers testimony where 1t was uncor-
roborated But the answer TO both questions
was the same-that Baum had died OF the
nelson's anthony and arsenic. found IN MS
organs by the chemists, and that the amount
of poison extracted. though only small part
of wha. must have been present In mis- sys-
ten, was sufficient. If administered In small
doses quickly succeeding another to pro-
duce death. And from TINS )uoslhe"' he''"c'
of the experts unsettled.
Mr. Brooke succeeded in inducing Judge Bar
rett 10 consent to an adjournment at O'Clock
instead of T. in order that he and his associates
might have an opportunity to examine the
States case In preparation for Mr. Chaniers
opening. Mr. Chanler Is the young gentleman.
q hrother-n-law of Mrs Amel.e Rives Chanie.,
who has interested himself In Meyers case anu
who Is said to be paying the expenses OF .ne
trial Mr. Chanler is a lawyer. and man proo-
ably OF some wealth. At all events he mas oIteA
clNC CUDNITlJRE