Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-09
THE FARRALL TRIAL
Testimony Regarding Poisons Given
by Experts.
DEFENSE OPENS This AFTERNOON
Failure to Introduce the Hotel
Register as Evidence.
DOCTORS ON THE STAND
DEFENSE OPENS This AFTERNOON
DOCTORS ON THE STAND

LA PLATA, Nd, July 9.-The closing day
as announced for the prosecution in the
trial of Belle Farrall for poisoning opened
this morning with the usual interested
throng in attendance. Although the face
Of the prisoner showed en- expression Of
worry that encroached on look of pain,
she had regained her composure since Eu-
gene Hall left the stand. and today she
| steadily gazed into the eyes of the wit
| nesses without flinching.
DudleyWillett.who lives near White Plains
| Md, was the first witness. He stated that
! Saturday evening. October 10 last. Mrs.
Farrall and Hall visited his house and re-
NAMED until the Monday following.
The state attempted to introduce testi-
mony regarding the rooms occupied by the
| visitors, but such was prohibited, and then
| Pat Wallace, an aged and nfirm colored
man. who worked for Mr.. Farrall at
| Hughesville prior to June, 1894. took the
stand.
The witness related that on one occasion
| he was making certain changes in the gar
| zen at the direction of Mr. Farrall. when
Mrs. Farrall approached and inquired what
| he doing Wallace replied that he was
obeying an order from the boss. To this
Mrs. Farrall said: Don't you do it. The
- crooked-legged -. I'll let him see
that I'll have my way about this, and I
| mean to have recompense from him If
| live"
]. B. Mattingly. register of wills for
| charles county, was sworn to show that
| according to papers filed in his office the
| personal estate of the deceased amounted
| to S6,015.4O.
| The next witness, Horatio Canter, describ-
| ed scene which he claimed to have watch
| ed, and in which Mr.. and Mrs. Farrall were
| the actors. 1t occurred the day before the
| deceased became Ill. The couple were talk
| ing about sum of money. Farrall was in
| q rage, and the witness heard him saw eX-
| - ! lan Won
| have given the money to your friend Hail."
The state next attempted, for the second
| time. to identify the volume offered yes
terday in evidence as the register of the
American House in Washington, by the
| testimony of young man who had in
| sortled his name therein last fall, but again
| the defense objected, and the court ruled
| that tie proprietor or an employee of the
| hotel must he produced to say that the
| book in question was The official register
! of the American House for November last.
Several unsuccessful attempts have been
| made to secure the desired party from
| Washington.
A Hypothetical Question.
| DIR. Peter w. Hawkins of Charles county,
| who was on the stand yesterday, but who
| did not testify. was recalled by the state
| to answer hypothetical question. which
| was put by Mr.. Mitchell. The query which
| was long one, sought the cause of GER
tain symptoms occurring to a man about
! forty-eight years of age, presumably in
| good health, without headache and with
| no kidney trouble.
The defense objected to the question on
| the ground that it did not correctly indi-
| cate the symptoms of the Illness of Fred
| erick Farrall, but the court thought the
| query Il proper one.
The witness made answer that he knew
| Of no agent that would produce the symp
| toms mentioned except nuX vom.ca or one
| of its alkaloids. strychnine or bruciRe.
| On Characterization Or. Hawkins stated
| that he has never seen a case Of strych-
| nine poisoning in human subject, but
had obta!red his knowledge from an eN-
| haustive reading of authorities on poison
| ing. After swallng strychnine. according
10 the witness, person might live for
six hours.
The subject of poisoning in general was
then discussed at length through questions
| of counsel and answers by Dr. Hawkins.
DR.. Waibach Gardiner, a retired United
States army surgeon. next described the
usual symptoms of strychnine poisoning.
| The witness also stated that often persons
recover from larger doses of strychnre.
AT the conclusion of DR.. Gardeners tes-
t:mony the state announced that its few
remaining witnesses had failed to put in
an appearance. and the court then took a
recess until ) o'clock, when the defense is
/ to open.
The state. however. will be allowed one
half hour tomorrow to introduce a witness
from Washington to testify in regard to
the hotel register, and to further question
Eugene Hall.
DIR. Edward NJ. Schaeffer of Washington
was called by the states attorney at the
opening of the session yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Mitchell explaining that he wished the
doctor, as an expert to answer a hypo-
thetical question.
To this the defense made vigorous oh
lection, on the ground that DR. Schaeffar
should have been exhausted as an expert
curing his first appearance on the stand.
and, the court concurring. the witness re-
tired
DR.. Pete W. Hawkins. a local nrectitio,-
er, was next sworn for the purpose of an
sWerihg the question referred to, but the
de1ense then stated that it's medical ex-
pert mad been called away, and requested
that the testimony of DR. HAWKINS ha
postponed until today
Several witnesses summoned by the state
railing to appear, attac hments were issued
LOT them, ana as the defense desired time
10 consult with certain witnesses the court
adjourned. Before doing 3d. however. the
state announced that it would close its case
this morning.
Father Southgate, the Catholic priest who
administered the last rites of the church
to Mr.. Farrall, was an interested spectator
IN court yesterday afternoon
Mrs. Farral declined to take dinner In
the pubhc dining room OF the hotel during
recess Yesterday. as was her custom last
Heek' claiming that certain persons have
Sen making insulting remarks regarding
her while at the table. Hereafter the
sheriff and his charge will dine privately.
The father CT Eugene Hall, it is said.
Yesterday approached Sheriff Albrittain in
the court room and entered objection to
Eugene, who is only witness, being lock-
ed up, while Mrs. Farrall is treated more
as guest than prisoner This statement
was repeated to Mrs. Farrall, and she
remarked, He ought to be locked up."
An AcGuittal Expected,
The trial will, in all probability, reach a
conclusion and verdict be obtained be-
fore the close of the uaaL Tbo+ NJ,
Farrall will not be hanged is generally
conceded, and an acquittal is confidently
expected by many persons Counsel for
the defense will undoubtedly endeavor to
show that Mr.. Farralls death was due to
for instance.
Experts are to testify that the results of
the analyses made by DR.. Schaeffer and Dr.
kalusowrki were not correct, while the
family physician of the Farrails, DR.. Car
rico. Will II is eXpected be called In he