Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-04
DR.. Schaefer Describes the Autopsy
on Farrall.
THE ACCUSED LOOKS >CAREWORN
Searching Cross-Examination OIL
the Witness.
URT ROOM SCENES

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
LA PLATA, Nd, July 4-The fact that
this is national holiday, when elsewhere
the reports Of fire crackers and other forms
of fireworks are filling the air in celebration
of the anniversary of the Declaration of In
dependence has apparently been forgotten
In the usually patriotic Charles county,
Md, for the entire interest of the populace
is centered IN the trial Of Mrs. Belle Far
rail-, charged with ending the life of her
husband last December, by strychnine pol
son, and it seems that the attraction can
not be overcome by the presence of the
glorious Fourth or anything else.
Promptly at 0 clock this morning, as
usual, the &C Irt resumed the hearing. The
long session yesterday, together with the
severe arraignment of the prisoner by
States Attorney Matthews and the damag-
Ing testimony Of DIR. Schaeffer, had tell
Ing effect on Mrs. Farrall. Late in the
afte rnoon she frequently inquired of Sher-
if Albrittain as to the time. and seemed
anxious for the hour of adjournment to
arrive.
The accused this morning appeared in
the court room wearing a black veil. On
her face an anxious care-worn expression
was marked. and throughout tho day she
kept her eyes fastened on the witnesses
testifying. DR.. Schaeffer of Washington,
who was under examlnat ton yesterday re-
sumed the stand this morning, and stated
that In addition to the experiments and re-
suits described at the preceding session of
the court he had also found Strychnine in
the walls of the stomach and in the
stomach contents OF the deceased A care
ful microscopic examination of the brain,
lungs, heart and kidneys according to DR..
Schaeffer, disclosed no natural cause FOR
the death Of Mr.. Farral.
The witness was searchingly cross-exam-
ired b.: counsel for the defense, the OH
.ect being to show that death might have
resulted from disease of the kidneys III
stead of from strychnine poisoning.
DR.. Schaeffer continued on the stand un-
til O'Clock, when a recess was taken.
Mrs. Farrall was the only woman in the
court room today. and her little boy. for
the first time since the opening of the
trial. was not with her. Mr.. T. r. Farrall,
the brother of the dead man. and who
the criminal proceedings against the
widow. made his initial appearance in
court this morning and was an interested
spectator.
Coroner's Inquest Described.
After The Stars report OF the trial closed
yesterday afternoon. Justice of the Peace
G. c. Burch, who acted as coroner at the
inquest held over the remains of Frederick
Farrall, detailed the organization and pro-
ceedirgs of that inquiry. The defense was
curtailed by the court in its cross-examina-
en- the present trial. and in explaining his
reason for asking certain questions, Col.
Wilmer of counsel for Mrs. Farrall took
occasion to declare that the inquest was
irregular, and that Justice of the Peace
Burch was not authorized to act as cor
oner.
The court replied that such matters could
not affect the case, and counsel noted an
exception to the ruling.
DIR. SchaeHer ON the Stand.
There Was a general stir of interest in
the crowded court room when DR.. Edward
NJ. Schaeffer of Washington was called
to the stand. After stating that he grad
uated in medicine twenty-seven years ago
and had made several hundred autopsies,
the witness described how he removed GER
tain portions of the body Of Farrail at
the autopsy. placed them in glass jars.
which he had carefully claansed and then
properly labeled the jars and removed
them to Washington. DIR. Schaeffer gave
a long description OF the experiments he
had conducted with the organs taken from
the dead man, going into the most minute
particulars.
Over and over again he tried the color
physical biological and crystalline tests
for strychnia, and each time clearly de-
tected the presence of that poison. and
could swear that quantity of 1t was In
the body of Farrali at the time OF his
death.
Dr. Schaeffer was frequently interrupted
by counsel for the defense, who entered
Strenuous objection to the use OF notes by
the witness.
The court thought such action was
prefer The Washington expert was still
on the stand when, at o'clock, the court
adjourned for the day.
The Baltimore Experts.
DIR. Penniman and DR.. Ames the two ex-
merits from Baltimore, In attendance in be-
half of the defense. followed closely the
testimony of Dr. Schaeffer. and at times
exchanged knowing smiles. 1t Is GER
tainty that they will endeavor to prove
that strychnine was not swallowed by Mr..
Farrall, Notwithstanding the positive evil
dence of DR.. Schaeffer, and that which Will
be given by the assistant of the latter. Dr.
Kalusowski. also ooWashington.
1t is probable that Rev. Father South
gate, the priest who administered the last
rites of the church to the dying man, will
be summoned as a witness for the prose-
cution, as it is believed that he knows i'm
portant inside facts concerning the alleged
poisoning.
Mr. T. r. FarralI, the brother of the de-
ceased stated today that Father Southgate
strongly advised the exhuming Of the body
and the holding of an autopsy; and offered
the use of his residence as the place for
conducting the dissection. The priest also
expressed his willingness to appear on the
stand, adding that he entertained no SYM
From this it is assumed that the deceased
made a statement concerning his convul-
give condition, which has not yet been re-
peated by the priest.
Circumstantial evidence is all that the
state depends upon to convict the prisoner.
and it will advance as her motive for kill
ing her husband a strong infatuation for
the railroad brakeman, Eugene B. Hall.
The testimony of the first witness for the
state, DR.. Carrico, who was Mr. Farralrs
attending physician. seemed to be strongly
favorable to the accused. AS near as can
be estimated public opinion continues to
be evenly balanced as regards the guilt of
Mrs. Farral. Conversation discloses that
many OF the hundreds daily in attendance
at what is undoubtedly the greatest trial
ever held in this section of the country are
bitter to the extreme against the woman,
while others cannot believe for an instant
that she was ever capabl. of committing
murder.
T,morrow's Alexander Island Entries.
First race, fve-eighths mile, selling-R.
F. Dee, 1O5; Headlight, 105: Pickaway. 1902;
Bolivar, 1902; McKeever, 1902; Columbus, 1O2;
Anxiety. 102; Saginaw, 1902; Julia L., 100;
Luray, 100: Venusburg. 100
civ ND nF,o stow f.x,-