Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-03
THE WILLIAMS TRIAL.
ANOTHER DAY OF EXPERT
TESTIMONY.
EXPERT
In which Doctors Dincr-Thc Conn
sci for the Defence Satisded-They
sny Their Theory OF Suicide Il Sus-
tained-A stupid Negro Witness.

SALUDA, VA, November 2.-(Special)-
The eighth day Of the trial of Mrs. Mag
noia Williams, for tn. murder of her
husband. commenced with Or. J. w.
Tygert. OF Northumberland. in the Wit
ness-char. He stated that he had testi-
fed at the Coroner's inquest that the
ball which entered the chest Of dec sased
struck the second. and not the third rib.
as testified TO by the physician who made
the autopsy two months after. In that
opinion, Dr. Brent, who assisted In the
examination OF Williams's body when he
was shot. had concurred. lie had not only
attempted to probe where the ball struck.
but had made measurement with tape
line, so as to satisfy DIR. Brent and him
self that II was the second rib. He did
not mean to question Drs. Douglass and
Booker. who testifi 10 the contrary.
but still, he adhered TO the testimony
which he gave before the Coroner's in
quest He stated that he probed the
wound in the forehead. and traced II
horizontally through the head. He con-
CURED in the statement made by Drs.
Smith and Foster that ball passing
through the cerebellum in a straight line
could not possibly strike the medulla
oblOngala. lie also testified that a ball
entering the third left rib and passing
downward and backward. could not strike
certain arteries: and Furthermore. that the
woundng OF either OF these arteries would
not necessarily b. followed by instanta-
neous death. He believed that II the
shot in the head was followed by that
in the chest, both shots might have been
self-inhicted. This closed the IN dical
testimony for the defence.
DIR. CHRISTIAN RECALLED.
DR.. w. s. Christian was then recalled
by the prosecution He was xamined
at great length. and In answer to ques-
ton by tn prosecution, said that NJ
believed II possible that ball entering
the left third rib obliquely from left 10
right. and taking a downward course
might strike the superior Vena-cava; but
when the Hon. W. 4. Jones. for the de-
fence took up the cross-cNaminatio ana
confronted him with Plates showing the
relation of the heart with the walls OF
the chest and with the statement o.
Gray. In his works upon anatomy 10 Inc
effect that the superior vena-caVa enters
at the upper border Of the third right fib'
ne aumit'tl lIdl ne IUiNA W 80
his conclusions. lie said that II these
authorities. which he recognized TO u
the highest. were correct. the bail which
was described as emit ring the left chest
could not have penetrated the superior
Yena-caya.
ON the whole. Dr Christians testimony
is regarded as strongly sustaining the
theory Of the defence.
This cOnclud the medical and expert
testimony, unless the prosecution shouIu
recall Or. Smith for the purpose OF ex-
planning the testimony given by him.
ENTIRELY SATISFIED.
The counsel for the prisoner expressed
themselves as bling entirely satisfied with
the medical testimony. which. they claim
sustains the theory Of suicide.
The only other witness examined to-
day was a colored man named william
Williams, who was put upon the stand
to show that he delivered 10 Neihmyer
a note purportng TO come from Mrs.
Williams He proved to be a very stupid
witness. He stated that his daughter
gave him the note. with instructions 10
give ii to Veihmyer; that Neihmyer
came to his house that pight. and the
note was delivered.
The trial will be resumed tomorrow
at $50. Court will probably adjourn to-
morrow at / o'clock until Tuesday at
the same hour.