Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-30
FIGHTING FOR LIFE.
Holmes Making Desperate
Effort to Escape GaIIows.
Sharply Examines and Cross-Ex-
amines All Witnesses.
At Evening Session His Counsel Explain and
Resume Charge OF Case.

Philadelphia, Oct. go I'm the Holmes
trial, today, the prisoner was closely ex-
amlned by DIR. Scott as to the condition of
the body and probable causes of death
In this Holmes knowledge of medicine
helped him materially, but he brought out
nothing to help his case. The witness ex-
pressed the opinion that at the time he
saw the body, Pietzel had been dead about
three days, which is the period the Com
monwealth alleges elapsed between the
day Pietzel was killed and the day his
body was found.
Holmes had DIR. Scott read the notes
taken at the time the post mortem was
made, and the prisoner noted the descrip-
ton down. PietZel at one time wore a
beard. Holmes extracted from DIR. Scott
an acknowledgment that he expressed an
opinion that the murdered man could not
have raised whiskers on his cheeks, owing
to the sparse growth of the lair there.
In answer to question, DIR. Scott said
that there was about an ounce of chloro-
form found in Pietzel's stomach No food
was found in the stomach nor any alcohol,
although there were evidences that Pietzel
had been Incorporate.
Holmes asked DIR. Scott If at any TINA
he had expressed an opinion that the body
found at 1915 Callowhin street could not
have been Pietzel. DIR. Scott replied that
he did not say this, but that he had said
it would have teen impossible for even IA
friend to have recognized the body in the
condition it was.
The next witness called was Dr. Will
liam X. Mattern, ply sician to the coroner.
Holmes asked the court that DR.. Mat
terms testimony be postponed until to-
morrow, as he was an important witness
and he wanted plenty of time to examine
him. DR.. Graham objected and styled
Holmes request by-play. DR.. Mattern
was called to the stand.
After testifying to the exterior condition
of the body, DR.. Mattern said that the
lungs were greatly congested, indicating
that death had been sudden. Half an
ounce or more of chloroform was found in
his somach. AS no trace of irritation was
found in the stomach, DR.. Mattern was of
the opinion that the chloroform was in
jectsd into the stomach after death.
The cause of death, given by Dr. Mat
tern, was chloroform poisoning DIR.
Mattcrn described the scene at the ex-
humation of the body at the Potters field
and the active part taken In the identified
tion by Holmes. DIR. Mattern had no
lancet with him, but when it was ncces-
sary to use one. Holmes produced one from
his pocket and stripped the skin from the
leg Of the dead man to show an old
wound.
Holmes then began to cross-examine DR..
Mattern. The doctor was asked the color
color of Pietzel's mustachc and hair, and
replied that the former was reddish and
the latter dark brown.
AT the request of Holmes, the court
directed DR.. Mattern to read the notes he
took of the description of the body at the
time he held the inquest.
AS DR.. Mattern read the notes, Holmes
copied them. Holmes subjected the wit
ness to a long technical examination upon
the condition the stomach and brain would
be in after cbloroform poisoning and ex-
cess in alcoholic liquors.
DR.. Mattern could not say from the con
dition the body was in whether the chloro-
form In the stomach was injected hypoder-
mically or forced down the throat.
Holmes asked DR.. Mattefn If he had not
made IA report to the coroner that death
was due to congestion of the lungs from
the inhalation of poisonous or noxious
gases, and the physician replied that he
bad. A moment later DR.. Mattern denied
that he had said this, and Holmes applied
to the notes of the court stenographer
These sustained him, and then Dr. Mat
tern explained that he thought Holmes
asked the question in reference to other
cases.
Holmes questioned Dr. Mattern closely
IS to how Pietzel was killed by chloroform
poisoning il poison was injected into the
man s stomach after death.
Just as the line of questioning began to
grow interesting, Holmes announced that
ne was growing confused with his own
questions and then for the present he
would abandon that phase of the subject,
and that it was up again by calling Dr.
Mattern as witness for himself.
Holmes began again to question Dr.
Mattern upon some seeming irrelevant
points and the court and district attorney
jold Holmes that there must be some limit
% his questions, so the prisoner let the
witness go.
The next witness was Dr. Henry Left
nan, an expert in chemistry. DR.. Lehman
testified to the effect of cbloroform upon
he system, and said that the administra-
ion Of chloroform produced involuntary
md violent movements Of the body
DIR. Lehman gave the opinion that a
nan could not administer chloroform to
himself and then compose himself in a
luiet attitude to await death.
Mr.. Graham asked: Can you, as an
Expert, tell me il this cbloroform was self
or administered after
leaths'
Holmes objected to the question on the
ground that the position of the body was
lot properly explained to the witness.
Mr. Graham again recited the position
md DR.. Lehman gave the opinion that
'hloroform could not have been self-ad- |
ninistered under the conditions that the
body was found in The witness was then
urned over to Holmes for cross -examina-
ion.
Holmes abandoned the cross-examina-
ion aud announced that he would later
all DR.. Lehman as a witness.
Coroner Samuel a. Ashbridge was the |
lext witness. Coroner Ashbridge read IL G |
'fiiqvits of Alice Pietnei and Holmes |
when they identified the body OF pietzel |