The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-04
Testimony Given in Behalf
of the State.
Last Words of Miss Reynolds
Repeated in Court.
Counsellor West Examines Very
Closely on the Autopsy.


for the attempt, by administering oil of
tansy, to illegally procure miscarriage
on the body of Eugenia Reynolds was be-
gun this forenoon In Judge Wilbur's
court and very large number of persons
heard the testimony given by the States
witnesses. Whitaker, the defendant,
was In court with his father, some time
bench and the deep flush On his cheeks
was the only indication throughout the
morning session that be was particularly
interested in the proceedings.
George }. West counsellor Whitaker
very carefully cross-examined the wit
nesses produced by the state, and the
latter, under the careful questioning OF
Attorney General Dubois. explained the
circumstances that surrounded the life OF
Eugenia REYNOLDS from her taking up an
abode on Friendship street until her
death short three weeks later.
Before the trial began tho new Jurors
called for service today were examined.
and this occupied quite little time, but
the time at last came when the defendant
was called 10 the bar to plead, and
promptly answered not guilty. The call
ing of the jury was begun and for the
first time many asked to be excused, and
the papers and formed an opinion, and
one of the youngest members of the jury
said he could not give an impartial
verdict in the case, and another said he
knew the defendant. Several of the panel
first made up We're excused at the request
Of the counsel for the state and the de-
fendant. One man excused at his own
request said he was a milkman and had
heard the case many times iscussec.
The jury was finally made up an fol-
lows: James Bottomley Of East Proyl-
dence, foreman; Charles III. Snow OF
North Providence, Harry Dow and Tom
Knott OF Johnston, Wilfred Jarrett or
Woonsockat, Albert j. Bates of Sci,uate,
James Il. Anthony and Alopzo T. Far
mum of Providence, Charles /. Gage, Ben
jamin b. Abbott and Eldoris Aldrich VI
Pawtucket.
Attorney General Dubois stated that the
State intended 10 prove that the defe d.
ant procured oil OF tansy at the request
of the deceased and administered 1t 70
her in order that she might procure a
miscarriage and that as result OF taking
the poison she died and that the miscar-
riage which was attempted was not neces-
sary to save the life OF the deceased.
Eva Reynolds was the first name At
torney General utois called at the con-
clusiou OF mis- opening remarks, but she
was not in attendance, neither was DR..
John &. Budlong. s
DIR. Max Gugenheime or was the first wit
ness and testified that he was actisirg
physician with an Office at 67 Friendship
street. He did not know Eugenia Key
nolds in her lifetime but was called to tho
house tho latter was rooming in ard
reached there about $3.50 O'Clock on Feb.
%. He fonnd DIR. Budlong at the house
and Whitaker. the defendant, ana two
ladies. There was a lady there that DIR.
Budlong said was suffering ffom the
effects OF oil OF tansy.and he himself knew
at once ii was poisoning case, as the
woman was frotbing at the mouth and in
spasms end commissions. lie recognized
the smell of oil OF tansy and said
this oil was poisonous in
doses from five to sixteen drops
The oil, witness said, was not much used
in this country but IL was of service In
epilepsy, for external applications for
burns and as an emonagogue. He saw
Eugenia Reynolds after her death and be
fore she died he gave her cup OF black
coffee. The antidotes for poisoning by
oil OF tansy were mcrphia,' the stomach
pump and mustard. The pump in order
TO be OF any assistance must be used
within 20 minutes, the morphia within IS
and the mustard within 20 minutes.
On cross exsimnation by MIR. West
witness said he was regular pnysicisn,
but not a member of the Rhode Island
Med Ical Society. lie reached the home
Of the Reynolds woman two hours and
half after she took tho oil Of tansy and
be first found out that the woman had
taken oil of tansy by Dr. Budioug- giving
him handkerchief with that stun on II.
Ii was the first case OF the kind he mad
ever seen, and he admitted he said on
the day OF the woman's death that 1t was
an interesting case TO watch. One to five
drops OF the oil OF tansy vas not Gang
erous, and party mad recovered VINO
had taken one-balf ounce.
Julia r.. Emerson testified that on the
oath of last February che lived at 190
Friendship street and had known Eugsn-
ia REYNOLDS about three weeks before she
died. Eugenia came to her house to hiro
n room and hired a front room on tho
first floor. witness knew Wbiiaker, the
defendant, aud had seen him In the Rey-
mold woman's room couple OF times.
Did not remember when she first saw
whitaker at the room In her bouse. he
Reynolds woman at that time had been ir
the house about week and Wh'takef
spent about 1--we minutes IN her room.
Next saw Whitaker IN her house on thu
day the Reynolds woman died, first ree-
ing him there at o'clock. Tie came into
the house with the Reynolds woman enc
remained about 10 minutes. Jnc atierl
was soon after taken sick and tho defend"
ant went out aud, soon after came back
and remained until Eugcnia died. some
one in the house suggested the adminis'f
teeinz of mustard TO the sics Nynwn
Witness first know OF the hcynolot
woman's sickness by hearing groannna
on going into her room thought she hei
tainted. AS soon as DIR. Budfong ca'ne IN,
she heard Whittaksr say 10 him. II think
she has taken oil o. tsnsy.' When shf
first entered the room Miss keJnoics was
leaning mp against bureau ana wa en-