New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-17
THE DAY IN COURT.

EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES WHO ATTACK THE
CHARACTER OF DIR. sCHEEIE
As was foreshadowed in The Tribune yesterday.
the counsel for Mrs. Fleming will mainly rely for
their defence upon dscrediting and disproving the
Testimony given by DR.. Walter T. Scheele. Without
the least qualification. John c. Shaw. who made
the opening address for the defence alleged that Dr.
scheele had deliberately placed arsenic IN the
lstornacb and In the contents OF the stomach taken
from the body OF Mrs. Bliss. The defence how
ever will not wholly depend upon this phase TO
clear the defendant from the charge hanging over
her but will place before the jury evidence showing
that Mrs Bliss was a confirmed arsenic cater. and
that her death might either have been caused by
taking an overdose of the poison or that In conse-
,auence OF her poverty she committed suicide
II was only TO be expec ed that the failure Of the
prosecution to trace any poison TO the possession
OF the accused woman and the imperfectlons Of the
evidence pointing to Mrs. Fleming having sent poi
soned clam chowder TO her mother would be looked
upon strong points in favor of the defence.
DEFECTS IN THE PEOPLES CASE.
These defects in the chain of evidence formed
again yesterday subject for adverse comment by
many OF the experienced lawyers who have been in
almost daily attendance at the trial On all sides
the general laxity and obvious incompetence that
are apparent in the preparation OF this by the
District. Attorney and his assistants has called forth
severe structures. To Seaman II. Miller, the one
time transfer clerk in the DisrictAttorneys office,
shortcomings in the for the People. 1t is UNI
NECESSARY now 20 specify the numerous hours need
isssly wasted in Identifying and in tracing i'm
portant exhibits that should have been perfected
before presentation to tho Jury. and In recalling
witnesses time after time because Of the discon-
nected state In which evidence brought forward
on behalf OF the prosecution. All these weaknesses
and other evidences Of incompetency and laxity in
che Distrct-Attorneys office were discussed yester-
day IN and out OF the court by people competent to
pass judgment upon the comprehensive merits OF the
testimony y. .-
~ Mr. Miller being allowed to undertake the prep
grafton of the prosecutors case. but he was over
ruled by Distrlct-Attorney Fellows. VINO insisted
upon Mr. Mtlle~s appearance.
II a generally conceded that the against Mrs.
Fleming Is weak and that IL will not be surprising IL
re 1urv IN their verdict make It manifest that there
are enough, INKS wanting in the evidence adduced by
the prosecution TO enttle Mrs Fleming to the benefit
Of a reasonable DOUBT
ATTACKING DIR. sCHEELES REPUTATION.
The witnesses called by Mr.. Brooke yesterday were
solely for the purpose OF attacking DR.. Scheeles
reputation and character. One after another. with
unvarying sameness. testified that the experts word.
even on oath. was not to be relied upon.
Mr. Shaw began his opening address by explaining
that he Of Mrs. Flemng's lawyers only be-
cause he thoroughly beloved In her innocence. Then
ne continued:
The charge wnicn inc Ostr1ct-Attorney asks you
10 believe Is that this woman murdered her own
mother that she committed one OF the most heinous
and unnatura; crimes OF which a human being could
be capable The allegation in this Is that the
defendant at the bar poisoned her mother and
used her own child as ono Of the agents TO accom-
legged that this defendant prepared a quantity OF
clam chowder, into which she put poison, and sent
II from the Colonial Hotel, where she Mved 10 the
Nat in st.. Nicholas-ave.. where her mother lived:
that the mother partook OF this chowder and as
consequence died. These are Ne bare allegations
upon which this prosecution has built ats case
Mr.. Shaw went on to argue That the testimony
offered by the prosecution contained evidence
Of Innocence than guilt He dwelt upon the letters
that were read on the preceding day. and asked the
Jury If they could believe that woman who showed
such strong love. In those letters for her children
could take the life Of her mother and he added that
sumcient testimony would be produced to disprove
we ahesations mat fh-feeing was constantly ex-