New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-18
THE COuRT PROCEEDINGS.
EXAMINATION OF THE WITNESS HEPPNER ON
DIR ScHEEI.ES AILEGEO STATEMENT.


EXAMINATION OF THE WITNESS HEPPNER ON
DR. sCHEELEs ALLEGED STATEMENT
The attack on the reputation and crediblity or
Dr. Walter T. Scheee. the chemical expert Tor the
prosecution in the Fleming trial. continued upon
the resumption OF the yesterday morning. On
the previous day several witnesses testined 'hat
Dr. Schee,os reputation and veNcity were not OF
the best but Assistant District-Attorney Mcintyre
succeeded in getting from each witness ADMISSIONS
showing hostility against DR.. Schecle.
But in Albert H. Heppner. who occupied 'he
stand all yesterday morning the prosecution found
tho mos, Damaging witness that they lave as YET
had 70 contend with. In a clear and rnnestating
manner he repeated the statement which br.
scheele is alleged made to him. 10 the effect
that his reputation depended upon the outcome OF
,hs trial and that he had so arranged matters
that Mrs. Fleming would be found guilty whether
she was innocent not. Mr. Mcintyre realized 10
the fullest extent the terrible Import OF MI Hepp-
ner's testimony and the heavy blow that was oens
directed against the fabric built UP by the prosecu
ton to demonstrate the guilt of the accused woman
Rarely has q witness been called upon to withstand
the severe and searching cross examination 10
which the Assistant st-ict-Attorney suDJecteo
Mr. Heppner. Even the Recorder. realizing the
grave character of his testimony, questioned 'he
witness. but he emerged from the ordeal with his
cvidence unshaken The frank, Straightforward
manner Of Mr. Heppner and the clear and explicit
answers that he returned to every inquiry put 10
hin seemed to impress the jury. Throughout the
time the witness the stand the jurors loi-
lowed with the closest attention every word that
fell from his lips.
EXPERTS FOR THE DEFENCE.
After recess the defence called two of their ex-
pert witnesses The first of these DR.. w. Gilman
Thompson gave Il as his opinion. after hearing
the inevitable Hypothetical question. that Mrs Bliss
died from shock and heart failure the shock being
due TO ptomaine poisoning
When the witness Hcppner took the stand he re-
piled in answer to Mr. Brooke's question: that he
was q student in the Long Island College Hospital,
that he first met Dr.. Scheee in the Harbor Hotel.
Whitehall-st in April last. and tia, shortly after
the meeting Dr. Scheee used the words attributed
to him. What the witness sworc r. Scheeie said
20 him
Ms mistake has been all alon', not so much TO
have been on the wrong side So far as the merits
Of the were consesd bur on the wrO %sb
think has hardly any chanas compared %,,h one
chinery of the police with all its intimidations and
various ways of accomplishing its ends. have cor
r rsPra is vhs, an after my financial
condition is in hopeless shape,with which
am sure l will be in surroundings much more
Empathetie 70 and much more haa rs
NAMED in Germany and continued to Work . on the
Ty going Back to 1 Germany with great repg ton
acGllrel here will take position iar IN soVa,o
xe had rem remained at home Now, these lines
have been successful In having myseit assoSia,e
with b the and have Dr.
an ,na FOR bm to come to us and help us
have made up such strong case that theie IS no
the Of merit viii Fgt ,e Frea aou ae under
merit sea out OF confidence that hngs
fixed in this case. My reputation hinges upon TINS
cas- wf ' or MOI have so fixed matters that
she wili be found guilty whether che did 1t or not
Odd you hear scheee say that? AYES. sir
Q-Where did that conversation take place? A.
IL the drsng-room Of the Harbor HotA.
MADE BEFORE TWO WITNESSES
The witness was asked il he and scheee on that
occasion were with women, but an oDJec'lon
nv Mr. MCINTYRE was sustained. and the question
was put in another FORM and the statement was
brought out that DR.. Scheele made the remarks IN
the presence Of two Witnesses.
When Mr. Mcintyre rose to cross-examne the
witness settled himself firmly in his chair and
faced the Assistant District Attorney squarcy. as
II expecting a severe ordeal. After learning that
the witness 10 this country In 1878 from Ger
many Mr.. Mcintyre went into minute detail as 70
all the movements o. Heppner since that year lie
denied that he had ever gone under the name OF
Karl Kerns. Then Mr.. Mcintyre made the witness
repeat scheeles alleged statement and the incidents
surrounding tho making Of It, but the inquiry ialed
20 shake Heppners testimony
Odd you drink that day with hcheeie' A.
o.-WSiha, did you drink? Ave drank beer and
oWs how much beer and ~, how much sSt.b lunch
o~were you under tho influence Of liquor? A
s Se sch ss or rd as any e Of
Was he in rs senses r s den snS or he vo%5
not have made the remark he did about the Fleming
o.-You thought him mentally unbalanced? Al
certainly thought he had screw loose somewhere Re,
you de ave sSSss Vent aq Spst4 if '" "- 1'u
o-what for? A-Well. l was 50 impressed by
wanted other people 10 hear r, . was In hopes that
did You DO then Al Consulted several
gentlemen as to he best course to pursue under the
circumstances l first thought would go TO the
ds aot Rq Ssd 'S ;: 5ssTs
TOLD TO COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENCE.
Q-Then to whom did you convey the information?
Al told one Of the counsel for the defence felt
II 10 be MY duty. l told Mr.. Okie, and Mr. Dixie
vent With me ntS the cSrrSo don where ere gave him
q typewritten statement was prepared.
The witness then admitted that he acquainted
with Wickes. and that they had frequently met
Mr.. Mcintyre dwelt at some length on this circum-
stance. but Heppner insisted that his friendship for
Wilckes had in no way Influenced his action in the
p case. Continuing his testimony. Heppner said that
when he met Scheele q second time he would have
nothing 10 do with him. He had formed an
estimate Of his character from tire occurrences OF
the previous meeting that precuded any further ac-
quaintance Upon the close OF the cross-examina-
ton the witness about to leave the stand but
the Recorder who had listened carefully TO the evil
dence. intimated that he wished to make a further
inquiry. He asked Heppner why he considered it
\ his duty to divuge what Scheele had said him.
y Because. replied the Witness Il felt that the
INTEREST OF Justice should tell what this man said
ia me- not much for the present case but to pre-
veRt him from becoming expert in any capital
case~in future"
Probably with view OF thoroughly testing the
soundness OF Heppner's evidence. the Recorder
caused him 10 repeat part OF the typewriter
statement which had been taken down from him by
counsel for the defence. AS there few verbal
variations the Judge had copies Of the statement