Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-07

! never claimed to be able to foreten any
thing. l can't imagine where Mrs. AIussey
got the idea that L had told her anything
of the sort"
Alice PIatt was in cheerful spirits, and
there was not the slightest evidence of care
on her mind. She no more believes that
she will be found guilty of the crime OF
which she is accused than she believes that
the true murderer will confess. Major
Woodson visited Alice yesterday afternoon
and had long talk with her. The major
is undecided whether he will place her
clearly surprised at the evidence of the
Musseys. In the justice court hearing they
were doubtful and undecided on points
which in the criminal court they were posi-
tive about
What do you think of a mother who will
testify on the witness stand that she does
not know where her own children slept at
her homeE That is what Mrs. Mussey did,
1t is probable that the defense will try to
break down the testimony of the Musseys
by showing that they did not state the ex-
act facts in regard to their domestic rela-
tons. Alice Platt seems to think that the
apparent anger of Mrs. Mussey when she
arose from her chair and half started to-
ward Major Woodson when he was cross
examining her rather sharply was all as
sumed for the occasion.
81 have seen Mrs. Mussey get mad a
great many times said Alice land she
does not show her anger merely by stamp
ing her foot When she gets mad her face
fiushes scarlet-almost the color of her
hair"
There was a mighty crush of men and
day morning and they almost fought for
places. The men pushed and showed the
women; who pushed pack with as much
strength as they could command. Hun
dreds failed to get in because they were
unable to find foot room inside the DOORS
The court room presented the usual scene.
Alice Platt sat quietly beside her attorney
and by neither sign nor look gave the
slightest betrayal of the effect of the evil
denee upon her mind. Throughout the en-
tire trial she has conducted herself with
wonderful self-control. The court attaches
say they never saw a more self-possessed
woman in her position and her admirable
self-coatrol when damaging testimony was
being introduced surprised even Judge
Wofford. and must certainly have made an
impression upon the jury.
DR.. T. w. Overall was the first witness
of the day. He described the condition of
little Elizabeth when he arrived at the
house the night the children were taken ILL
He said her head was thrown back. her
eyes wide open and the corners of her
mouth drawn. Her teeth were clinched.
her hands closed and her limbs rigid. He
said he knew she was suffering from soma
sort of poisoning. He gave her a hypoder-
riman and Wilson arrived he told them
that there were two cases of strychnine
poisoning" The doctor said one-fourth to
one-half grain of strychnine might prove
fatal. In rare instances one-tenth of a
grain had caused death.
DR.. Merriman was called to the stand.
He said there was no other poison that
would produce the symptoms which the
preceding witness had described beside
strychnine. DR.. Wilson also testified that
all the symptoms showed that the children
were I'll from strychnine poisoning The
doctor had been called to attend Mrs. Tor
renee, mother of Mrs. Mussey. and after
her death had issued certificate that she
had died of pulmonary congestion. He
now believes that she died of strychnine
poisoning.
That ended the testimony for the day,
with the exception of DIR. w. S. Wheeler,
the deputy coroner, who had taken charge
of the bodies and ordered an autopsy. Dr.
Wheeler's testimony disclosed nothing of
interest in the case. Tomorrow DIR. John
W. Carter. the chemist who analyZed the
stomach of Elizabeth and who testified be-
fore the justice court that he had found
one-tenth of a grain of strychnine in her
stomach, will be the first witness.