Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-21

\ court OF competent jurisdiction has
lust decreed that New York must pay
three well-kuown physicians OF that city
the sum of 1920 for services rendered
as medical experts for the prosecution
I'm the Barberi murder case. The city IN
successfully contested the bill upon the
ground that the charge made was unrea-
sonab.o.
In nearly all Of the large cities Of this
country the expenses Of procuring expert
evidence from physicians and analytical
chemists has become a serious charge
These professional men rate their SER
vices as valuable as the services rem
dered by lawyers. and claim that they
ought 10 be paid as literally as lawyers
would be paid If the latter were required
70 give the same time, labor and skill
TO matters pertaining TO their procession.
This ground seems well taken. Espe-
CARLY would it be where one OF these
scientists is present at post-mortem.
studies up the case, examines authori-
ties. and not only testifes from the with
ness-stand, but sits by the side Of coun-
sci and prompts them in the cross-exami-
nation Of witnesses. and in the prepara-
ton of their argument.
In such a case, which IS quite common,
the man Of science appears not only as
a witness. but really as assistant coun-
sci And the tendenency OF the day Is
not TO do with less expert testimony. but
70 introduce more and more.
In New York the coroners are not re-
lied upon to furnish expert testimony.
Nor could they well be. Rarely are the
qualities needful for the two positions
found combined in one man. We, there
fore. find that the New York authorities
are giving serious thought to the advisa-
bility of organizing a corps OF experts
of their own, end paying them regular
salaries. Doubtless, this scheme will BE-
adopted. 1t would appear to be the most
economical method Of dealing with the
question. Certain it IS that physicians
and chemists will never again consent
to render services there without the ex-
recitation Of pay in proportion to that
awarded their brethren who served in
the Barberi case.
Richmond has been very fortunate In
this matter of expert testimony. Rare
~ II ever. OF late years, has II had 10
nav any such bill. Not only does it
usually get all Of the expert medical tes-
.imonv that it needs without extra
c1aree. but it also gets its expert chemi-
cal testimony free of cost-the State Of
Virginia having. happily. appointed to
the office of Coroner here a gentleman who
has the professional skill and the conf
d.nce of the courts and public In such
q high degree as to be able to render all
90 those services. The State, while ap-
nointing this officer herself, and fixing
his compensation, imposes upon the city
The duty of paying him. However. as
his annual income (Which by agreement,
has been commuted into a salary. is less
than any one of the experts IN the Bar
beri case had awarded him Tor a single
niece of work. there can be no complaint
Of the expense.
When the day comes that our city has
70 nay. in addition to coroners' fees. fire.
ouent bills for the services OF analytical
chemists and others. the cost will amount
TO something that viii cut conspicuous
figure In its annual budget.
From time to time an outc.y Is heard
here and there against the tendency 10
introduce so much scientific testimony in
trials before juries. But these cutcries
come. chiefly from communities where
both the prosecution and defence employ
numbers of professional witnesses. and
where the pay exaeted by these witnesses
is very high. Bu,. however this may be.
there Is no hope OF shutting out this tes-
tlmony 80 long as science Is aggressive