The Portland daily press., 1900-06-26
INTERESTING EVIDENCE



Yesterday the evidence given the cor
oner's jury in the case Of the death Of
Patrick Flaherty was made public. 1t
shows that the verdict Of murder was
based upon the evidence Of DIR. Weeks
and Night Waterman Ramsdell.
In describing the wound on Flaherty's
head DR.. Weeks said that his autopsy
revealed ON the left side and about three
inches above the ear, large wound
about two and one-half inches long and
one inch wide. extending completely
through the scalp. Examination Of the
skull revealed fracture completely
across the top and down on the opposite
side as far as the base Of the skull.
quadrangular piece Of bone about two
inches wide was broken of and one edge
depressed, producing pressure on the
brain. From the back portion OF the
quadranguiar piece of bone was another
fracture extending back almost three
inches.
There was a clot on the right side OF
the brain about two thirds the size OF n
mans fist. On examining the lines OF
fracture on the inner side OF the skull,
DIR. Weeks found that the fracture on the
right side extended completely through
the skull, 90 that when he sawed around
the skull to take off the top, the front
portion was completely separated from
the back. At the hasa Of the brain on
the left side was a small clot.
The physician testified that Flaherty
must have been struck q terrible blow by
some blunt INSTRUMENT like the handle
of an axe. If struck by car wheels the
scalp would have been torn and sharp
instrument would have made clean
incision. Such blow, he said, would
render man almost instantly unc on
scious, and clot OF blood similar to the
one found on the right side of Flaherty's
brain would effect complete paralysis of
that side of the body In short order,
depriving the victim of either speech or
the power to stand. Either would be
simply an impossibility."
Q.-"You would not suppose that
man falling from any height and striking
on his head would cause that injury"
A.-"Never."
The evidence of Night Waterman
Charles A. Ramsdell, who lives on
Holyoke wharf was a powerful lever in
aid of the theory of foul play. Mr..
Ramsdell said that he was awakened
about O'Clock on that Sunday morning
by noise which hs thought came from
his sons room. He got up to see II any
thing was the matter and was assured
that everything was quiet within the
house. Then he seemed to hear from one
Of the open sheds on the wharf the so und
of voices and he stood by the window
for moment listening. As he did so he
saw two men emerge from the shed where
Flaherty was found and walked up the
street. One was q little taller than the
other and walked in advance. 1t was too
da TX to distinguish features but he
noticed that one man wore dark slou oh
hat, pulled down over his face. He did
not consider the occurrence singular and
returned to bed. About 4 o'clock he
awoke and dressed.
Then he heard plainly from the shed
the sound Of groaning. He at once made
his way to the spot from which emanated
the noise and found Flaherty lying on
the lower tier of planks bleeding profuse-
". He returned to the house and told his
sister of the matter. She advised him to
report to the city marshal and he did so.
With DIR. Weeks he laid the principal
foundation for the verdict. The police
are still in the dark ON the matter and
say they have discovered no clues of
tangible Importance.