Evening star., 1901-12-04
The Bloody Finger Prints.

When the proceedings were resumed this
morning DR.. Sterling Ruffin, local physi-
clan, who was the last witness to testify
yesterday afternoon, was called to the
stand for further examination. DR.. Ruffin
proved to be one of the most important wit
nesses yet called by the defense. He
stated late yesterday that he has made
special study of bloodstains, and described
in detail several methods for discovering
such stains. DR.. Ruffin first saw the wrap
per shown in court at the office of DR..
Schaeffer, the government expert. There
We're a number of torn places on the gar
ment but the witness declared that he did
not infiict or enlarge any of these He ex
amined the wrapper for blood spots. He
took one piece from the front and one from
the back of the duck lining of the green
velvet yoke. and other specimens. Blood
was found on the two specimens taken from
the yoke.
What tests did you use?" DR.. Ruffin was
asked.
81 employed three tests, each of which
was applicable and conclusive" he replied.
They were the Wyeth. the microscopic and
the Haeman crystal tests Each showed
| there was blood on both specimens
An adjournment was then taken until
this morning
Dr. Ruffin this morning stated that in ad-
dition to the wrapper he examined Mrs.
Bonine's slippers Ayres' undershirt and the
carpet and one of the trunks in Ayres'
| room for evidences of blood.
The witness took three specimens from
Mrs Bonine's right slipper at the junction
OF the sole and the upper. The specimens
were subjected to the ordinary tests. The
presence of blood was discovered.
Are you positive that there was blood on
the slipper?" inquired Attorney Fulton.
Yes, SIR, replied DIR. Ruffin.
No blood was found by the witness on the
sole of the slipper. He made a very care
full inspection of the left slipper. but could
not discover any trace of blood on it.
DR.. Ruffin described the precise location
of the pools of blood on the carpet in Ayres'
| room. and said he examined the window
frame. He found bloody handprints and
blood stains and smears on the window
sill DR.. Ruffin concluded that the hand
print had been made by a bloody right
hand. The fingers were pointed toward the
room.
The witness produced two tracings he
| had made Of the bloody handprint.
DO you care to examine these tracings?''
Attorney Fulton inquired Of United States
Attorney Gould.
II can see the print better from the sill
itself. which is in evidence replied Mr.
Gould.
DIR. Ruffin was asked by Attorney Fulton
| to describe the bloody imprint, and Mr.
| Gould volunteered the loan of q hand lens
/ to assist the witness In examining the SILL
| Did you compare the imprint Of the
bloody right hand on the sill with the right
| hand of the defendant?" asked Attorney
Fulton.
II did," explained DR.. RufIin.
1 no" uiu compare with the
| hand of the defendant as regards size and
shape?' Attorney Fulton then wanted to
| know.
Mr.. Gould objected He assumed, he said.
| that the comparison had been made by
| means of the tracngs. The sill bearing
the bloody imprint was in court and Mrs
| Bonine had the right to go on the stand
and place her hand over the imprint and
| thereby show the comparison.
The defense asked DIR. Ruffin IL he had
examined Mrs. Bonine's right hand The
reply was In the affirmative. Attorney
| Douglass then argued that it was compe-
tent to show by DR.. Rufin. without refer
| enee to the tracings. the comparison be-
tween Mrs. Bonine's hand and the imprint
The court overruled the objection. DIR.
Ruffin testified that with the fingers of the
hand fiexed the hand and the imprint close
| ly corresponded
Attention was next directed to portion
1.-the window shade and N w.ndow-shade
cord taken from Ayres' room. On the in
side of the shade where the Cord vas at
1 tached was a smear Of blood On The out
side was bloody imprint that might have