New-York tribune., 1902-03-13
EXPERTS USE CHLOROFORM
EXPERIMENTS AT PATRICK TRIAL DIS
CREDIT JoNEs's STORY.
CONE AND TOWEL IN FORM VALET SAYS HE
rero To XIII. RICE BURNED.


USED TO KILL RICE BURNED.
Proceedings in the trial OF Albert T. Patrick
were enltvened yesterday by unusual e1Perl-
rnents which were conducted by request OF AS
sistant District Attorney Osborne and unoer
the directions Of Recorder Goff, with the con-
sent Of Patrick's counsel. Towels and sponseS
partly saturated with chloroform were burned
IN an anteroom 10 test the correctness of the
statement made by Charles F. Jones' the Vale''
that the towel used in administering fatal dose
OF the drug 10 W. NJ Rice blazed up ana was
destroyed quickly when he set fire to 1t after the
death Of Mr.. Rice The results Of the expert
ments tended 10 discredit the story told by
Jones The towels and sponges burned several
minutes and then smouldered many minutes
longer.
Mr. Osborne desired to have the experiments
made in open court in the presence of the jury.
At the beginning Of the session yesterday morn
ing when DR.. John H Girdner. an expert in
the use Of chloroform and a witness for the
defence was under cross-examination. Mr.. Os-
borne handed vial TO the witness and asked in
dramatic fashion. What is that?'
DR.. Girdner looked at the label and replied:
Two ounces of chloroform."
"And what is this?'
ut looks like towel pinned into the form of
a cone"
1T IS" said Mr.. Osborne. "and here is
sponge at the small end. Now. pour that chloro-
form on the sponge; let IT stand for half an hour
and then burn it in this brazier.'
Mr.. Moore. Of Patrick's counsel. objected to
Mr.. Osborne's plan, but expressed his willing
ness to have the experiment made in a small
room. The Recorder declined TO let the jury
leave the court. but agreed that Dr. Girdner
should try and burn the towel in an ante
room in the presence of witnesses named by
the defence and prosecution.
Counsel for Patrick whispered together. and
sdr Moore suggested that the experts collec-
lively discard the materials supplied by the
District Attorney, and purchase chloroforn'
sponges and towels from some reliable drug
store and report the result of the trial TO the
Jury II was agreed that DR.. Girdner, repre-
sent.ng the defence, and DR.. Louis Schultz. for
the prosecution should conduct the experiments
Patrick made his first address TO the court when
the stenographer had finished reading the Re-
corder's directions for the experiments
You are all agreed. gentlemen" said the Re
corder. looking at Mr.. Moore.
with this exception, your honor" put in the
defendant rising, L think the bottom or the
cone should be covered"
The Recorder nodded assent. and Mr.. Osborne
expressed his Willingness that the stand
for thirty minutes in like position 10 that Jones
said his cone occupied Mr.. Rice's face be-
fore an attempt made to burn it.
Dr. Girdner and DR.. Schultz left the courtroom
80 get materials, and the defence called Dr.
Isaac Newton Love. Editor OF The Medical
Mirror" as a witness TO testify about the ef-
fects of chloroform inhalations. The expert
Inents were begun in the recess, and continued
during a part OF the afternoon sessfcn of the
court. Mr. Osborne and Mr.. Moore were pres
Eent in the anteroom part of the time. Late in
the afternoon DR.. Girdner was placed the
stand TO testify about the experiments. He
said two towels which were pinned in the form
of cones and contained sponges saturated with
chloroform were burned. In describing the first
experiment, he said
THE cone stood OF its open end for thirty
minutes. It was laid upon its side on a cigar
box. Then two matches applied TO the
open end. The blaze lasted nine minutes and
died down. The remnants smouldered for fifty
one minutes and then went out"
The charred remains were shown to the jury,
and the witness went TO tell of the second
experiment A towel similar TO those destroyed
was exhibited All the preilminarles or the sec
ond experiment the same, he said, except
that some OF the chloroform poured on the
outside top of the cone
we stood the cone on its open end" DR..
Girdner said. ''and applied the matches. A door
and a window were opened to make a draught.
1t burned slowly for fifteen minutes. The fame
went out. but it continued 10 shoulder for fifty
-four minutes"
around for their inspection in wire letter cage.
Describe the blaze" demanded Mr.. Moore.
q
the core. I should describe It as slow blaze
1t did not flare up"
How much of the material was consumed?"
"One-thrd at the first test, and one-quarter
at the second
Patrick and his counsel seemed to be highly
pleased. Mr.. Osborne wanted an experiment OF
another kind tried 10 test the statement of DR..
Curry, witness for the defence that the odor
of chloroform remained IN a room where IL was
used more than an hour.
Producing a false beard and mustache mount
ed on wires. he demanded an opportunity 10
pour an ounce Of the chloroform the hair and
hang il by open window TO prove his con-
1ention that the odor would not remain an hour.
The Recorder looked at the counsel for the
defence and Mr. Moore said he would have to
object unless the conditions were MADE as
nearly as possible like those that existed in Mr..
Rices bedroom. Mr.. Osborne offered TO bring
a bed and bedclothes TO one Of the rooms ad
Joining the court, and try his experiment there.
but Recorder Goff frowned on the proposition.
In the testimony which he gave for the de-
fence DR.. Love declared that inhalation Of
the lup- The autopsy showed that Mr.. Rice's
lungs were congested. Under cross -eXamina-
ton DR.. Love said he had no doubt that the
lung trouble existed when DR.. Curry examined
Mr.. Rice some ten hours before his death, but
DR.. Curry had overlooked 1t.
why should you assume that?' asked Mr..
Osborne.
Il don't assume it," replied DR.. Love, smiling
s-the report Of the autopsy shows It."
s-
FORNES GETTING IA RUN FOR HIS MONEY!
President Fornes OF the Beard OF Aldermen