Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-04

OUT mat from the winter season up to
July. 1901. crew of French Canadian
wood choppers We're employed by wit
ness They lived in a camp within
haif a mile of the spot where the nody
was found. AS a rule he said these
wood choppers wore overa!ls while at
their work.
Just before the noon recess, Medical
Examiner Meigs took the stand and
began an extended description of the
appearance of the body and it's sur
roundings when he reached the wood
lot in response TO a call from Constable
Wright. He described infinitely the
various articles of clothing on the body
and the appearance of the earth nearby
In this connection he said that near
the upper portion of the trunk where
the neck would have been the earth
was badly discolored. He described
this condition to refuse thrown off
from the body in the process of putrif-
CO ton iE the wound.
Resuming after the noon recess, DIR.
Meigs said that he did not make q
minute inspection of the body at that
time. Within half an hour an under
taker who had been summoned, APP
peared, and the body was removed. A
close inspection of the earth upon
which the body had reposed, convinced
him that the body had lain there not
less than three weeks. He saw the
body that evening at the undertakers
establishment in Lowell. The follow
ing forenoon, in company with Dr..
Carroll, he performed an autopsy. The
body was in a state of decomposition.
One Of the ribs was fractured, but it
was impossible to determine whether
the fracture was made before or after
death.
DIR. Meigs explained that all the
clothing found on the body, with the
exception of the carriers, was destroy
ed. 1t was evident, as a result of the
autopsy, that the woman died by vio-
lence.
Describing the condition Of the head,
as observed at the time an autopsy
was made at Lowell. DR.. Meigs said
there were several wounds, two of
which were deep gashes on the neck,
evidently made by a very sharp knife.
He did not think any of the wounds
could have been caused by an axe.
He said that i'm his opinion death re-
there was nothing to indicate that
death resulted from any other cause.
The axe found in the brook by Mr..
Green was submitted to the witness
for examination and he said positively
that il could not have been used to
cause the incised wounds on the. BODY
In opening the crOss-examination,
Mr.. Morrison drew from the witness
an admission that Il normal brain1
where the skull was exposed to the
action of the elements for two weeks
or two weeks and half. might have
reached such an advanced stage OF de-
composition that it would not be rec
ognized as a brain.
DR.. Meigs denied positively that ne
ever told any newspaper reporter that
the condition of the head was such
that IL would be impossible to recog-
niZe the features.
Mr.. Morrison questioned the witness
at great length regarding the interval
If time that must have interviewed be-
tween death and the time decapitation
took place, evidently seeking to draw
from tho witness an admission That the
head was severed almost immedateiy
after death. Dr. Meigs, however, heid
firmly To the statement that this opera
| tion was not performed until after the
cooling process was complete.
DIR. M.iss was still on the stand
| when court adjourned for the day.
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