New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-12
GOFF REPROVES MOORE.
EXPERTS SAY THAT MR.. RICE DID NOT
DIE FROM CHLoROFORM POISONING.

Assistant District Attorney Osborne used all
the morning session of court in the Patrick trial
yesterday with a cross-examination of DR..
James Ewing. who testified Monday that the
findings in the autopsy on the body of w. NJ
Rice indicated that Mr. Rice died from conges-
ton of the lungs, and that death was not caused
| by chlorofOrm. One of the long hypothetical
questions which Mr.. Osborne prepared with the
aid of medical experts, who sat with him. was
ruled in order by Recorder Goff after Mr.. Moore
of Patrick's counsel had made vigorous pro-
test. Mr. Moore sat down with the remark:
THE District Attorney should stick to the testi-
mony and not ring in every old thing. His
quotations false and misleading"
Il am surprised at your language Mr.. Moore,
said the Recorder. NO gentleman should use
in court Of justice language fitted only for
street corners"
Mr.. Moore made reply, and the Recorder
told the witness to answer the question.
DR. Ewing said it was so full of contr ldictions
that he could not answer it. Mr.. Osborne APP
perently made no Roadway in his work of break
ing down the witness DIR. Ewing stood fast by
his direct testimony. that 1t was lung trouble
that caused Mr. Rice's death, and that chloro-
form could have had nothing TO do with II.
In the afternoon DR.. John H. Girdner, an init
mate friend of William Jennings Bryan and an
authority on the use of chloroform was called
as a witness for the defence. Mr.. Moore de-
scribed the administration Of cnlorotorm as
Jones' Mr.. Rice's former valet said he gave II
to Mr. Rice and asked DR.. Girdner if 1t could
be done that wav.
In my opinion" DR.. Girdner replied, 1T could
not The shock Of placing the chloroform in a
cone, as described, the face of a patient
would have awakened the patient. Chloroform
to be effective must be administered slowly.
DR.. Girdner said a chloroform saturated rag
would not burn Jones described the burning
of the towel he took from Mr.. Rice's face. He
said he had made number Of experiments. and
based his reply on the results of those expert
ments. Recorder Goff would not let him de-
scribe those experiments Mr.. Moore suggested
that an experiment be made in court, and Mr..
Osborne consented. The Recorder was OBJ
durate. and the experiment was not made The
examination continued:
Q.-Does choroform congestion ~ the
lungs? A.-Congestion of the lungs is frequently
found after death by chloroform poisoning, but II
is not necessary result. Where find much con
Ecstion In the lungs | should expect 10 ma II In
the brain, liver and stomach.
Q.-Is ChlOroform vapor an irritant 10 the lung
tissue? Al think not II II was should find
from bronchitis and other such troubles. II IL be
an irritant, It is so very slightly.
Mr.. Moore put the same hypothetical question
as to the cause Of death that he had put t. DR..
Ewing. and DR.. Girdner replied:
Il answer your question a physician. not
as a pathologist. From the picture you have
drawn. l form the opinion that the patient died
from Rdema. or dropsy Of the lungs, and that
a remote cause OF death nephritS."
Did the patient die Of Chloroform poisoning?'
There is evidence OF ChloToform poisoning
In anything you have said"