Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-15
time ranging between.

as ~ MS knowledge of DR.. McSweeney's
skill as surgeon. The plaintiffs counsel
on the ground that the plaintiff had not
brought DR., McSweeneys skill as a sur
geon into question
Inc witness said that previous to the
triai or the case he had conversation
IN attorney Billiards. office with Mr.. Cos
grin, Dr. Lund, and others and told them
what he remembered about the examina-
court.
Inc direct examination ceased at this
point and Attorney Billiard began the
cross-examination. The questions began
by referring to statements made by the
wltness previous to the trial of the case
put nothing of value was gained from
tnem' The examination then swerved to
the examination made of Mrs. Cosgrin
by the witness. The witness said he told
MIS- Cosgriff at that time that DR.. Lund
understood the disease thoroughly and
tnat there was no need for him (Dr Haw-
iey) to return again. The witness said
ne and DR.. Lund agreed upon a treatment
Ior Mrs Cosgriff He was asked IL the
fact that the treatment had been con-
tinued for six months with no advantage
to the patient would enable him to tell
whether or not the disease was of long
standing and he replied that 1t would not
The witness was ashed IL he did not
Always make an internal examination
when about to operate upon a married
woman for appendicitis and If he did not
always call a consultation, and was fur
ther asked IL he had not so stated before
the trial. The witness said he did not al
ways make such an examination or call
consultation and that he did not SO
state He said he might have remarked
that such a practice was a good general
rule for it was for more than one rea-
son.
The witness was asked how large a per
cent. of patients recovered from opera
tons for appendicitis and he replied that
~ per cent. recovered If operated upon
III time. If after the operation the same
pains remained he should consider that
not all of the causes had been removed
He said that patients should be able to
be on their feet within three or four
weeks but it might be six months before
they could he able to resume hard work
after an operation for appendicitis.
NJ. D. M'MAHON EXAMINED.
Mr.. Mcmahon said that Mr. Cosgriff
began to denounce DR.. insolvency short
ly after Mrs Cosgriff returned from the
hospital. The witness said he heard Mr.
Cosgriff denounce Or. McSweeney in the
presence of r. f, Conlin, ]. r. Mcmahon
and others. Mr.. CosgriT having the APP
pearance of being very excited and angry
Mr.. Mcmahon said he could not remember
what Mr.. Cosgriff said but heard DR.. Nc
Sweeney's name mentioned.
Mr.. Mcmahon said that the principal
grievance dwelt upon by Mr.. Cosgrin in
his denunciation of Dr. McSweeney was
the insult offered him by the doctor
The cross-examination was conducted
by Attorney Brown. The witness fixed
December Il as the first time at which
Mr.. Cosgrif denounced DIR. insolvency
Miss Bessie Cosgriff was in Mr.. Nc
Mahon's store with her father.at that time
and she told her father that he had bet.
ter not say anything against DIR. Nc
Sweeney there as Mr. Mcmahon was his
brother-in-law. The witness said Mr.. Cos
grff said DR.. McSweeney dragged his
wife to the hospital and butchered her
He said that Mr.. Cosgriff claimed the
appendix was not diseased and that the
operation was not necessary. The witness
said he had always advised Mr.. Cosgrif
to see DR.. insolvency and have a con
Versation as he believed he could settle
tho matter in that way. Mr.. McMahor
said he never advised Mr.. Cosgriff not &c
bring the suit. He said that since the suit
was brought he had not been on friendly
terms with Mr.. Cosgriff.
Mr.. Mcmahon was questioned in relation
to his efforts to secure the defeat of Mr.
Cosgriff in an attempt to secure an Office
III lIe i OTcSteTS. re Sll0 ne worked fOl
the election of another candidate as
he believed he was best fitted for the of.
flee. He said ne never wrote letters abou,
the State which contained statements
against Mr.. Cosgriff but that he did write
letters favoring another man for the Of
flee in question.
Upon the redirect examination Mr. Nc.
Mahon was asked by Attorney Ballard
what he knew about Mr.. Cosgriff's drink.
N yvb Mrc nt ha hoc
pital, the reply being that he had seer
Mr.. Cosgrin under the influence a number
of times.
Did you ever see him drink"
Yes. sir"
The witness was asked II he ever saw
Mr.. Cosgrif drunk when Mrs. Cosgrif
was at home and he replied that he did
not remember having seen him in that
condition when she was at home.
DIR WHEELER TESTIFIES.
DR.. j. b. Wheeler followed Mr.. Nc
Mahon. He said he was Il graduate of the
Harvard Medical College and had studied
medicine two years in Germany. He said
he was also on the stafrs of the Mary
Fletcher and Fanny Allen hospitals The
witness said he had operated from 300
to 800 times for appendicitis. at the Mary
Fletcher hospital, and in all parts of the
State He said he had assisted Dr. Nc
Sweeney at operations for appendicitis
and that Dr. insolvency had been pres
ent on many occasions when he CDR.
Wheer) had operated for the disease.
Or. Wheeler said that about five years
ago he was called by DR.. insolvency at
about six o'clock in the morning to see
Mrs. Cosgriff to determine whether a
surgical operation could be performed. She
was in a state of collapse at that time
and an operation was out of the question.
AT nine O'Clock she was much worse. so
that all thoughts of an operation Were
precluded. She was suffering from APP
pendicitis at that time, the witness be-
lieved. The next morning at nine o'clock
DR.. Wheeler said he saw Mrs. Cosgrifi
a gain and al that time she was much bet
ter, greatly to his astonishment. for he
expected she was dead by that time, ir
fact he felt so certain that she was dead
that he inquired if it was to be a post
mortem examination.
The remainder of DIR. Wheelers ex
animation was along the same lines as the
examination of other physicians in the
case.
Upon the completion of the examination
DR. Dodds was called and testified to at,
tending q successful operation for ap.
pendcitis performed by DR., insolvency.
MIR. ANDREWs's STORY.
Mr.. Andrews was the next witness. He
said he had talked with Mr., Cosgriff about
the operation upon Mrs. Cosgrif and thai
the latter stated that DR.. McSweeney had
dragged his wife from the house to the
Fanny Allen hospital and operated upor
her without justification. The witness said
that Mr.. Cosgriff told him DIR. McSweeney
must get on his knees and ask forgive
ness of himself and Mrs. Cosgriff or he
tMr CosgyifO would ruin his business