The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-12-18
Tho Collins Examination.


The examination Of Mrs. Caroline
Collins, of New Lothrop, for poisoning
her hired man George Leachman, was
begun Monday morning before Justice
McCaughna and a crowded court room.
Mrs Collins was accompanied by her
mother, Mrs. Hattie Olcott, and was
we'll dressed and not at all nervous.
Odell Chapman appeared for the Peo-
pie and John T. McCurdy for the de-
Tense The first witness sworn was
Mrs. Amelia Leachman, of New Lothrop,
mother of the dead man. She testified
that her son and Mrs Collins were in
separable, that George was more than
the womans hired man. She described
his fatal illness, the dryness of tongue
and throat extreme thirst, vomiting
and burning sensation of the stomach.
All these, it is claimed. constitute
symptoms of arsenical poisoning.
DR.. Moses Gomberg, junior professor
of chemistry at the U. of NJ, testified
that he had analysed Leachman's di-
gestive organs, and found more than
two fifths of grain of white arsenic.
One-sixth of grain is considered dan.
gerous dose. Justice James Fee, of New
Lothrop, was the man who had the
custody of Leachman's organs and who
delivered them to DR.. Gomberg. He
| testified to that effect. DIR. Jacob Shoe.
maker, who treated Leachman during
the latters fatal illness, testified he
diagnosed Leachman's illness as acute
pneumonia, but admitted that the
symptoms would apply to arsenical
poisoning.
Justice Fee, who had charge of Leach
mans digestive organs from the time
they were removed from the body until
turned over to DR.. Gomberg, testified
that nothing was added to the organs
or taken from them during the time they
were in his possession
DR. Jacob Shoemaker. of New 10th
rop, who cared for Leachman during his
last illness, was called to the stand. He
stated that he gave Leachman nothing
containing arsenic.
DIR. Shoemaker gave the symptoms of
slow arsenical poisoning extreme thirst
burning in the stomach and vomiting,
and an extreme dryness in the tongue
and lips. The doctor admitted that in
Leachman's case all the symptoms of
arsenical poisoning were present.
Tuesday morning DR.. Shoemaker was
recalled to the witness stand and told
of the congested condition of the brain,
and of the lungs The latter were al
most solidifed, exactly in the condition
that they usually are in acute pneu-
monia, the doctor claims, which was
the direct cause of death. He signed
the death certificate in accordance with
his belief. The stomach, however was
in an abnormal and suspicious condi
| ton.
In the redirect examination Attorney
Chapman for the people made a good
point. He asked the witness if pneu-
monia was not caused by germ. The
witness replied that it is. "Was this
fluid in the lungs or any part of the
lungs analysed to show if the germ was
PRESENT." mo sir, it was not" The
doctor, in response to questions, admit
ted that arsenic given in small doses,
would weaken the body of the victim to
such an extent that he would be an easy
victim to pneumonia.
Mr.. Chapman then took up the effects
of arsenic upon the human system. The
witness stated that arsenic sufficient tC
cause death would be absorbed from the
stomach in from three to twentyfour
hours. Arsenic, when taken into the
stomach, soon permeates the whole
system, and Dr. Shoemaker stated that
there would be undoubtedly, more in the
body, especially in the muscles and in
the calves of the legs, than would ap-
pear in the liver, spleen, kidneys and
bladder.
The next witness called was Joseph
Weisenberger, who lives across the road
from Mrs. Collins, and is brother of
Adolph Weisenberger, husband of Mrs.
Collins deceased daughter. Mr.. Weis-
enberger testified to the affectionate re-
lations existing between Leachman and
Mrs. Collins. WeiseDberger frequently
called on Leachman during the latter's
illness, and said that Leachman was
restless and thirsty. Leachman some.
times complained that his tongue was
stiff and he could not swallow. When
they moistened the sick mans lips with
a cloth he snapped at it with his teeth.
This was the night he died. Leachman
was violent and delirious on the night,
and at times it was necessary to hold
him in bed. Some beer was given him
early in the night. Weisenberger, in
reply to questions from Attorney Nc
Curdy denied having heard Leachman
say: Don't hit me again, Louie, don't
strike me-"
Questions from Attorney Chapman
developed the fact that Mrs, Collins got
the beer which was given to Leachman
i