The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-29
Court Would Not Allow a Needle
in a Girl.
LeavenwOrth Doctors Wanted
to See If Flesh Was Dead.
HER SIDE PARALIZED.
A Lecture to the Jurors on a
Physiology Course.
The Attorneys Talked in Grave,
POmpous Tones.

Leavenworth. Kas., April 29.-The
Times says: Had not Judge Gillpat-
rick ruled adversely in the district
court yesterday morning during the
taking of testimony in the S12.5
damage suit of Rosa cha versus the
Kansas City-Leavenworth road, there
would have been something bordering
on the sensational.
Attorneys for the plaintiff, through
physicians, wished to prove that the
entire right side of the girls body is
paraIyzed. Attorneys for the electric
line assert that such is not the case
The attorneys for the girl wished to
be permitted by the court to remove
certain pOrtionsy of her dress to the
skin and before the jury stick needles
into her flesh on the right side of the
body, each needle to have drawn
through it piece of red yarn
But after some argument the court
held that such would not be proper,
and the prosaic manner of examining
the physicians themselves to ascertain
the girls physical condition was re-
sorted to. And the way the physicians
disagreed as to her condition was a
caution Three of them were positive
that the girls entire right side was
paralyZed. They spoke of the SenSOry
and the motor nerves. They delYed
deep down into the physiology of the
body and handled big words in such
a manner that the laymen were con-
WINGED that they (the laymen) had
lots to learn and that it was no Won
der physicians charged such big fees,
taking into consideration all they had
to store up in their craniums.
But there was a difference of opin-
Ion among the physicians. One would
go on the stand and make a statement
while the other five or six sat in the
rear of the room and smiled knowing
smiles Then one of those who had
hapn smiling would a D11+ on 10
stand and the man who had been
smiled upon would sit back and smile
In return It was a case of he who
laughs last laughs best.
All in all it was agreed, after three
physicians had been questioned, cross
Questioned and then talked to on the side
that the human body has such things as
sensory and motor nerves. That was
about all anyone but the LAWYERS
learned. The question regarding reflex
action also came up for considera ton.
One physician stated that if a person did
not jump when pricked with a pin he was
not paralyzed- Another said a person
might jump from a pin on Sunday, but
not jump from a pin on Tuesday. It was
g different proposition on Tuesday. And
in spite of the fact that no two physicians
agreed the girls condition remains the
same.
Three Of the physicians who. it is said.
VIII testity quite contrary to the testi-
mony given by three yesterday, will go
on the stand today Then there will be
some smiling. by those who were on the
The court room was crowded through
out the afternoon, but those who were
spectators or auditors learned very little.
It sounded to them like a lecture on phys
iology and although everyone should
know something about the human body,
few absorbed any of it. 1t took the ply
sicians many years to learn what they
were saying, and the spectators could
not grasp the big words in a days time.
Attorneys O'Keefe and Atwood, the for
mer for the plaintiff, and the latter for
the defendant company, talked with the
physicians in their own verhacular and
one would nave thought had they not
physicians.
This morning the taking of testimony
for the plaintff will continue and the de-
Tense Will have an inning. Then win
come some more testimony by the physi-