Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-21
Taking. of Evidence For the
Defense In the Slifer Case
Resumed Today
STATES CASE is WEAKENED
Testimony of the Exports for tho De-
Tense Almost Flatly Contradicts
That of the Experts for the State
Chance That the Case May BE Con-
cluded This Week.
Special to Tmes-Republican.

Grumpy Center, Sept. -I. INC e.'N
ling of evidence for the defense wa
!. continued this forenoon. Three doctor
gave expert testimony, the evidence o
Dr. Beary. of the university being re
sumed this morning AMI in addition Dl
Thieland and DR.. Findlayson bein,
4 called. The evidence was along tn
: same lines as that brought out yester
day, mainly a contradiction OF the ex
pert evidence for the state. In thi
respect, too, the defense was very sue
essful and brought out the statemen
n each case that in the opinion of TIL
/ under the circumstances surrounding
| the death of Mrs. Slifer indicated TIN
| poison had been taken into the stomach
| ana not inhaled, as the state contends
| There is a probability now that tn,
case will be concluded this week, altht
it may take until Saturday to tinisl
up the evidence, which would probabl,
bring the case to conclusion some
time early next week.
The testimony In detail:
Monday Morning.
Court resumed it's work this morning
by calling Miss Mason to the witness
stand and inquiring into the substance
of her conversation with Mrs. Katie
Slifer ard her appearance upon this
occasion. Witness testified that Katie
appeared cheerful ana perfectly natur-
al. No cross examination.
Mrs. Tom Rodd recalled. Was at the
Slifer home on Monday, the day after
Katie died. / asked him to go and
see Katie and he would not go. Cross
examination developed nothing.
Tom Rodd, father OF the dead woman
called. Was at the Slifer home on the
day after Katie died. My wife asked
Willie If he would go and look at Katie
and he drew back and would not go.
The aged father broke down and wept
upon recalling this incident OF viewing
the remains of his dead child.
Mrs. H:,rve Hoffa recalled. did
see anything unnatural or strar~e IN
the conduct or appearance or Katie.
No cross-examination.
Mrs Clara Hoffa recalled. Saw my
sister last alive on Thursday night be-
fore her death. Talked with her In
church. thought she was as happy
as ever saw her; was in very cheer
full mood. No cross examination.
Here the state asked that the jury be
allowed to examine the letters already
offered in evidence to compare with
exhibit "a" found on the dresser.
The court permitted them so to do
while occupying the jury box and about
twenty minutes was spent in the COM
parsons.
The state here rested its case with
from the court to call one
more witness who was unable to be
present.
The Defense.
The defense then began its evil
dence.
DR.. D. r. Fairchild, Of Des Moines,
called. Have been practicing physi
clan two years; I am surgeon for the
Railway Company, the
Rock Island railway and special exam
Iner for two other railroad companies.
| am somewhat acquainted with the
disease vitiligo. 1t is a skin disease
which affects the nerves and nervous
system.
Assuming doctor, that Katie Slifer
was in sound health on December 10,
1903, and died that night from the use
Of clloroform; vomit on the night dress
and bed clothes being found; the pa
tient lying on the left side dead two
hours after retiring, and upon a post
nortem examination Of the internal or
gans. ten days later, traces of chloro-
form being found in the lungs and
brain, and no traces Of chloroform be-
ing found in the contents Of the stom-
ach (being about two ounces of liquid),
the stomach contracted to about one
half it's natural size, how would you say
the chloroform had been administered?
"By injection"
Do you consider, doctor, that the evil
dence obtainable by post mortem exam
nations of subjects dying from the in
halation of cllloroform is of any value?
No sir.
The above is the important part Of the
doctors testimony and comprises the
bulk of the doctors evidence.
In my opinion a non-expert could
not put a sleeping individual under
the influence of chloroform without
awakening the person.
Cross-eXamination brought the wit
ness back to acknowledge the posi-
bility of non-expert to administer
to a soundly sleeping adult
awakening, where the life
IF the subject was not regarded,
The state brought to the notice of the
the case of the Baldwin muir
der case in Kansas, where a man,
Baldwin. was accused. tried, convicted
and condemned to death for the muir
Ter of his sister. by entering her Sleep
ng apartments chloroforming and
Killing her. leaving no traces or evil
lence of violence. the girl being found |
n a sleeping posture. with napkin |
over the nose and mouth. and a pillow
,ver the napkin. Witness ACKNOWLEDGES
ID the possibility of such a murder
On redirect questioning witness
swore that non-eXpert could not |
ave knowledge of how to administer
Dr. Beary, of Iowa City, called. |
I'M a graduate of the Iowa university; |
ave been engaged in the practice of
Medicine since 1898; took two years OF |
pecial study in Europe. Chloroform
vas first used in 1916, as en- antiseptic.
ME hypothetical question put to the
asst witness az to the finding of dead |
,ody with all hitherto described sur
oundings. was asked the witness, and |