Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-29
NYD[NBURIH
ON THE STAND.
Defense Springs a Surprise In
Murder Trial by Placing
Prisoner on Stand
MADE FAIRLY GOOD WITNESS
MADE FAIRLY GOOD WITNESS
Denied in Toto All tho Evidence of the
States Witnesses-onIy Ono Cues
ton Asked on cross-Examination-
Expert Testimony for Defense All In
Case Drawing to Close.
Special to Times-Republican.

Blydenburgh murder trial Sprang a
surprise this morning by placing the
defendant on the stand to testify in
his own behalf. 1t has been generally
supposed that Biydenburgh would not
be examined and when the prisoner
counsel called him to the stand there
was ripple of excitement in the court
room which was packed to its capacity
as usual when court convened. Mr..
Blydenburgh made good witness for
himself, and. it is believed, made a
fairly good impression upon the jury.
He testified substantially to the same
facts and circumstances as did his
daughter Irene. The circumstances
surrounding the fatal dinner were gone
over carefully and his testimony
agreed with that of his daughter in al
most every particular The daughter.
it will be remembered, was unable to
state whether they had green peas for
dinner, but Blydenburgh's memory was
clear upon this point, he stating they
did have peas for dinner. The general
supposition is that If poison was adj
mlnistered it was placed in the peas
and considerable interest was centered
in this point. He admitted all those
things sworn to by the defense and de-
MED the conversations and transact
lions Imputed TO him by witnesses for
the state. He denied all of them, prac-
tically in detail. Blydenburgh's al
torneys framed their questions very
carefully and in such manner as to
make it easy for their client The
state also caused good dead of sur
prise in their cross-examination of
Blydenhurgh, asking him but one
question: How old are you?" Bly,
denburgh replied that he was 40 years
cid.
This statement disagrees with that
given in his marriage license. which
/ gave his age and that of his bride as
-. Witnesses for the state said Bly,
denhurgh represented his age as SO
when he first mel Miss Roseborough in
1902.
4 did not urge my wife TO go to
church on the dag she became sick, :"
said Rtydenburgh in q calm voice. .sOn
the cr0faary she first suggested It.
gave my consent. Shortly after She left
took bath. than lay down on the
lounge to rest. Ny daughter Irene
cooked the Sunday meal. The boy wen,
10 Sunday school a little after 8 o'clock.
returiltng at IL. He then went to church
and returned again about the same
time Mrs. Biydanburgh came home. We
all sat down 10 the meal together.
Shortly afterwards Mrs. Blydenburgh
complained of nausea;ing pains and
vomited. supposed 1t was merely her
cid complaint. and did not treat the
matter seriously until saw she was
In a dangerous condition"
The defendant was calm and col
lected while on the stand and answered
the questions promptly.
DR.. Morse was called to the stand
again hy the defense this forenoon and
testified as to the condition OF the
stomach or portion OF the stomach OF
Mrs. Blydenburgh as exhibited in
court. He also testified as to making a
test OF the kidney excretions taken be-
tore the woman's death. He said he
had examined the portions OF the stom-
ach with q magnifying glass and tina;
he found no indications OF corro-
sion or erosion on the interna:
walls OF the stomach. He testified TO
having found In the urine examined
tube casts and epiphelial casts. The
tube casts. he said. We're more COM
mon. He admitted on cross examinn-
tion, however, that these casts were
apt 10 be found wherever there was Sc
mous Inflammation of the lddneys for
any length OF time. He said the And
Ing OF the tube casts is an Indication OF
d1sintegrution OF the kidneys. He said.
in substance. on cross-examination
that II might be caused by poison or
from Msease: that anything which %
r:ously Unframed the Kidneys for amy
length Of time would show these casts.
Evidence Mostly In.
The state Will this afternoon put ex-
perts on the stand who made examine
lions OF the exhibits and who veill tes-
fify as to the conditions and what they
found concerning them. The defense
had practically all Its evidence in be-
TORS the noon adjournment and all that
now remains Is for the rebuttal evil
dence for the state TO be given. 1t is
practically certain that all the evidence
will be In. before tomorrow afternoon.
It 10 probable the arguments win not
he commenced before Monday.
May lmpeach Prisoner.
A Yplmber OF people from Brooklyn.
Bsydenburgh's old home ara here to
testify and it Is sur1ndsed that the state
Intends to offer their evidence as an
impeachment OF much that Blyden-
burgh testified TO this morning in re-
rard to himself. Their evidence Is
awaited with a good deal of interest by
those who have been watching the pro-
ceedings and who are acquainted with
the "details of the trial.
Evidence Reviewed.
Seven witnesses were examined by
the defense yesterday. being DR.. Clark.
OF Grinnell, DR.. Morton, DR.. Pagleson,
OF Iowa Falls. DR.. Lewis. OF Alden. DR..
Phelan, OF Ackley. DR.. Davis. of Des
Moines and DR.. Morse. of Eldora, the
latter being the physician who at
tended Mrs. Blydenburgh during her
last fitness. Dr. Morse on direct ex-
animation testified that the symptoms
he discovered in his patient were no:
such as are present and manifest III
cases OF arsenical poisoning and de-
scribed these symptoms as being severe
headache, violent vomiting. distress IN
the stomach. suppression Of urine and