The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-19

test. The only way to make a test is
to get a reaction for sulphuric acid.
The blue bottle would hold 600 to 800
half grain tablets; and from 1000 to
1000 pulverized tablets would be needed
to fill it. If 80 to 95 half grain strych-
nine tablets of ten per cent purity, were
pulverized and added to enough pulter-
lied bromo- caffeine to fill the bottle,
there would be less than one-half of one
per cent of strychnine in the compost
ton, or four and a half grains.
On cross examination, the witness
stated that pulverized strychnia tablets,
placed in a bottle of brOmo- caffeine,
would have tendency to work down to
the bottom. The witness explained how
he would make test for strychnia.
He would make an aquous solution,
evaporate and apply the Dragondorf
test. Having ascertained the presence of
strychnia, in order to ascertain the
quantity, steps would have to be taken
to drive out all other substances, which
is a long and complicated process.
More Typewriting Testimony.
j. G. Fulcrut, a typewriter salesman
of Minneapolis, said that he had follow
ed the business for fifteen years. He
had been office boy, repairer, salesman
and manager. He is now manager of the
Lacrosse office of the Remington COM
pany. l do repairing right along, Am
familiar with the Smith Premier ma
chine. 1t is claimed that the Smith
Premier will show variation of align
ment quicker than any other machine,
because of the construction making an
unequal strain. The same letter may
occupy relatively different positions,
when the machine is out of alignment.
Examined the machine in question at
the first trial The carriage was rigid,
but the typebars were loose, showing
nard wear. This causes uneven writing
The wide carriage machine gets out of
alignment more easily than the stand
was very slightly marked, and covered
with rubber mould, indicating newness.
/ found only few points of punctu-
alton marks in the center of the cylin
der. Anybody will strike through the
paper with punctuation marks, which
present a smaller face than letters. The
rubber mould disappears in three to six
months, according to use. One machine
cannot be distinguished from another
positively by the writing alone. The
alignment changes at different times,
and a person can manipulate any ma
chine as to the alignment. There are
two ways that can be relied upon for
identifying the writing of a machine
These are when a type has been Clipped
and when a letter is "off it's feet" so
that one portion of the type strikes
heavier than the rest. Many samples
would have to be seen to prove this. /
find in this exhibit that the letter "m"
in Ulm is lighter at the bottom than at
the top. Have not seen any other in
stance where this letter has been used
on this machine that it has done this.
There is a very slight mark on the stem
of the ''h'' above the loop in Gebhardt,
which looks like faulty type. Have
examined the type under the glass and
there is no defect in the letters, and l
have not discovered any defect in other
letters 'h" made by the machine. After
repairs have been made on a machine,
as Tightening the carriage, a change
would be made in tine alignment. A
new roller will improve the alignment
and make the writing show less de-
fects.
The witness looked at the insurance
policy made out on the machine in
question and at the blue box. The rib
bon used in writing the address on the
box has more of reddish tinge than
that used in writing the policy. The
ribbon now on the machine in question
is rather new, but is very dry. There
are several shades of purple, according
to how the manufacturer mixes his inks.
On cross examination, the witness
said that the color on the address would
change slightly from handling. There
is no difference in the shade of the writ
ing on the inside and outside of the
policy. Have never read any books on
typewriter experiences, and never testi-
fled before this case as an expert. Diff
ferent makes of machines can be told
apart by the differences in the letters
only in some cases. The type in the
late models are much alike. If letter
was decidedly out of alignment by rea-
son of the type bar having slipped, the
machine could be identified by the writ
ing The letter ga" in "Gebhardt," on
the blue box, has either been struck
twice or the type worn down. | think
it has been struck twice.
On redirect, the witness said that he