Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-24
THE TESTIMONY
Continued from Page One.>

BranchS might he produced by some
forms of poisoning. He was examined
as to the possible effect of the hot bath
to which Branch was treated after the
fight
DR.. Finney testified that he arrived in
Annapolis at 3 O'Clock on the afternoon
Of Monday, Nov. 6, and after consulta-
ton with the other medical men, de-
cidcd upon an operation. The case pre-
scented many difficult features, he said,
and the proper course was by no means
clear, but it was hoped that the active
cause OF the unfaV0rahle symptoms
might be fcunG undertake portion Oh
the skull which was opened. No hem-
OrrhaSe Of amy consequence was found
Immediately under the3 skull but sew
eral small ones We're encountered Wfea
the substance Of the brain was present.
ed. The brain itself was very much en-
iarged 0bScuring the convoIutions.
IN answer 10 n ifynntfetifal question
rropoundcd by the judge advocate, DR..
Finney said that Hlderi circumstances
similar to those ia this ease his profess
sional opinion would be that repeated
blows OF the fist had caused the death
examination elected the opinion that
death with similar symptoms might be
caused by the stopping, of the veins or
arteries i'll the brain from causes other
than external injuries, for instance,
matter formed from vegetation in the
arteries i'll other parts Of the body be
ing carried to the brain. This DR.. Fin
ney thought was most unlikely in this
case. In answer to this Judge Advo-
cate Mark propounded the question of
whether or not the surgeon could swear
that death WAS caused by the effect
of the bullet when a man WAS shot
through the heart and not by an at
tack Of heart disease before the bullet
entered the body. Dr. Finney answered
that it could not be positively said UNI
less AN autopsy was held.
Dr. Thomas told of his manner of 10
catin:; the trouble from the symptoms
in the case and what was hoped for by
the operation. lie also expressed his
positive conviction that no treatment
Wruld lHv" saved Br;,nch's life and
that I'll" death was caused by the blows
Ne received in the fight. Practically
the salm- hyunthrtiC;i question and in
ltIf''stt tories on 81 D&S-tXa llInjJIDn
We're put to Or. Thomas as to DR.. Fin
neg ana substantially the same an
sWtrS We're given.
TIL" members of the court, particular
" Admiral Mccormick ana Captain
Barry, seemed anxious to elicit infor-
nation as to Whe Their or not it was
reasonably certain that MeriWother's
blows had caused the death Of Branch
whether amy other CauS" could be as
sig"cd without stretching facts be-
yond The bounds of reason
Admiral Mccormick was espccially
persistent in attempting to get from the
experts direct answers to his questions
on this point.
The prosecution will almost surely
close its testimony early tomorrow. in
fact il is not likely that anything fur
ther will De brought ont that viii
greatly effect the ease. 1t is pretty
we'll known that an attemrt win Il,
made by The defense to follow out the
line Indicated by the Characterization
OF the medical witnesses H., direct les
tmony Of other experts on the possi
bi!ity Of organic weakness in Er,nrh
and Of these being affe, led by causes
other than lie fight ana also the effect
of the uns!lilled handling Of Branch af-
ter tho fight. Moreover. ii W;u M
doubt"'ily b" urged that a long series of
prosecutions of MeriWether nv Rranch
drove the former to seek Il fight ana The
rhallenG" actually emanated from
Branch. Finally it is believed that the
defense viii try to show in an over
Wheiming manner that fieLtip.r .o,,II
not nave been INDUCED in as il has If
me academy had not thu authorities
practically connived at it.