The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-05-04
DR.. CHANGES MIND
Exciting Day in Now Famous Trial r
Nan Patterson
1T MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUICIDE
Coroner's Physician O'HanIan Says
His Opinion Regarding the Cause Of
Caesar Youne's Death Has Under.
gone Change.

most interesting development in the
testimony in the trial of Nan Patterson
charged with the murder OF Caesar
Young, came when Coroners Physi-
clan OHanlon took the stand for the
prosecution and said in reply to ques-
tions, that he had changed his opin-
ion that Young committed suicide.
DR.. O'Hanlon performed the autopsy
on Young'S body. In his testimony to-
day, he said: "My present opinion is
not the opinion formerly expressed to
Coroner Brown"
The counsel for the defense, Lawyer
Levy. asked the doctor: Did you re-
port this case to Coroner Brown as one
OF suicide?"
When Dr. OHanlon replied in the
affirmative, Mr. Levy asked:
do you now say that in your best
judgment it is a case Of suicidc?"
"No. I won't say that"
Didn't you say so once?" was
asked.
Il did, but l think now it is a case
for the jury to decide. l thought at
the time that I detected powder marks
on the hands Of Caesar Young"
Assistant District Attorney Rand
produced the official report Of DR..
0'Hanlon, which did not define the case
as one of suicide and the doctor said
that he simply expressed the suicide
opinion in conversation with Coroner
Brown. After some further question
ing Mr.. Rand asked the witness il he
still held the same opinion that he
expressed to Coroner Brown and DR..
O'Hanlon replied: 81 will only say
this. my opinion now is not what it
was when I talked to Coroner Brown"
This incident came at the close of the
days proceedings in the trial. When
court opened Miss Patterson appeared
in black and white checked dress in
direct contrast to the mourning cos
tune which she had worn during days
Of this and previous trials. At today's
session Police Captain Sweeney told
Of conversation he had with Miss
Patterson soon after her arrest in
which she said she had put her hand in
Youngs pocket after the shot had been
fired, had looked at the revolver and
then dropped it back in the pocket.
The scenes on West Broadway where
the shooting took place were gone over
by witnesses and the cab driver who
was on the box when Young was shot
was on the stand, but the testimony
at the previous trial. When Frederick
Michaels. the cab driver. was asked
why he did not look in the cab when
he heard the shot fired. he replied:
1T wasn't my place. Suppose I had
looked in and got shot?"
DR.. E. NJ. Riggin. formerly OF the
Hudson Street hospital. testified that
the bullet which caused Young's death
entered the left side and after striking
the backbone lodged in the muscles Of
the back.
While DR.. Riggin was being examin-
cd headless and legless skeleton was
brought into court. Lawyer Levy
strenuously objected to the introduc-
ton, saying that it was unnecessary
and tended, to prejudice the case
against the defendant. Miss Patterson
was visibly affected. After DR.. Rggln
had indicated on the skeleton the
course OF the bullet which killed
Young, Mr.. Levy, counsel for the pris-
oner, asked that he illustrate the posi-
ton in which the revolver must have
been held to produce the wound. Il
could not do it at the point have In
dicated," the witness replied. because
could not twist myself into such q
position"