The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-09
THE State FINISHES ITS CASE
Interest in the Matthews Trial
Greatly Increased
Interesting and Valuable Testimony
Skeenes Gives Sensational Evidence.
Other Incidents Connected With the
Killing.


only were most important witnesses for
both state and defense called, drawing
the attention of those who are inter-
ested in the prOblematic aspects Of
the great legal contest, but there was
also the element of the sensational and
the morbid to appeal to the tastes or
those who are interested in the trial
az a murder case pure and simple.
The state had finished its case before
noon yesterday with the exception of a
possible redirect examination OF Mrs.
Hay, who was unable to be recalled to
the stand until the afternoon. Her
testimony was given in the afternoon,
however, completing the states case.
The uotable witnesses of the day
were Policeman Skeenes and Professor
r. o. E. Davis, of Chapel Hill univer-
sity. 1t was in Policeman Skeenes tes-
timOny hat the touch of the question:
able and risque, which had been eager
~ looked for by Il certain element,
came out. But, whereas, it had been
PANNANNSN NLo "OLAAN 'ObAu hA'A5
the court to hear this very class of tes-
timOny, the fact was that soon after
Policeman Skeene began to give his
evidence those few women who had
been in the court room vacated.
Professor r. 0. Z. Davis whose tss-
timony had been eagerly awaited was
listened to with the greatest Of inter
est, and followed closely in his tecn-
nical testimony by all, his lucid man
ner Of speaking making it possible for
even those not yersed in chemistry to
understand his evidence. The sum of
his testimony vas that there was no
strychnine present in the syringe, tx
cept possibly in the very most minute
quantities.. He added that the analy-
sis was not complete as the most ac-
curate test for ~strychnine would take
ten or fifteen days to make.
The first witness called yesterday
morning was DR.. NJ. r. Farrar, who
appeared for the state. DR.. tarrar'S
testimony was mainly cOrroborative of
the previous testimony Of Drs. Turner
and Brooks. DR.. Farrar was import
ant in being able to testify to the truth
of Mrs. Hays statement that DR.. Mat
thews had got in the bed with his
"lIp, dllu I1ldL sic IL IOIu L1hu opChAy
that he could not kill his wife in her
presence.
He told how he had asked DR.. Mat
thews for the use of his horse and
buggy to get a second battery TO use
OH Mrs. Matthews when the first was
weakening, and how the doctor had re-
fused, obliging him to walk. He sta.-
ed further that DR.. Matthews had Of
fered more thai once while he was at
the house to pay him for his services,
and urged upon him the necessity OF
keeping his mouth shut. Dr.. Farrar
refused to admit, however, that either
these actions or anything the doctor
had lone that day were the slightest
indication of insanity. In this Major
Guthrie, in cross examination, was un'
able TO shake him.
Policeman r. Y. SkeeneS was the
next witness called. He stated that lie
had arrested DR.. Matthews close on tC
midnight on the night Of the death OF
Mrs. Matthews. He had found hin
in bed with his father II had search
ed his clothing before giving 1t to hin
In his pockets he found a hypodermlt
syringe, money, phials Of pellets, and {
diamond ring. DIR. Matthews had ask
ed to be allowed to keep the ring, bu'
the policeman had refused this.
Policeman Skeenes had taken DR.
Matthews away in a carriage, ana a
the latter's request. had taken him Il
the house of Mayor Murphy, who
however, refused to see him.
While in the lookup DR.. Matthew
had urgently insisted on telling III
troubles to Policeman Skeenes. wn'
was finally prevailed on to listen. h
stated that she had long been untalth
full to him, and he himself could vouci
for her infidelitg OH several occasion
as having witnessed it.
Or. Matthews here stated to the po
Iceman that only for love OF the BIO,
this would have happened hVe year
ago"
DIR. Matthews talked of trouble
with other men. He said that his wifi
had come into possession of $3.50
which she had been induced by tn
man who was largely responsible TO
his troubles. to invest in a furnitur
factory in High Point. He added tina
his wife had received a letter from TIL
man asking her to come to High Poln
to snend THANKSGIVING a. he wished
sneak to her about her investment
Dr Matthews had told her she coui
go if she pleased as he was gong I
Durham to spend Thanksgiving wit
his parents.
Policeman Skeenes then went on
tell how DR.. Matthews had related I
him the same story which he had tel
to others of his wife coming to I'd
train to meet him and of all that ha
then transpired regarding Mrs. Ma
thews' request for poison. He COZ
Guided by saying that though u
Matthews was nervous and stagserin
and seemed to be under the lnnuen
of a drug the night OF his arrest. IL
mind was clear and as good as ever,
On cross examination Poilcema
Skeenes told of DR.. Matthews tellln
him the story which he had told ~ 4