Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-27
GRACE BROWN not DROWNED
Physicians Cay She Was Dead OF UncOn-
soiOus When Placed in the Lake,
DEATH DUE TO BLOWS ON HEAD
Counsel for Gillette spends Several
Hours TryinG TO shake Testimony
of Doctors who Per-
formed Autopsy.

formed Autopsy.
HERKIMER n. Y, Nov. 2S.-Two ply
sicians who we're present at the autopsy
held on Grace Browns body went on the
stand at the Gillette murder trial today
and testified that the girl received blows
before entering the water that were sufh-
cient to cause death, and which, in their
opinion did cause death in this case.
These physiciane--Dr. 4. o. Douglas and
/ DR.. p H. Douglas, both Of Little Falls,
| but not relatives. declared under oath that
Grace Brown was not drowned. 1t was
their opinion that she died from blows
which killed or rendered her unconscious
before her body wac dropped into Big
Moose lake. They declared that there was
not enough water in the lungs of the body
TO warrant theory Of drowning.
Former Senator Mills GilleUe's senior
! counsel, conducted the examination.
lie spent several hours in an effort to
| shake the testimony of these witnesses,
and while he succeeded In confusing DIT. y.
o. Douglas somewhat, neither of the ply
sicians Withdrew their opinion that Grace
Brown was killed or rendered unconscious
before she was immersed in the waters OF
Big Moose lake.
The theory advanced by the defense was
after death, and the line OF questioning
indicated contention that the girl in
drowning rose TO the surface OF the water
three times and each time struck the over
turned skin and received the injuries in
question
Testimony of Physicians.
DR.. o. A. Douglas went on the witness
stand in the Gillette trial here today and
testified that Grace Brown was killed by
injuries inflicted before her body fell into
the Big Moose lake, where It was found.
Chester Gillette is on trial charged with
having caused the young woman's death
DR.. Douglas was one or the physicians
who conducted the autopsy on Grace
Browns body. He also testified that the
tennis racquet which Gillette buried and
which the sheriff found vas capable OF
producing the abrssions and other injuries
found on the body.
The condition Of the girls lungs did not
indicate drowning said DR.. Douglas. This
latter statement was stricken out.
The lips were swollen and the tip OF the
nose was enlarged and discolored. The left
center upper tooth was overlapping the
right center upper tooth. The left cheek
. bone was swollen, There were sbrasions
Of the membrane OF the lips. These injuries
were inflicted before death, the witness
said. The blood vessels of the head had
been separated as IL by blows.
An objection to the word 'blows waa
sustained.
DR.. Douglas then described the head as
he. found It, There was a blod cot on
Z the brain, but no fracture OF the skull.
In your opinion what was the cause OF
aeath?'
! II should say that death resulted frora
shock or conclusions resulting from blows
OF injuries to the head before immersion,
OF II immersion did occur while there was
stnl life the chances Of restoration were
so few that immersion was unnecessary to
produce death
severe CrOss-e xa minatiOn.
In his cross-examination Of Dr. Douglas,
Mr. Mills senior counsel for Gillette, ques-
: / toned the witness about any indications
! the body Of Grace Brown might have
. shown. The attorney first took up the
! subject Of the girls eyes.
4 Did you say there was much membrsnce
, in them?' asked Mr.. Mills.
you say there was much hemmorrhage
: in then?' asked Mr.. Mills, substituting
. hemmorrhaEe for membrane"
= Isn't that an indication OF drowning
4 usually?"
. 1T IT,"
The witness also testified that the swell
ing OF the lips, the enlargement Of the tI
I, of tire nose and the light red colorinG OF
!, the lungs were symptoms OF drowning. Mr.
! Mills then took up the question Of the
condition Of the lungs as shown at the
"a autopsy.
IL Did they hll the chest cavlty?'
= Yes"
Isn't that an indication OF drowning
"a mot necessarily
. 1T il ordinarily known a. a symptom o.
drowning isn't it?'
n 'Sometimes"
q, Mr. Mills then asked Dr. Douglas if h'
would say that a body had been browne,
> ordinarily II he saw enlarged lips, dllate'
- pupils of the eye, swollen and matterate'
= nese tip and Redeemed lungs"
!. III the body had been taken from tn
water it would be apt to- said Dr. Doug
"A iaa
= Mr.. Mills continued hts cross-exslainatlol
-, of Dr. Douglas, the questions seeming 4
). Indicate that the defense will seek to Shov
that the marks and bruises found on GTac
Browns body were caused by bumpin
against The bottom OF the boat when sh
a. rose to the surface after falling into tn
,is lake. Dr. Douglas occupied the stan