Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-27
HER DEATH A MYSTERY
Evidence That Grace Brown
Did Not Die in Water.
MORE MEDICAL TESTIMONY
Condition Of Body Shows Killing Pre-
ceded Immersion.
MAY DEMONSTRATE TO JURORS
District Attorney Threatens to Expert
ment With the Skiff Before Them
in the Water.
MORE MEDICAL TESTIMONY
MAY DEMONSTRATE TO JURORS
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

special DlsPatcn 10 4 ne star.
HERKIMER. N. Y. November PIT is
possible that, following the medical testi-
mony which the prosecution is bringing
forth ocular demonstration of the sea-
worthiness of the boat which carried Gill
lette and Grace Brown when the girl met
her death will be made for the jury's bene-
mt. 1t is the contention of the defense, as
shown by it's line of cross-eXamination,
that Grace Brown met death as the result
of the accidental upsetting of the boat. The
prosecution, on the other hand contends
that the injuries found on the body not only
make it clear that Grace Brown was killed
or stunned before she was thrown into the
water, but the state asserts also that the
boat was of such stability that its accI-
dental upsetting was almost impossible.
The boat which carried the pair is here as
an exhibit, and there is plenty of water
around Herkimer on which to test the sta
bility of the craft. Near the town flows the
Erie canal and the Mohawk river, both
bodies OF water reproducing, near enough
for demonstrative purposes, the conditions
which existed on Big Moose lake at the time
when Grace Brown met her death. 1t has
been adduced in evidence that there was no
wind on July IL, when Grace Brown and
Gillette went out in the boat. The waters of
the streams near Herkimer are also very
smooth.
May Capsize the Boat.
With the power at hand to reproduce the
conditions which existed on the day of the
girls death 1t is not at all improbable that
the district attorney may decide to give the
jury an ocular demonstration OF the
difficulty of tipping over st. Lawrence
skin OF the type which the defendant hired
for Grace Browns last row. 1t would be
legal, lawyers say. to illustrate concreteiy
to the jury the probability or improbability
of the accident which the defense will claim
was the cause of the girls death. The
court would have to convene at the bank of
the river, however: for in order that the
demonstration might be legal it would have
to be performed in the presence of the jury
defendant and court.
There is a report tina. after the prosecutor
has finished with his medical testimony he
may resort to this way of strengt hening
his theory that the death of the girl was
not accidental, and 1t is possible that he
be one OF the strangest that court of law
has probably ever witnessed. The entire
complement OF court officers and the Judge
jury and defendant would gather on the
bank of the river and watch experiments in
trying to upset the boat.
After yesterdays testimony and line of
questioning adopted by the defense there
can be little doubt as to the theory the de-
PENDANTS counsel will advance to ATTEMPT
to explain Grace Browns death
Medical Testimony.
Dr. r. II. Douglas. who was on tho stand
yesterday when the session closed was on
the stand when the case opened this morn
Ing under redirect examination by the dis
trlct attorney. who tried to bring out the
absence OF certain symptoms which. the
witness said are almost invariably present
In cases OF drowning. The witness was
sure that the swelling OF the lips. which is
symptom of drowning. came from ex
ternal violence. There is water IN the
lungs. the witness said. in case of drown
Ing. In this case there was none In cases
or drowning the mouth of the person is
open. In this case the mouth was closed
DIR. George II. Smith was called To the
stand and testified that Grace Brown ala
not drown. His description of the injuries
the autopsy agreed with that given bv DR.
A. o. Douglas and DIR. E. II. Douglas
When cross-examined by Mr. Mills of
counsel for the defense. DR. Smith said he
had lost the typewriter record of the AL
topsy made at the time the autopsy was
performed.
Did you lose II on purpose?" asked Mr..
Mills.
NO, sir" was the reply.
Mt Mills then secured from the witness
statement that last Sunday he told a
friend that he must hurry to Herkimer
and see the other doctors so that their
stories would agree when they got on the
stand.
We wanted to perfect ourselves he
said.
DIR. Smith said the doctors had held sew
eral meetings TO discuss the evidence they
were to present during the trial At some
OF these meetings the district attorney
present. he said.