Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-12
Defendant Makes Statement For
Press Denying Administering
of Poison to Husband
DID NOT LOVE WILL PERsINe
Defense Begins Its Case by the Intro
duction of Expert Evidence, But Thus
Far Has Not Materially Weakened
the Case Made by the Prosecution
Mrs. Pratt to Testify. :. ~ ~ssa,
pecial to Times-Republlcan,

pecial to es-Republlcan.
Rockwell City, Jan. 12-Mrs. Jennie
Pratt, on trial for the alleged murder
of her husband, for the first time made
a statement for the press today, in
which she stated that she did not ad-
minister the arsenic which caused the
death of her husband and that she was
not In love with Will Persng, the
farm hand, love for whom the state is
trying to show was the motive for the
crime. When the state rested it's case
yesterday afternoon the taking of
evidence for the defense was immedi-
ately begun and was resumed when
court convened this morning. The de-
Tense began it's case by introduction
that given for the state. Thus far the
defense has not succeeded in material-
~ weakening the evidence of the state.
Drs. Lockwood, of Iowa City, and
Cottam, of Rock Rapids, were on the
stand all the forenoon today and the
entire time was taken UP in getting
symptoms noted in the hypothetical
question asked by the state were con-
sistent with arsenical poisoning Cot
tam testified that these symptoms were
all usually present. A gret deal of the
time was spent in reading from medi-
cal authorities.
The defendant will be placed upon
the stand In her own defense. 1t is
not known just when, perhaps tomor-
row, possibly not until Monday and
again she may take the stand today,
but that Is hardly probable.
Closing States Evidence.
The effect of alcohol on the stomach
as compared with poisons of more
serious type, was taken up in the evil
dence of DIR. Bowen for the state yes
terday afternoon. 1t was admitted
that the stomach of an habitual user
Of alcohol might be the cause Of nutri-
tious poisoning, such as marked the
stomach of the murdered man. How
ever, this effect would only be noted in
the habitual drinker and not other
wise.
The effect Of alcohol and all poisons
on the organs of the body was gone into
at considerable length thru expert test
imony during the afternoon session.
characteristics of Poisoning.
DR.. Edward Posner, a practicing ply
sician from Des Moines, who was
graduated from Columbia Medical
University in 1903, said that toxicology
relates to the science of poisons and
that he is familiar with that course. He
said that arsenic taken in the system
in a short time will cause the tissues to
refuse to act natural and physical
weakness and prostration is noticed.
The general symptoms are dependent
upon the dose and form of arsenic TAX
in thirty or forty-five minutes after
taken. Great pain in the stomach and
bowels, vomiting food and blood fol-
lowed by diarrhoea containing blood,
nerves affected always below the ell
bow and legs or extremities, impair
ment of strength, rapid breathing, IN
creased heart action, 101 or 102 tenn
perature, never a high fever. extremi-
ties feel cold, wrist drop and foot drop,
dryness and burning Of throat, thirst,
are characteristics Of all poisoning
cases. No appetite, the appearance OF
shingles and indicative of stomach
pains are not infrequent characteristics.
He claimed that a large number OF
gastric ulcers is quite uncommon, US
ually only two or three.
The long Hypothetical question was
again asked by Senator Healy and
witness gave his statement as follows:
81 would call it "a case of arsenical
poisoning"
On cross examination Parsons asked
the witness if it might not be possible
that his statement was wrong and that
these symptoms could point to some
thing else and witness said he could be
mistaken.
When DR.. Kinney was cross -examin-
ed by Attorney Parsons he admitted
that he had said in a conversation that
it might be troublesome to determine
whether arsenic had been diffused IN
the veins of a body before or after
embalming He also admitted that he
had said that he believed the state
legislature should pass an act prohlb-
itina the use of arsenic in embalning
fluids. When examined redirectly DR..
Kinney said he had answered his aues-
tions based on his professional knoWl-
edge and not to a dead certainty be-
cause the latter deduction would be
impossible where the issue itself was