Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-28

THE COOPER TRIAL.
Continued from Page One.)

Several questions asked this witness
at the preliminary hearing We're re-
peat2d ana the answers appeared 10
ulller from those given in the first m
stance. Dr. Sturtevant appeared TO pe
more uncertain during the afternoon
than before, and the crOss-questioner
was mcrciless in his fiery examination.
In quoting from the records OF the pre-
liminary hearing, transcripts made by
two separate stenographers We're III
use, ard as they varied quite material
ly. considerable confusion and misun-
Outstanding was occasioned.
Finally, the official report of the
court stenographer was accepted for
general use and thereafter it was used
as required by Mr.. Heath and by Mr..
Leigh. The latter followed closely each
passage as questions relative to the
preliminary hearing We're put in. but
he offered no objections.
Wh=n the examination of the scalp
was concluded, Mrs. Cooper broke
down for the first time today and she
sobbed violently. Her husband moved
closer to her side and offered his COM
fort and sympathy with whispered
words of courage and cheer. The cOun-
sci for the defence suggested that the
witness prepare the scalp upon glass
dish, and as well as he could do so, ar
ranged the hair as it mad been in life.
The exhibit was then shown to the
members OF the jury, and the bullet
wound was pointed out for closer in
spection. Several members Of the panel
were unable to suppress shudder of
revulsion when the grim object was
held above the stand. The scalp will be
offered in evidence later during the
trial when Prof. Whittier, another of
the States medical witnesses, is called
to the stand.
Returning to the question of the re-
port of the autopsy, the witness said
that the notes We're taken at the au-
topsy by DIR. Smith and this was later
dictated to Court Stenographer Lee.
During the first part of the afternoon
Mrs. Cooper's agitation continued and
she rarely raised her head from the
rail beside her. save to wipe her eyes
of the great tears that were falling un-
checked. Her husband displayed
considerable apprehension and he at
tempted to calm her, but his efforts
We're fruitlesS.
At o'clock Counsel Heath announced
that his cross-eXaminatiOn was con-
Guided with one question which was:
"Was the hair anterior to entrance of
the bullet singed and curled up over
an area of about one inch in dame
ter?"
Dr.. Sturtevant answered. "Yes-eX-
ant rh1t fbara ctnCainp ~
The question put by Counsel Heath
Was taken from the autopsy report die
tated by DIR. Sturtevant in which
singeing was admitted. DR.. Sturtevant
was on the stand over II hours.
After the usual recess, DR.. Sturte-
want was recalled and the scalp of
Northy was again brought up for eX-
animation. Each juryman was required
to take the plate holding the scalp III
his own hands and examine the wound
and the hair about the ear and bullet
hole. This gruesomc spectacle. repeat
ed for the second time today affected
the defendant very seriously and she
broke into Il violent fit of weeping
again. This process, with the questions
of Mr. Heath, who had resumed a Sc
rieS of croSS-QueStiOns. consumed near
ly another hour.
Tie counsel for the defence attempt
ed to show through the government
witness that an area of curled hair,
embracing perhaps 100 hairs. had eX-
listed about the wound, but had disap-
peared in the process of decomposition.
Witness admitted, after persistent
questioning, that such 4 condition
might have existed. but would not
swear that any SinSed hairs were
found. The county attorney objected to
Counsel Haath'S line of examination,
on the ground that repetition occurred
frequently and that much valuable
time was being wasted. The court rec
commended that the witness might be
allowed to answer.
All this point some argument arose
between counsel as to the questions put
by Mr.. Heath early in the afternoon in
his crosS-eXamination of DR.. Sturte-
want and the records were searched for
The correct version of the proceedings.
This process occupied about Is minutes
and the hour for adjournment APP
preached. A number of the States
| witnesses left the court house soon af-
| ter recess, believing that their pres
ence would not be required until
Wednesday or even later. DR.. Sturte-
want was excused from the stand at
4.i5 o'clock, and the government
| called its second medical witness in the
person of DR.. A. Il. G. Smith of North
itafield. The doctor took the stand
| and was duly sworn. The direct exam
| ination brought out that witness has
| been a practicing physician for 80
years.
Before the examination could pro-
| ceed court adjourned until $50 O'Clock
| Wednesday morning.