The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-06-13
DR.. Rowland ACQUITTED.

The case against DR.. ID. S. Rowland
charged with causing the death of
his little eleven year old son, David
Austin Rowland, by poison on May
4th,was dismissed at the preliminary
hearing last Friday. Several wit
nesses were examined before Prof.
W. A. Withers, professor OF chemis-
try in the North Carolina Agricultu-
raj and Mechanical College, was put
on the stand. Prof Withers stated
that afterexpert and thorough anal
ysis of the stomach and other vital
organs of the dead boy submitted
to him for examination he had failed
to find any evidences of poison.
The whole case Ringing upon the
report of the chemist and the prose-
cution relying entirely upon that, at
the conclusion of Prof. Withers' tes-
timony Mr.. A. C. Zollicoffer, repre-
senting Solicitor c. c. Daniels, who
could not be present, and as attor-
ne,v for the prosecution, arose and
submitted that the defendant be not
further held. He went somewhat
into the history of the case detailing
'AAN hSfiIiooe
gave reasons why the warrant had
been sworn out against DR.. Rowland.
But relying upon the statement of
the chemist that the he had found no
poison whatever to indicate that the
child had come to his death by other
than natural causes he was unwilling
that DIR. Rowland should be longer
held and he asked that he be released
from custody and acquitted of the
awful charge against him. Where
upon it was ruled and held by the
sitting Magistrates, CIV. E. Gary,
Joe L. Jones and Frank Workman.
Justice Gary delivering the opinion)
that there was not sufficient evidence
upon which the defendant should he
held or placed upon trial for the
charge against him, and he was dis
| charged from custody under the war
| rant.
DR.. Rowland was represented by
| Mr.. 7. T. Hicks, of the Henderson
bar, and Messrs. Walter L. Watson
and j. n. Holden of Raleigh.
Immediately after the conclusion
OF the hearing and when his friends
| had finished ongratulating him
| upon his vindication in this case a
| warrant was served on DR.. Rowland
charging him with the murder of en-
gineer Charles r. Strangei in Raleigh,
| and he was taken there Saturday to
answer to that charge.
DR.. Rowland expressed himself as
perfectly confident that he would
come out as we'll in the case against
him in Raleigh as he had in being
indicated of the charge of murder
ing his little son.
Mrs. Strange whom DR.. Rowland
married in a few weeks after the sud-
den and mysterious death of her hus-
band, is charged with being accessory
after the fact and is out on $4,000
cash bond to await the result of a
preliminary hearing. The chemist
who is analysing the stomach of
Engineer Strange has not completed
his examination yet. He may make
a report Friday or Saturday but it
is understood that the hearing will
not be held until Monday
We have stenographic report of
the trial here and had intended pub
fishing it this week but lack of space
and scarcity OF type owing to having
so much of it tied up in other matter
make it impossible to do SO. But in
justice to all concerned and that the
public may Judge the case for them.
selves we will print the testimony
OF witnesses examined, next week.
LATER-Since the above was writ
ten Chemist Syme has reported the
result of his analysis of Engineer
Strange's stomach and states that
he found no poison. The hearing
has been set for Monday and DR.
Rowland and his wife are held fol
further investigation, the presence O
witnesses from Norfolk being desired
by the prosecution.