The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-05
FATE Of ROWLANDS
Be KNOWN z ] n TONIGHT | IT.
Expected Thatthe Double
[ Murder Trial Will be
Concluded To- Day.
CASE OF DEFENSE
MADE VERY STRONG G
Mrs. Eldridge Smith Testifies
That She, Not Mrs. Strange,
Was Seen in the Physicians
Office Aconite Was
Ordered for Another
Patient.

Special to The Times-Dispatch.)
RALEIGH, N. c., October 4.-The
trial OF the Rowlands, husband and
wife, for the murder. OF Engineer
Charles r. Strange on April 9Th Of
this year by poison, Mrs. Rowland then
being the wife OF Strange, is likely to
end Saturday night, and after the evl "
dence given to-day 1t is freely pre-
dicted that tho verdict will be not
guilty.
The defense to-day practically ad-
mltted that Dr.. Rowland had bought
the aconitins poison, as 1t gave evt-1
dence OF his having bought this IN
crystalline tablets, witnesses testify
ing that he used It In their families
and had spoken OF 1t. Physicians put
on as witnesses said that while dam
gerous poison It might be used for
pneumonia and bronchial troubles.
Springs sensntion.
Mrs. Eldridge Smith sprung the sem
she was I'm the Office OF DR.. Rowland
March %. 1907. and overheard con-
5ycrsatlon between DR.. Rowland and
Joe CorrelI to the effect that the treat
ment Rowland was then giving Cor
.rell was not having the desired effect,
and he would use aconitine instead, and
that he would order 1t by telegraph,
or four days. She also testified that
it was herself and not Mrs. Strange
In the Office OF DR.. Rowland In Janu-
airy, when Mrs. Pnttie .. B. Arlington
came in; that she was atttred as Mrs
Arlington had described the woman
she mistook for Mrs. Strange. Mrs.
Arlington testified later that It was
not Mrs. Smith, but Mrs. Stranges
whom she saw.
Mrs. Rowland Nervous.
When DR.. Rowland 3 and his wife
were brought into court C day to an
swer for the murder by poisoning OF
Charles r. Strange. the former hns.
band OF Mrs. Rowland. the latter
showed the trying effects Of the strain
on her. She was nervous to degree,
AMI her hands shook very much un-s
LESS she kept them tightly clasped.
she leaned more than ever on her sis.
|ter who has q seat constantly by hers
side. Dr. Rowland seemed fairly self
| possessed.
The reading of deposition1 for the
defehse was resumed tns soon as court
opened. There was a asdeposition from
Mr.. G. "A. Waldron. Of PORTSMOUTH,. The
Stranges had boarded with her and She
knew that DR.. Rowland never visited,
Mrs. Strange there, and that the young.
doctor who was with Mrs. Strange ina
the surf was not Rowland; that
Strange was taking digitalis to-
strengthen his heart then. and he told
|ihersof trouble with his heart In Mem
phis. Another deposition was from
w. J. Joyner. drug clerk. at Ports
mouth, to the effect that he filled
prescription for diffusion of digitalisg
for Strange in May,a1906, and refilled
| 1t several times for Strange. He knew
| OF no use for such a prescription ex-
cept as heart stimulant.
Distress of the Wife.
Undertaken Brown told Of having
the body of Strange prepared for bur-
ial, and OF the distress manifested by
Mrs. Strange, and her statement that
her husband didn't want his body em-8
balmed. He said DR.. Rowland camo
| for him. SIS
Evidence was offered to show that
Mrs Strange was a visitor at the skat-
ling rink in the same building as Dr..
Rowlands 8 office during the time that
witnesses for tho prosecution testified
THAT they watched her slip into DIR.
Rowlnnds office after night, and that
she was going to the rink. Instead Of
to the physician's office.
Visited Them ut Night.
A3number Of patients OF Or. Rowland;
testified to his visiting them during the
time that the prosecution's witnesses
i testified he was unnecessarily frequent
| Ing the vicinity OF the Strange homo
and tho roundhouse OF the Seaboard,
keeping track Of Strange, The purpose
of the defense was to show that Dr.
Rowland was necessarily passing that
way in visiting his patients.
II. NJ, Mcdaniel, engineer at the Pilot
Mills, testified to having had a business
itransactlon with DR.. Rowland April
5th, the day, Strange. died. and said
/ ha was sober This was to refute5
{evidence for the prosecution that Dr..
3Rowland was drunk at the Strange
home. Charles Jonesswas introduced to
testify that lie was in the office of
sDr. Rowland for treatment the day
Strange died. and he was sober on
cross ss-eXamtnation he8declined to tell
what he was being treated for, but
said the doctor performed an operation.
The contention OF the prosecution Is
that Rowland did low sort OF prac-i
tice B5 s5 a. 3 :. 4
Mrs. Eldridge Smith was on the
4 stand some time during the afternoon
4 session for cross-examlnatton. She
drew on the cloak, hat and mourning
4 Veil she says she wore when she saw
Mrs. Arlington In Dr. Rowland's of-l
i tice. Later Mrs, Arlington was res
called and testified that Mrs Smith
Ecould not have been the woman. and
/ she was still satisfied 1t was Mrs, Row.
gllnnd. On cross-eXamlnation Mrs.
!. Smith admitted having visited the jail
a number ofsItlmes since DR.. Rowland
has been combined there. She said
friends were visiting her who wanted
, to go through tho jnll. ~
Evidence In Rehuttnl. #
Tho defense rested Its case at $780,
! and there was evidence In rebnttal
!. from the state. p. i, Fuller, of Vance
Dr., Rowland, testified that Or. Rowland
s told him when he saw him In Hender-
son Jatl thar he never met M rs. Strange
n sfClontinuefi on ISifth En rt.,l s