Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-26
DEFENSE HAS ITS INNINGS
TESTIMONY FOR ROBERT N.
HARPER IN PENDING TRIAL.
Opinions Of Witnesses as to In
gradients Used in Headache
Remedy.

The trial OF Robert N. Harper. charged
with violation Of the pure food and drug
act, was resumed before Judge Kimball
In the Police Court today. Several addi-
tional witnesses testified for the defense
In the effort to prove that certain drugs
in the Harper compound are not Of a
poisonous character when taken in doses
as recommended by the labels Of the bot
ties. The first witness called today was
F. M. Criswell. druggist.
The witness testified in general way
regarding drugs classified as poisonous
and drugs classed as non-poisonous, and
the regulations requiring the registration
before sale OF poisons by druggists. He
corroborated other witnesses for the de-
Tense relative to the classes Of drugs, their
physiological effect on the human system,
in so far, as witnesses not called as ex-
perts. under the courts ruling, were per-
mitted
The witness was excused to make way
for the second expert pharmacologiet of
the defense, Prof. Virgil Coblentz Of the
chemistry and pharmacy chairs Of Column
bia University. New York
As to Chemical Analysis.
The direct examination of the witness
was by Attorney Tucker of counsel for
the defense, who read the chemical analy-
sis OF the Harper compound. and asked
what would be the physiological effect of
doses, as recommended by the manufac-
turer. upon the human system. The wit
ness replied that he considered it a re-
lever Of pain and harmless.
After preliminary questioning regarding
the poisonous qualities Of acetanilide.
antipyrine and caffeine, which, the wit
ness stated. are not poisons. an effort
was made by the defense to show by Prof.
Coblentz that any fatal effect acetanilide
might have would be caused by impuri-
ties found in the drug. The question was
ton noted. The defense will make a
second effort, it is stated. to introduce
this testimony later In the trial
At the session this afternoon the COM
ponent parts of the Harper remedy were
taken UP separately. and Prof. Coblentz
was requested to give his opinion OF each
ingredient. He pronounced two of them
foods and remedial drugs and the remain
der remedial drugs. The witness also
stated that acetanilide. antipyrine and
caffeine are in no sense considered
poisons abroad.
Under cross-examination by United
States Attorney Baker, the witness was
questioned regarding the fatal doses of
the recognized poisons. and those drugs
considered on the border line of poisons.
DR.. Roy on the Stand.
DR.. Philip s. Roy, the first witness
for the defense. was again called to the
stand yesterday. Characterization by
United States Attorney Baker was marked
by several Tits between counsel for the
prosecution and the witness necessitating
a warning by the court that the witness
should not render himself liable to punish
ment for contempt.
The cross-examination went fully into
the knowledge of the witness as to drugs
and foods and the degree of poisons
classed among the drugs. The drugs con-
tanned in the Harper compound. partic-
ularly acetanilide and antipyrine were
compared to the non-poisonous drugs and
the poisonous drugs and their effect upon
the human system. The witness was
asked to classify the two drugs in partic-
ular. either In the poisonous class or the
gave 1t as his opinion that they lie be.
tween the two classes.
Views Of Thomas e. ogram.
Thomas E. Ogram. a local druggist.
was called by the defense at the opening
of the afternoon session. He stated
that he has sold the Harper compound In
large quantities. An effort was made by
the attorneys for the defense to qualify
the Witness as a QndFm2COIOSlSt, which
was objected to. Under ruling of the
court, he was permitted, however, to tes-
tify as to his knowledge, as a graduate
druggist, Of drugs.
Discussion Of Poisons.
Mr.. Ogram enumerated the poisons re-
quired by law to be registered by drug
gists at time Of sale. and gave testimony
as to the pharmaceutical compounds OF
physicians' prescriptions containing acct
apiiide. antipyrine and caffeine which he
has filled as druggist. The witness
stated that as long as he has been in the
drug business he has never registered
those drugs as poison. except under d.
rection of the prescribing physicians. The
for observation all of his prescriptions re-
quiring the three drugs to be compounded
drugs TO be compounded for observation.
The order included all prescriptions of
such a character for the past three years
DR.. Randolph, the expert for the de-
tense. stated that in his opinion aeetani-
Tide. antipyrine and caffeine we're not
poisons. nor can they be classified as
such. and that he considers the Harpe.
headache compound perfectly harmless.
He added that all drugs are poisonous
and poisons. strictly speaking, only
poisons when taken in fatal doses.
The witness was questioned as to the
nhvSaVfOUica1 effect IF dynuS AND drlC