The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-16

Thus was the half formed belief of
the authorities that the confession of
Fred Tanning was forced confirmed
late last evening by the coroner's
jury in less than twenty minutes of
elaboration. When the report of
Dr. Dams, who made chemical
analysis of the stomach and other
organs of Mrs. Short, was given to the
jury as the very last of the testimony,
there was no doubt as to what the
verdict would be.
Immediately following the verdict,
County Attorney Schenck arose to
recommend to the coroner that all of
the prisoners, Fred Tanning, Edward
English and Mrs. McCauley- English
and Lonnie McCauley be dismissed
from any charges of murder or access
series, but that Tanning be held in
the county Jail for grand larceny for
the taking of the buckskin purse con-
tanning S61.60 from the belongings OF
the dead woman.
The entire case against Tanning
hinged on the chemical analysis by
DR.. F. B. Dams By the score OF
witnesses placed on the stand before
the report was made the evidence
available was given the jury to con
firm the charge of murder owing
to the fanaticism of the accused ana
his strange beliefs, the belief grew
that Farming had been induced to
make his confession and practlcally
convinced that he did kill Mrs. Short
by Mrs. Mather. Consequently the
final report simply tore down the
whole fabric of the case.
The report as given in writing fol-
lows: ooo
CDR. H. H Keith:
.tDear Sir:-The following is my re-
port in the Short case:
ION November 18th there was op-
tanned at the autopsy held at Pen
wells undertaking rooms the toiloW-
ing from the body of Mrs. Short, the
stomach. fluid from the stomach
LIQUID containing a brown sediment,
kidney part of the liver ana
spleen and the bladder. The liquid
contents of the stomach, the stomach
and the liver were subjected separate
lv to a chemical examination and IN
no case any trace of arsenic found
Lack of time has prevented the
examination of the spleen. kidney ana
bladder but there is no question put
hat the results would be simply con-
irmatory of the above report.
DR.. Dains on the Stand.
DR.. Dams when placed on the stand
was questioned thoroughly by the
county attorney to make certain that
there had been no possible chance for
a mistake
DIR. Dams what is your occupa-
ton ?" the questions began.
Professor of Chemistry in WASH
burn college"
How long have you been in that
work ?"
Since 1902 in washburn.'
Where else %
AT Western university. Northwest
ern university and at the Kansas
university
where did you receive your de-
gree?"
Il took a &. A and an NJ. A. at
Western. then PhD. at Chicago, and
studied later at Freidberg and Ber-
lin
you studied chemistry all this
time?"
Yes
specialized in chemistry"
Yes"
You received some work from DIR.
Keith some ten days ago, did you
not?"
Il did
What"
Il attended the post morten exam
nation of the body of Mrs. Short and
got certain organs for the purpose of
analysis for poison"
What organs?'
Il took the stomach which was part
full of liquid, the liver, spleen and
bladder. 1 have examined the liquid.
stomach and liver. That is all I have
had time to touch
You are familiar with arsenic? ?"
Il am