The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-06-18

by the attorney general during the
direct examination and by Mr. Archi
bald during the cross examination re-
lated largely to the conditions exist
ing in the internal organs of persons
who had met death by drowning.
DIR. Barber was of the opinion that
Turner's body must have laid face
downward in the mud while in the riv-
err and that this fact partially account
ed for the absence of sediment In the
mouth and passages leading to the
lungs. The witness testified that ne
examined the fracture in the skull at
the time of tne autopsy and in ms
oninion the blow that broke the skull
was responsible for Turner's death.
DIR. e. f. Potter of Pownal testified
that he learned of the finding of Tur-
ner's body about 10 o'clock in the fore
noon but that he was not present at
the autopsy until after that eXamina-
ton was nearly completed. He exam
med the fracture in the skull whicn
was about two inches above the right
ear. The lower part of the skull was
handed to the witness and he explain
ed the location and nature of the frac-
tire as nearly as he could remember
the details.
DR.. Potter also testified in relation
to he discolored spots in tae highway
near the house of Charles Potter and
stated that he believed them to have
been made by blood.
In the opinion of the witness a man
who had received blow of sufficient
force to have caused such a fracture
as was made in Turner's skull would
not be likely to rise and travel. He
might possibly do so but it all de-
pended upon the extent of the hemcrr-
hage. 1t was not probable that he
would recover consciousness in ten
minutes.
In cases of drowning, the witness
said, the right yentricle of the heart
is filled with dark colored blood. The
fact that the lungs of Turner were
free from water would indicate that
he did not die from drowning and in
the opinion OF tne witness death was
due to violence.
Cross examined by Mr. Archibald
the witness testified that men who had
received very severe injuries to the
skull frequently lived for several days.
DR.. Potter was also questioned in
relation to the condition of Mrs. Chas.
Potter who had her health been such
as to permit her presence would nave
been one of the states leading wit
nesses, The physician testified that
he had seen Mrs Potter in the morn
ing and that she was very weak be-
cause of heart difficulty
Or. b. II. Stone testified that he had
made an examination of Turner's cap
and had failed to find any indications
of blood He also testified that in his
opinion the hemorrhage in Turner's
brain after receiving the blow con
tinued for three or four hours.
Deputy Sheriff John Nash testified
that ne was in Pownal on the day fol-
lowing Turner's Disappearance and
that after the four persons involved in
the affair had been apprehended he
talked with Harris about the quarrel
and that Harris admitted he knocked
Turner down with his fist because he
! insulted his wife The officer testi.
| fed tnat he had talked with Harris on
! several occasions in relation to the
! incident but at no time did Harris spe.
city just what the insult was. The
witness was convinced in his own
mind of the nature of the insult but
testified that Harris did not tell him
outright what Turner said During
one of the later conversations in the
county jail Harris said that he struck
! UNIV VIII Nhc uduulul OF lOOlS he
was carrying over his shoulder. that
he struck him twice but thought The
second blow landed on the shoulder
Deputy Nash was the last witness.
for the state on direct testimony.
The first witness for the defence
was Trainer Harris, brotner of Thorn
as Harris, who testified that on the
night that his brother made the trir
to North Adams he borrowed a coat
which had not been returned. Mr.
Batchelder exhibited black coat
whicn witness said was his but who
also said that a pocket had been tori
out of the garment since it was loan
ed.
Mrs. Adelaide Harris. mother .,
Thomas and Trainer Harris also iden
titled the coat and the fact that one
of the pockets had been torn on
since it was loaned at her home or
the night of April II.
On the cross examination by Mr.
l..