The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-09
EHLER HEARING
is CONTINUED
ATTORNEYS RAISE POINT OF
WHAT CONSTITUTES MORTAL
WOUND. BIG CROWD
PRESENT.

The question as TO what constitutes
mortal wound. and whether this term
could be applied TO one which caused
hemorrhases and infection that result
ed In death week after the wound
was inflicted, was pressed yesterday
afternoon by the prosecuting attorney
and Attorney. Burrut for the defense
in the examination of Jacob Ehler be-
fore Justice Eichkern on the charge
of killing Ernest Hendrickson.
DIR. l.. NJ. Powers, who was called 10
attend Hendrickson after the shooting.
described the several wounds in the
mouth. leg and arm, the two latter not
being serious, as the bullets passed
entirely through the limbs. falling af-
forwards on the floor where they were
subsequently picked up The wound
in the mouth was just below the lin.
The bullet had knocked out three teeth.
and had cut the laryngal artery under
the tongue, The bullets course was
then traced 10 the back of the mouth
and was lost.
After several days hemorrhages
commenced and a swelling was noted
in the neck which was accompanied
by considerable fever. on the Satur-
day following the shooting it was de-
cided to operate and the patient was
taken to the hospital where X-ray
photographs We're taken by DIR. Conrad.
These pictures failed however to show
the location Of the bullet but disclosed
splintered Jaw. owing to the patients
condition it was deemed inadvlsable
to operate. During the night severe
hemorrhages occurred: at five a. m.
the relatives were sent for, Hendrick-
son lapsed into Inconsistencies and at
1880 on Sunday he died. A post
norton that was held on Sunday af-
ternoon located the bullet in the ceryi- |
cal muscles in the deep structures of
the neck.
Physician Questioned.
What then, in your opinion, was the |
cause of DEATH was asked of the Wit
ness by the prosecuting attorney.
DR.. Powers said that 1t was the re- |
suits OF infection resulting from the
bullet that had been fired into Hen
drickson's mouth"
Was the wound what is generally
understood to be a mortal wound?"
asked Atty Burritt, that is a wound
that would be inevitably fatal on ac-
count of the place where the bullet
rested, such for instance as wound
in the heart. I'm the third cervical YER
tobrae, or in the medulla?'
mo, it was not a vital spot that was
struck. was the answer, but il was
fatal in that 1t caused DEATH
But il the bullet could have been
traced ana antiseptical treatment ap-
piled Immediately after the shooting IL
might be that death would not have
resulted?"
The reply 10 this was that the long
course taken by the bullet might have
prevented the disnfecting of the
wound. and that the poison in the bull
let would cause infection, while the
hemorrhages were caused by the cut
ting Of the arteries mentioned.
But YOU said IL was the bullet that
caused the wound said Mr.. MacDon-
aid, and the hemorrhages and infection
were rum us 10
Wouldn't il be a fatal or mortal wound
whether 1t caused death Immediately
or after several days." The witness
thought IL might be.
DrittIer First Witness.
William Drittler was the first Wit
ness called in the afternoon session
and be related In detail the incidents
of the night Of February rs, when the
shooting occurred. His story was to
the effect that Ehler was apparently
calm and cool and sober when he came
in. Hendrickson was standing at one
end of the bar with three friends when
Ehler passed.
Witness did not hear latter say any
thing TO Hendrickson at that time,
but as he was returning both Ehler
and Hendrlckson had called each 9TH
en- wide names. Witness had seized
Hendrickson ny the shoulders and had
stood I'm front Of him. and the bullet |
that struck Hendrickson i'm the mouth
passed close to his check. lie re-
l'nqushed his hold and stepped back.
Then Ehler and Hendrickson cIinched.
.a1I n1 20 talr lnrfr