Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-16
ATLANTA EXPERTS
SEVERELY CHILLED
ON WITNESS STAND
CONTINUED from Page -

(OoAInued from rage -
Judge John P. Ross for the defense,
DR.. Everhart declared that he found
traces of morphine in the Shepard
viscera, but answered in the mega
tive when asked if q sufficient guam
tity had been present to cause death.
Judge Ross questions tended to
indicate that the defense will attempt
to show that Shepard died as the
result of bichloride of mercury poi
soning, the bichloride being formed
in his intestines by the chemical &C
ton Of his body on calomel. Judge
Ross directed his questions to show
that calomel " hen exposed to sun
light turns into corrosive sublimate.
DR.. Everhart agreed that this chem
cal change would occur. He de-
>scribed in detail the chemical expe-
riments he made in discovering the
bichloride Of mercury in Shepard's
AS to Potash in Liquor
That Shepard might have died from
potash in blind tiger liquor was sug-
gested by defendants counsel dur
ing the examination Of DR.. Everhart,
who testified that he had certain
of "moonshine," and that on their
request he had made chemical tests
Of samples of liquor to detect the
presence Of potash. He declared he
had never found potash in liquor
examined.
Mrs. Alice Crandall, of Fort Val-
ley, sister of Shepard, agreed to- pay
for the chemical analysis Of Shep-
ards viscera, declared the witness,
in answer to queries by the defense.
defense that denatured alcohol con-
tains bichloride of mercury in the
proportion of one part of the poison
to two thousand parts of grain alco-
hol. One pint of denatured alcohol
contains about four grains of BIZ
hart, who was excused after having
| been on the stand almost two hours.
Dr. John Funke, of Atlanta, path
ologlst, who made a pathological
analysis of the Shepard viscera, was
the next witness. He is now profess
in Atlanta. DR.. Funke described the
second exhumation of Shepard's body
and the analysis of the internal or
gans, declaring that they were in a
good state of preservation. The
| pathologist was one of the principal
witnesses at the coroner's inquest at
Fort Valley. He repeated that testi-
| mony today, declaring that the inner
surface of the alimentary canal TAX
en- from Shepard's body was terribly
| inflammed and corroded.
Experts to Testify
| expert testimony from physicians
who attended Mr.. Shepard in his last
illness and from chemists and path
Ologists who made analysis of his
viscera after the exhumation of his
body November II, was expected to
constitute the bulk of the evidence
introduced today. It has been indi-
Gated by. the solicitor general that
after this evidence has been con-
cluded, and the corpus deficit estab-
| lished, he will open up with series
| of witnesses, whose testimony is
intended to disclose the basis on
viction of the four defendants now
in custody. The defendants are Mrs.
F. E. Elmer, former wife of the
| deceased; her sister, Mrs. Iona
Henry, of Perry; her son by her first
marriage, Ernest Hopson, of Perry,
1t was expected that the testi-
mony of the experts and physicians
attending Mr.. Shepard will consume
| the entire day, and tomorrow the
solicitor general plans to reveal the
sensational part of, the. states case,
| putting up several witnesses who
| are expected to testify as to an al
legged conspiracy between the four
| defendants to get rid of" Shepard
and thus come into possession of
| 900 and his one-third interest in his
| fathers estate of approximately
! three million dollars.
Sensational Testimony Promised
| Mrs. Alice Crandall. of Fort Val
! ley, sister of Fred D. Shepard, will
| licitor general, to testify as to GER
| tain statements made to her by Mrs.
| Annie Cults, which resulted in the
Inauguration of the investigation of
Shepard's death and the exhur>at ion
| of his body for analysis by chem
| ISIS n1fhO1OpjCtC
Mrs. Crandall will swear, accord
| Ing to- the solicitor general, that
Mrs Cults. after Shepard's death,
told her of an alleged conspiracy
Mrs. Henry and Ernest Hopson, to
kill Shepard for his property. The
statements said to have been made
oy Mrs. Cults were, reported to the
veestiigation, ordered the elimination
of Shepard's body
DR.. John Funke, Of Atlanta, a dis
fHl9d geI ne -, patholegist and DR..
EDGAR Everhardt, of the state board
of the ,viscera, testifying before the
traces of bichloride of mercury. Dr.
Funke and DR.. Everhardt will be
among the principal witnesses to-
AT tuesdays session of the hear
ing there were evidences that Mrs.
cults and the other three defendants
are not altogether in harmony in the
conduct of their case. While Mrs.
Elmer, Mrs. Henry and Ernest Hop
| son sat in group at the LAWYERS
table, Mrs. Cults sat several yards
away near the railing which en-
| closes the bar. 1t was noticeable
that she had no converse with the
| other three defendants, who carried
Oh spirited conversation among
themselves throughout the hearing.
There are persistent rumors that
Mrs. Cults feels that she has been
"double-crossed" in the case by the
other defendants. She has made no
statement to this effect, and her at
| torney, Robert L. Berner, has said
nothing that would indicate the ex-
| Istence of such feeling. Neverthe-
less. the rumor continues to gain
| credence. and the actions of the de-
PENDANTS in the court room are
| watched closely by the spectators.
Other Witnesses
Mrs. Crandall is expected to be fol-
lowed on the witness stand by Mr..
and Mrs. J. A. Turner. of Abbeville:
their son. John Turner. and J. J.
Peterson. who. with the Turner's, was
employed on Mrs. Cults farm near
| Abbev1lle for several months prior to
| Shepard's death. 1t is declared by
Solicitor General Garrett that these
witnesses will testify as to state
ments made to them prior to and aft
err Shepard's death, tending to indi-
cate the existence of a conspiracy
against the peach grower, and cor
| roborating Mrs. CarndallS testimony
as to Mrs. Cutts' statement'to her.
1t is now apparent that the hear