The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-24

NCII IOuO bypCO LII "OullSo llOOCd, plIN on the types of wounds caused by bullets
 Gager Objects
 A strenuous objection was voiced by Attorney Gager when the med ical examiner testified Zukauskas identified the body as that of Mrs Plungis November at the spot where it was found. The judges Sus- tained the objection after brief discussion, and the medical exam iner was allowed to testify only that Mrs. Anna DeBella, friend of Mrs Plungis, identified the body at the scene. Later, however, he testified Mrs. Anthony Stiulaitis, a sister-in- law of Mrs Plungis. identified the body at the hospital, where the post-mortem was taken.
 The defense counsel claimed it was improper at that point of the proceedings to introduce evidence that Zukauskas had identified the body. He said 1t would have to be shown first that the act was volun- tary.
 Dr. Kirschbaum said the body was buried on its back, that one arm lay at the side and the other across the chest He said wounds were visible on the shoulders, that the face was covered with blood and that the hair was mtated with blood. He said there were many decorations on the face and lips and that the wounds were filled with cinderS.
 He testified the post .mortem disclosed multiple compound frac- lures of all the bones of the face, including the jaw. The extent of decorations on the face and body were described in detailed testi- mony.
 In describing the types of wounds caused by bullets, the physician stated that bullet wounds of entry cause punched out characteristics, and that bullet wounds of exit cause the skin to stretch and break out Wardly. Dr. Kirschbaum testified that or 10 bullets entered Mrs. Plungis body. Death, however, he replied to a question by the states attorney, was due to one bullet. which entered the back of her head, one inch below and one inch be- | hind the left ear, travelled upward and slightly backward to the right, and along bone of the skull, cut the medulla oblongata (which the doc tor explained, controls the vital functions), mutilated left lobe of the cerebellum (which controls vol the left cerebral hemisphere, and then hit the bone at the top of the skull where it caused fracture, and lodged there.
 Mother Led Out
 Zukauskas' mother began to slump forward in her chair during the doc- tors testimony, and her daughters led her, glassy-eyed, from the court room.
 The doctor testified that the ma | jority of the bruises on Mrs Plungis body had been inflicted after death. Asked by the states attorney If a shovel, which he offered as an ex- hibit, was a competent instrument to have produced the injuries the doctor described, he replied that it was. On cross examination by Atty. Gager, Dr. Kirschbaum said that the wounds were inflicted at least two hours after death
 Asked by Fitzgerald what the normal reaction would be to the wounds Mrs. Plungis received in the shoulder, the docsor replied that the reaction varied. Some people he said. become shocked and helpless while others go on about their bus mess. In the case of a woman, he said, he believed some traumatic shock would enter.
 Most of Dr. Kirschbaum's testi- mony was of highly technical na- ture which necessitated judges and council to ask for frequent explana~ tions.