Year: 1872

Tor the Lawyers-Highly


Interesting Testimony.
progresses. There was an immense audience pres
ent yesterday morning when the trial was re-
sumed, and the court room remained crowded
throughout the day..


Professor D0remus who analyzed the contents
OF the dead mans stomach, was the first witness.
Diagrams Of chemists apparatus were exhibited In
. corner of room near the witness stand, while on
table close by were placed several scien tic instru
ments. Professor Doremus narrated the result OF
his analysis, which showed the presence Of arsenic
in the stomach. lntestines, liver and kidneys. He
said that q minimum OF q fatal dose Of
arsenic was one grain and quarter;
that amount had killed; the quantity that would
kill would vary as to the condition OF the system;
it was the absorption that killed; II person
killed by arsenic had vomlted and purged much
before death 1t is probable that the quantity found
In the remains would be considerably less than had
been taken. @st@ H ut I'll
On the discrimination by Mr., Morris the Pro-
fessor stated that he found In the contents OF the
stomach three and three-quarters grains Of
arsenic-that is sulphde; one half OF the contents
Of the stomach were employed In the test; from
that quantity Of the contents OF the stomach he
obtained the equivalent of three and three-quar-
ters grains OF arsenic; he thought he could have
found arsenic in the mans very bonesl
Q. Solely from the quantity OF arsenic you OBJ
tanned from the portion of the body you examined,
how much, as near as you can tell, was there in
the other portions of the body that you did not
analyzeS a
The witness stated that it was impossible to tell; !;
he must know what weight was taken; the ques-
tion OF counsel was not competent one.


Mr. Morris said that they would be the best judges
whether 1t was proper or not.
After some further questioning Professor Dore-
mus gave 1t as his opinion that judging from the
results Of the analysis he made there was from one
70 three grains Of arsenic in the parts OF the body
not anayzed-absorbed arsenic. ,a
Q. Assuming that there has been repeated von1-
iting and purging before death, would 1t not be
reasonable presumption that the larger portion Of
the arsenic had been thrown OF? A. It would, sir.


Q. How long will arsenic remain in the human
stomach, while life continues where -@
THE DOSE IS NOT FATAL
q single dose A. Traces OF 1t might be found from
ten to twenty days. and in twenty-five days all
viii be removed from the stomach; am speaking
now OF O quantity absorbed not Of big lump.
Q. Might not large dose Of arsenic be taken
into the stomach and remain there for period of
two or three days without any marked manifesto
tions of arsenic and then the manifestations come
and the person diep A. Yes.
Q. May symptoms during two or three days be
slight and then come on more violent and the per-
son die ? A. Certainly.


Q. There Is no fixed rule with reference to the
time that arsenica poison will manifest itself or as
to the time fatal result Will follow ? A. No, sir.


Q. 1t depends on the temperament, condition Of
the stomach and various causesY A. Certainly.


Q. Is 1t not well understood among chemists
and medical men that arsenlcal poison Is


MOST CERTAIN OF DETECTION


Q. And the processes Of detection are more GER
tain and less disputed than any other A. They


Mr.. Britton-The answer which you gave with
reference to the weight OF the arsenic in this par
ticular body was speculative entlrelyp A. Purely


@. And when you say the means Of detection are
most certain, you mean chemically 2 A. By chem
@. Considering the quantity of arsenic you found
in the stomach; considering the characteristics OF
them; considering the size OF the man, and con-
sidering that he had been vomiting and purging
largely during the day on which he died-these
elements being taken as true, could you state the
probability as to when the arsenic found In the
stomach had been given9


The defence objected, and after some discussion,
District Attorney Britton put the question in q
slightly different form, but to the same effect.
Counsel for the defence objected on the ground
that the witness had answered q question they had
put which showed that this question was i'm
proper.





Witness-The amount found in the contents OF
the stomach was large; except In one case, the
largest ever found should say that the arsenic


BEEN GIVEN VERY RECENTLY


@. How recently A. Within o few hours.


q. Ten or twelve hours expired since it mad been
given2 A. should say 1t might have been less.
simply my opinion, but should believe dose had
been given certainly within ten or twelve hours.


Q. Do you believe that
could possibly ensue, the arsenic not having been
given within two years. A. l don't believe that
the reason that it would be eliminated from the
body.


this poison might not have been taken twenty
four hours before deathY


Witness-It might have been.


Q. May 1t not have been taken in the stomach
three days before death9 A. That which was found
In the liver and Kidneys might have been taken


q. Might not the arsenic you found In the stom-
ach, liver and Kidneys have been taken into the
stomach three days before death3 A. 1t might


Mr.. BrittOn--But 1t is improbableY


Objected to and ruled out.


MORE SCIENTIFIC STATEMENTS.


DR.. Budd, physician, chemist and professor OF
toxic0ogy In the New York University, was next
called and agreed with Professor Dsremus' state
opinion from tue testimony he had heard as to
when this poison was administered.


Witness-As to the definite time, no could give
an opinion that would be satisfactory to myself:
Judge it was administered within ten hours Of
8. In view of the evidence. as a physician. Of
what do you say Anderson died9 A. Acute gas
tritis the result OF areenica poisoning.


@. What is acute gastritis9 A. Acute gastritis--
doubt II 1t s ever seen, except as the result OF


AN OVERDOSE OF POISON.


q. When you speak OF It In common parlance
what does 1t meanS A. Inflammation OF the stom-
ach.


The doctor gave as the basis Of his opinion that
the arsenic was administered within ten hours OF
death as follows because in q number of cases
where the symptoms have been described to be pre-
csey the same as IN this case, and where an ex-
orjna ion az nnt a trur n0fo In hoc
been found In the stomach.


One or the counsel for the defence moved to
strike this out. as-