215

EXPERT MEDICAL TESTIMONY.

Opinions of Doctors as to the Cause of
Sheedy's Death.

SYMPTOMS OF MORHINE POISONING.

Concussion of the Brain May Also
Have Been the Cause---The
Evidence in the
Case.

LINCOLN, Neb., May 12. ---[Special THE BEE.]---The day has been devoted entirely to the hearing of expert testimony in the Sheedy murder case. The examination of Dr. Everett consumed the major portion of the day and some intersting testimony was elicited from him. The doctor helped dress Sheedy's wounds the night he was injured, was called in the next morning at 4 o'clock, particpated in the
consulation a few hours later. helped at the coroner's inquest, and a little over three weeks ago helped to dig up the body again, and had made a careful examination of the skull. The liver and bladder had been turned over to Prof. Haynes of the Rush medical college, Chicago, one of the most famous toxicologists in the country. The latter statemnts caused considerable consternation among the attorneys for the defense.
Dr. Gannett, who was on the witness stand yesterday, was put on again today.
He testified mainly concerning the effects of morphine poisoning. He declared that ordinarlly a toxic dose of morphine showed its effects in from thirty to forty minutes.
At this juncture Strode seized a samll book bound in calf, and walking up to the witness held it in his face. He then asked:
" What book is that!" pointing to the volume.
" It is labelled ' Taylor on Poisons,' " was the reply.
Opening the book, Strode said: "Just read those ilnes."
The witness read: " The effects of morphine poisoning are noticeable within from fifteen to thirty minutes."
"Now," said Strode, " haven't you read an authority which says that the effects of morphine poisoning are noticeable within from fifteen to thirty minutes!"
Lamberston objected that such was not a fair and proper way of making an examination " I object," said he, "to these gentlemen educating the witness." The judge sustained the objection. Strode then asked the witness: "What medical authority can you cite that says that it requires from thirty to forty minutes for a toxic dose of morphine to make itself manifest!"
The witness stated that he beived he had gotten the idea from a table of statistics published in certain medical work. This work was lying on the table near which the attorneys were sitting. Strode sezed it and demanded:
" Now show me where it says that it takes from thirty to forty minutes for a toxic dose of morphine to take effect. Just point it out."
The witness took the book, but after looking through it for a few minutes, said that he could not find anything. Wheneupon Strode remarked:
"Then you were mistaken, weren't you!"
The witness admitted that he was as far as the authority for the same was concerned.
The witness was then again asked when the effects of a toxic or poisonous dose of morphine was administered how long it would be before the effects would be noticable. He replied:
"In from twenty to fifty minutes, judging from my own experience."
Lamberston objected to this question as an insult and the interrogation was withdrawn.
The witness then was asked concerning his experience with patients who had been poisoned by morphine. He related one instance. In that case the symptoms were the same as those manifested by John Sheedy.
Wintess had also several other patients sufferning from the same cause.
Attorney Strode, counsel for Mrs. Sheedy, then asked:
" The symptoms in concussion of the brain, compression of the brain and morphine poisoning may be the same, may be they not!"
"Yes, Sir," was the reply.
"Cannot death result from concussion of the brain without showing any disturbance in that organ at the post mortem!"
"It might."
"Such a blow as that received by John Sheedy might cause concussion of the brain might it not!"
"It might."
"Is it impossible to diagnosicate a case of morphine poisoning from the post mortem examination alone!"
"It is."
The wintness then conutined: "Such a blow was sufficient to cause death, but I do not think that in this case it did. There was some extavasation of blood, but it was from an old wound at the back of the head."
Strode then asked:
"In death from morphine poisoning are not the convulutions of the brain somewhat falttened!"
" I don't know."
The witness then continued: "In the past mortem of the body there was noticeble an excessive moisture of the brain. There was coagula in the heart. The lungs were slightly congested. From what I saw at the post mortem examination. I do not know that John Sheedy had died from the effects of morphine. I would not suspected morphine from what I saw."
Re-cross examination: "Did you make an examination at the time of the upper part of the spinal cord or the medulla oblongta!"
"I did."
"State its conditions."
"The vessels were very congested at the surface. I would expect to see such an engorgement of the blood vessels at that point of in case of morphine posoning."
At this juncture this witness was asked to show the jury certain discolorations on the skull. This was objected to by Strode becouse the skull had not been offered in evidence. Lamberston then said:
"We offer the skull in evidence. Now, we will see what you see what you will object to,"
Strode then said: "We object to the presention of the skull in evidence becouse it was taken from the body long after the official examination: becouse it has not been in the official custody of anybody and becouse no person on the part of the defense has known or been apprised of the fact that the skull was to be offered in evidence."
Objection overruled.
The doctor then stepped forward and showed the jury the various discolorations on the skull. The wintess then stated: "On the re-examination of the skull after the autopsy I have come to the conclusion that the blow was of greater force than I had at first delivered."
On going back to the witness stand be continued: " I have seen several cases of morephine poisoning. The congestion of the nervous cord might have been caused by compression or concussion of the brain, or by morphine posisoning. "
"Who hired you to make this examinstion!" demanded Strode.
"Dr. Everett asked me to assist him in the work."
"How much money are you to get for it!"
and Strode casr a wiked food at the witness.
" I don't know. Nothing has been said about pay."
"So it is a labor of love on your part, is it,"
answerd Strode, "or are you intersted in the conviction of Mrs. Sheedy!"
To this Mr. Lamberston objected. " Mr. Storde. " said he, "may go on the witness stand himself if he carries out his threats, and he woulld not like to have me ask him how much he was to get for his services for attempting to save Mrs. Sheedy from punshiment."
"Well, " reterted Strode. " I am not, as least, going to recive as much as you said I was Saturday, $ 15.000. Furthermore, I have not been around to be the newespaper men making hints of the big fee to be received by the lawyers on the other side." and he cast a semi-humorous, semi-savage look at Lamberston.
" I am sorry," said Mr. Lamberston in his usual quiet way, " that you are not going to receive as much as I belived you were. "
Dr. Everett was called. He testifed that he was at the Sheedy residence a few minutes after the assault on Sheedy. Mrs. Sheedy was calm and collected. Witness helped dress Sheedy's wound. Did not think the wound serious at the time. " I was called at 4 o'clock" he continued, " the morning follwing. Later there was a consultation of five physicians. I was present. All but one symptom showed that there was evidence of morphia poisoning insted of concussion of the brain.
The salient symptoms of morphine poisoning are: The respirtion is slow, pulse more rapid at first, then slower, the limbs and organs are paraylzed, the puplis of the eye become contracted; sometimes they are dilated. In comparsion of the brain the symptems are somewhat similar. In the case of Mr. Sheedy the pupils of the eye were normal. It was supposed that attophene had been given in connection with the morphine to produce this result, as atrophrnr has dirrctly the opposite effects of morphine and the two toghter would have a neutral effect on the puplis of the eye. The symptoms of the concussion of the brain are dizziness, face pale. The patient did not show any evidences of concussion. The patient was not in any way suffering from concussion of the brain when I was called in. Concussion is made apparent immediately. Morphine may lay in the stomach for a number of hours before maifesting itself. Morphia induces natural sleep at first apparently. I participated in the autopsy.
The brain was decidedly wet, abnormally so.
This to my mind was an evidence that death was produced from an injury to the brain."
The doctor then described the condition of the various organs, the stomach and bowels being apparently healthy. the liver enlarged, the heart showing faty degeneracy, and a gall stone being in the gall bladder
The desription was simialr to Dr. Beach lye's.
" I do not think, " continued the witness, "that the condition of his vital organs had anything to do with his death. Had he been a perfectly healthy man the blow might have killed him. I was present at the grave April 23 when the boday was distinterred the second time. We took out the head, liver and bladder. Dr. Gannett and myself took charge of the head. The bladder and liver were taken in charge by Prof. Haynes of Rush medical college, Chicago. He is a general chemist and toxicologist. He is considered among the best in the country. Dr. Gannett and I examined the skull and brain, and found the injury far more extensive than we had at first supposed. "
"What in your opinion was the cause of Sheedy's death" asked Lamberston.
" I think John Sheedy died from morphine poisoning" was the startlingy reply.
" If morphine poison had not been adinistered, do you believe that the blow was sufficent to kill him!"
" Yes, sir, I do."
At this astonishing reply everyday stared.
Court then adjourned until 2 o'clock.
On the reconvening of the court in the afternoon Dr. Everett was put on the witness stand and for an hour and a quarter was subjected to a fire of sarcasm, quizzing and questions. The effect of this cross fire did not affect the witness except to strengthen the assertion that the blow might have been fatal.
The wintess did not , however, exbibit the postiveness about the subject of morphine poisoning that was expected
H. P Love was called was called. He testifed: " I was passing down in front to the Hotel Mack on the Monday following the assault on John Sheedy. I accidentally ran against Monday McFarland and he said: " Get out of the way or I will serve you as I did Sheedy. ' "
Strode then lost his head and fired question at the witness almost faster than her could answer. His orginal statment was not, however, shanken. Witness then said that when Monday McFarland thus accosted him he was coming up out of the barber shop near the Mack hotel. Witness could not remember the appearance of the cane McFarland had at the time.
Dr. Mitchell was then called. He tesifed: " I was at the Sheedy residence about noon on the day follwing the assault of John Sheedy. I was called in to help consider the matter of trephaning the skull. We came to the conclusion that it was not best. I concurred in that opinion. We could not trephane the base of the brain becouse it is out of reach. In my opinion the pressure was at the base of the brain. A blow at the front of the head may affec mainly the base of the brain. I was present at the autopsy. I did not participate. I went there merely to see whether I was correct in a my opionon at the time of the consulation. "
At this time Philpt arose and deciared that Dr. Holyoke, a witness, was present and asked that he be ordered out. The judge informed the coroner to go, and he got.
The witness continued:
" The medulla oblongata was not entirely removed. The symptoms of compresssion of the brain are loss of consciousness and inability to arouse the patient, sometimes there is a slow pluse and sometimes it is fast, the bowels are loose and the blader torpid.
I have no reason to belive that I should change my first opinion that it was compression of the brain that caused death. The effects of compression of the brain are not always manifest. Sometimes the effusion or pourning out of serum through the membrane of the brain may not show its effects for hours. There was a fracture of the malar bone,"
When Lamberston asked the witness why he was at the autopsy, Philpot, attorney for the negro, objected to the answer and said:
"Why, I was present at the autopsy myself and I didn't take any part in it."
Mr. Lamberston retorted : "You were ruled out on account of incompetency. "
A laugh went around at this rejoinder.
Marshal Melick was put on the satnd and identifed certain photographs, north western and southern views of the Sheedy residence.
The wintess was then excused.
Mr. Lamberston then adderssed the court and said that there were only two more witnesses to be put on the stand. They were Myron Wheeler, the stenographer who took a shorthand report of the second and third confessions of Monday McFarland, while the other was Mrs. P. H. Swift. Nothing was said about the introducation of Prof. Haynes of Chicago as a wintess. Mr. Lamberston declared that Mrs. P. H. Swift and Mr. Wheeler were not avaliable and asked that court be adjounrned until tomorow morning.
This raised a most decided objection from the defense against Mrs. P. H. Swift appearing, as her name had been endorsed on the information as P. H. Smith. Strode finally acknowledged that he had been to see Mrs. Swifs husband to endeavor to discover what testimony she would produce.
Mr. Lamberston then remakerd : " So you went down to see Mrs. Swift, did you!"
Strode retorted : " Paul Brwon, the great criminal lawyer, says that the defense should admit nothing. "
" I think," said Mr. Lamberston, " that he also added " In desperate cases for prosecution." spoke up Strode.
Lamberston looked at Strode in a faitherly way and the usual quiet laugh went around.
The defense then wanted to know why Dennis Sheedy, sr., and Dennis Sheedy, jr., were not to put on the witness stand.
They declared that they wished to put these gentlemen on the witness stand and supposed that as their names were endoresed on the back of the information that they were to appear as witneseses.
" If you wish, " said Mr. Lamberston, "we will send for these gentelmen and pay their fare here so that they may appear as witnesses for you. "
Court then adjourned, Later it was learned from the proscution that Prof. Hayness was sick and unable to apear, a fact that was deeply regretted, as his examintion of this contents of the bladder was one of the most important things to be presented in evidence.

Cut Down by Frost.
HOOERSTON, ILL., May 19.--- Growinh crops and fruit were badly damaged by a heavy frost last night. Graps were killed. Two thrids of the 800 acres of peas belonging to the Hoopeston canning company were cut to the ground.

EXPERT MEDICAL TESTIMONY.

Opinions of Doctors as to the Cause of
Sheedy's Death.

SYMPTOMS OF MORHINE POISONING.

Concussion of the Brain May Also
Have Been the Cause---The
Evidence in the
Case.

LINCOLN, Neb., May 12. ---[Special THE BEE.]---The day has been devoted entirely to the hearing of expert testimony in the Sheedy murder case. The examination of Dr. Everett consumed the major portion of the day and some intersting testimony was elicited from him. The doctor helped dress Sheedy's wounds the night he was injured, was called in the next morning at 4 o'clock, particpated in the
consulation a few hours later. helped at the coroner's inquest, and a little over three weeks ago helped to dig up the body again, and had made a careful examination of the skull. The liver and bladder had been turned over to Prof. Haynes of the Rush medical college, Chicago, one of the most famous toxicologists in the country. The latter statemnts caused considerable consternation among the attorneys for the defense.
Dr. Gannett, who was on the witness stand yesterday, was put on again today.
He testified mainly concerning the effects of morphine poisoning. He declared that ordinarlly a toxic dose of morphine showed its effects in from thirty to forty minutes.
At this juncture Strode seized a samll book bound in calf, and walking up to the witness held it in his face. He then asked:
" What book is that!" pointing to the volume.
" It is labelled ' Taylor on Poisons,' " was the reply.
Opening the book, Strode said: "Just read those ilnes."
The witness read: " The effects of morphine poisoning are noticeable within from fifteen to thirty minutes."
"Now," said Strode, " haven't you read an authority which says that the effects of morphine poisoning are noticeable within from fifteen to thirty minutes!"
Lamberston objected that such was not a fair and proper way of making an examination " I object," said he, "to these gentlemen educating the witness." The judge sustained the objection. Strode then asked the witness: "What medical authority can you cite that says that it requires from thirty to forty minutes for a toxic dose of morphine to make itself manifest!"
The witness stated that he beived he had gotten the idea from a table of statistics published in certain medical work. This work was lying on the table near which the attorneys were sitting. Strode sezed it and demanded:
" Now show me where it says that it takes from thirty to forty minutes for a toxic dose of morphine to take effect. Just point it out."
The witness took the book, but after looking through it for a few minutes, said that he could not find anything. Wheneupon Strode remarked:
"Then you were mistaken, weren't you!"
The witness admitted that he was as far as the authority for the same was concerned.
The witness was then again asked when the effects of a toxic or poisonous dose of morphine was administered how long it would be before the effects would be noticable. He replied:
"In from twenty to fifty minutes, judging from my own experience."
Lamberston objected to this question as an insult and the interrogation was withdrawn.
The witness then was asked concerning his experience with patients who had been poisoned by morphine. He related one instance. In that case the symptoms were the same as those manifested by John Sheedy.
Wintess had also several other patients sufferning from the same cause.
Attorney Strode, counsel for Mrs. Sheedy, then asked:
" The symptoms in concussion of the brain, compression of the brain and morphine poisoning may be the same, may be they not!"
"Yes, Sir," was the reply.
"Cannot death result from concussion of the brain without showing any disturbance in that organ at the post mortem!"
"It might."
"Such a blow as that received by John Sheedy might cause concussion of the brain might it not!"
"It might."
"Is it impossible to diagnosicate a case of morphine poisoning from the post mortem examination alone!"
"It is."
The wintness then conutined: "Such a blow was sufficient to cause death, but I do not think that in this case it did. There was some extavasation of blood, but it was from an old wound at the back of the head."
Strode then asked:
"In death from morphine poisoning are not the convulutions of the brain somewhat falttened!"
" I don't know."
The witness then continued: "In the past mortem of the body there was noticeble an excessive moisture of the brain. There was coagula in the heart. The lungs were slightly congested. From what I saw at the post mortem examination. I do not know that John Sheedy had died from the effects of morphine. I would not suspected morphine from what I saw."
Re-cross examination: "Did you make an examination at the time of the upper part of the spinal cord or the medulla oblongta!"
"I did."
"State its conditions."
"The vessels were very congested at the surface. I would expect to see such an engorgement of the blood vessels at that point of in case of morphine posoning."
At this juncture this witness was asked to show the jury certain discolorations on the skull. This was objected to by Strode becouse the skull had not been offered in evidence. Lamberston then said:
"We offer the skull in evidence. Now, we will see what you see what you will object to,"
Strode then said: "We object to the presention of the skull in evidence becouse it was taken from the body long after the official examination: becouse it has not been in the official custody of anybody and becouse no person on the part of the defense has known or been apprised of the fact that the skull was to be offered in evidence."
Objection overruled.
The doctor then stepped forward and showed the jury the various discolorations on the skull. The wintess then stated: "On the re-examination of the skull after the autopsy I have come to the conclusion that the blow was of greater force than I had at first delivered."
On going back to the witness stand be continued: " I have seen several cases of morephine poisoning. The congestion of the nervous cord might have been caused by compression or concussion of the brain, or by morphine posisoning. "
"Who hired you to make this examinstion!" demanded Strode.
"Dr. Everett asked me to assist him in the work."
"How much money are you to get for it!"
and Strode casr a wiked food at the witness.
" I don't know. Nothing has been said about pay."
"So it is a labor of love on your part, is it,"
answerd Strode, "or are you intersted in the conviction of Mrs. Sheedy!"
To this Mr. Lamberston objected. " Mr. Storde. " said he, "may go on the witness stand himself if he carries out his threats, and he woulld not like to have me ask him how much he was to get for his services for attempting to save Mrs. Sheedy from punshiment."
"Well, " reterted Strode. " I am not, as least, going to recive as much as you said I was Saturday, $ 15.000. Furthermore, I have not been around to be the newespaper men making hints of the big fee to be received by the lawyers on the other side." and he cast a semi-humorous, semi-savage look at Lamberston.
" I am sorry," said Mr. Lamberston in his usual quiet way, " that you are not going to receive as much as I belived you were. "
Dr. Everett was called. He testifed that he was at the Sheedy residence a few minutes after the assault on Sheedy. Mrs. Sheedy was calm and collected. Witness helped dress Sheedy's wound. Did not think the wound serious at the time. " I was called at 4 o'clock" he continued, " the morning follwing. Later there was a consultation of five physicians. I was present. All but one symptom showed that there was evidence of morphia poisoning insted of concussion of the brain.
The salient symptoms of morphine poisoning are: The respirtion is slow, pulse more rapid at first, then slower, the limbs and organs are paraylzed, the puplis of the eye become contracted; sometimes they are dilated. In comparsion of the brain the symptems are somewhat similar. In the case of Mr. Sheedy the pupils of the eye were normal. It was supposed that attophene had been given in connection with the morphine to produce this result, as atrophrnr has dirrctly the opposite effects of morphine and the two toghter would have a neutral effect on the puplis of the eye. The symptoms of the concussion of the brain are dizziness, face pale. The patient did not show any evidences of concussion. The patient was not in any way suffering from concussion of the brain when I was called in. Concussion is made apparent immediately. Morphine may lay in the stomach for a number of hours before maifesting itself. Morphia induces natural sleep at first apparently. I participated in the autopsy.
The brain was decidedly wet, abnormally so.
This to my mind was an evidence that death was produced from an injury to the brain."
The doctor then described the condition of the various organs, the stomach and bowels being apparently healthy. the liver enlarged, the heart showing faty degeneracy, and a gall stone being in the gall bladder
The desription was simialr to Dr. Beach lye's.
" I do not think, " continued the witness, "that the condition of his vital organs had anything to do with his death. Had he been a perfectly healthy man the blow might have killed him. I was present at the grave April 23 when the boday was distinterred the second time. We took out the head, liver and bladder. Dr. Gannett and myself took charge of the head. The bladder and liver were taken in charge by Prof. Haynes of Rush medical college, Chicago. He is a general chemist and toxicologist. He is considered among the best in the country. Dr. Gannett and I examined the skull and brain, and found the injury far more extensive than we had at first supposed. "
"What in your opinion was the cause of Sheedy's death" asked Lamberston.
" I think John Sheedy died from morphine poisoning" was the startlingy reply.
" If morphine poison had not been adinistered, do you believe that the blow was sufficent to kill him!"
" Yes, sir, I do."
At this astonishing reply everyday stared.
Court then adjourned until 2 o'clock.
On the reconvening of the court in the afternoon Dr. Everett was put on the witness stand and for an hour and a quarter was subjected to a fire of sarcasm, quizzing and questions. The effect of this cross fire did not affect the witness except to strengthen the assertion that the blow might have been fatal.
The wintess did not , however, exbibit the postiveness about the subject of morphine poisoning that was expected
H. P Love was called was called. He testifed: " I was passing down in front to the Hotel Mack on the Monday following the assault on John Sheedy. I accidentally ran against Monday McFarland and he said: " Get out of the way or I will serve you as I did Sheedy. ' "
Strode then lost his head and fired question at the witness almost faster than her could answer. His orginal statment was not, however, shanken. Witness then said that when Monday McFarland thus accosted him he was coming up out of the barber shop near the Mack hotel. Witness could not remember the appearance of the cane McFarland had at the time.
Dr. Mitchell was then called. He tesifed: " I was at the Sheedy residence about noon on the day follwing the assault of John Sheedy. I was called in to help consider the matter of trephaning the skull. We came to the conclusion that it was not best. I concurred in that opinion. We could not trephane the base of the brain becouse it is out of reach. In my opinion the pressure was at the base of the brain. A blow at the front of the head may affec mainly the base of the brain. I was present at the autopsy. I did not participate. I went there merely to see whether I was correct in a my opionon at the time of the consulation. "
At this time Philpt arose and deciared that Dr. Holyoke, a witness, was present and asked that he be ordered out. The judge informed the coroner to go, and he got.
The witness continued:
" The medulla oblongata was not entirely removed. The symptoms of compresssion of the brain are loss of consciousness and inability to arouse the patient, sometimes there is a slow pluse and sometimes it is fast, the bowels are loose and the blader torpid.
I have no reason to belive that I should change my first opinion that it was compression of the brain that caused death. The effects of compression of the brain are not always manifest. Sometimes the effusion or pourning out of serum through the membrane of the brain may not show its effects for hours. There was a fracture of the malar bone,"
When Lamberston asked the witness why he was at the autopsy, Philpot, attorney for the negro, objected to the answer and said:
"Why, I was present at the autopsy myself and I didn't take any part in it."
Mr. Lamberston retorted : "You were ruled out on account of incompetency. "
A laugh went around at this rejoinder.
Marshal Melick was put on the satnd and identifed certain photographs, north western and southern views of the Sheedy residence.
The wintess was then excused.
Mr. Lamberston then adderssed the court and said that there were only two more witnesses to be put on the stand. They were Myron Wheeler, the stenographer who took a shorthand report of the second and third confessions of Monday McFarland, while the other was Mrs. P. H. Swift. Nothing was said about the introducation of Prof. Haynes of Chicago as a wintess. Mr. Lamberston declared that Mrs. P. H. Swift and Mr. Wheeler were not avaliable and asked that court be adjounrned until tomorow morning.
This raised a most decided objection from the defense against Mrs. P. H. Swift appearing, as her name had been endorsed on the information as P. H. Smith. Strode finally acknowledged that he had been to see Mrs. Swifs husband to endeavor to discover what testimony she would produce.
Mr. Lamberston then remakerd : " So you went down to see Mrs. Swift, did you!"
Strode retorted : " Paul Brwon, the great criminal lawyer, says that the defense should admit nothing. "
" I think," said Mr. Lamberston, " that he also added " In desperate cases for prosecution." spoke up Strode.
Lamberston looked at Strode in a faitherly way and the usual quiet laugh went around.
The defense then wanted to know why Dennis Sheedy, sr., and Dennis Sheedy, jr., were not to put on the witness stand.
They declared that they wished to put these gentlemen on the witness stand and supposed that as their names were endoresed on the back of the information that they were to appear as witneseses.
" If you wish, " said Mr. Lamberston, "we will send for these gentelmen and pay their fare here so that they may appear as witnesses for you. "
Court then adjourned, Later it was learned from the proscution that Prof. Hayness was sick and unable to apear, a fact that was deeply regretted, as his examintion of this contents of the bladder was one of the most important things to be presented in evidence.

Cut Down by Frost.
HOOERSTON, ILL., May 19.--- Growinh crops and fruit were badly damaged by a heavy frost last night. Graps were killed. Two thrids of the 800 acres of peas belonging to the Hoopeston canning company were cut to the ground.