25

DEATH DUE TO MORPHINE

SUCH IS DR. BEACHLEY'S OPINION.

The Difference in Symptoms of Compression of the Brain and Morphine Poisoning.

Some of the Fair Defendant's Little Attentions Toward Walstrom Took the Form of Night Robes With Pink Trimmings.

Close of the Second Week.

The Sheedy trial reopened yesterday morning with the usual large crowd in attendance. The testimony adduced yesterday was not lacking in interest, especially that of Dr. Beachley, whose opinion as to the direct cause of Sheedy's death is in direct conflict with that of Dr. Hart, who testified on Monday. It will be remembered that Dr. Hart gave it as his professional opinion that Sheedy's death was caused by compression at the base of the brain, due to the shock from the blow with the cane. This theory would throw the direct responsibility for the murder upon Monday McFarland making it necessary for the state to prove Mrs. Sheedy connivance with the darkey in order to hold him any way responsible. The testimony of Dr. Beachley is directly in opposition to this theory and while it does not fix the [crinie?] upon Mrs. Sheedy, shows that he found the conditions and symptoms such as to indicate morphine poisoning. The witness went into details to explain the difference in the symptoms accompanying compression and those of morphine poisoning.

The testimony further related to Mrs. Sheedy's tender solicitude for her new found chance acquaintance and "sweetheart." Harry Walstrom, who, it is claimed, has found it convenient to be in Europe during the trying scenes through which his late patron is now passing. It shows how she purchased a number of articles of wearing apparel, among the rest some pink-embroidered night robes, neckties, socks, etc., which were subsequently found in Walstrom's trunk.

Mrs. Sheedy evinced the utmost serenity during the examination, and, while apparently listening intently to the evidence, took no part in the examination, as she had on the previous day by whispering pointers to her counsel.

Walstrom's Pink Embroidered Night Robes.

Albert Katzenstein was the first witness sworn in the morning. He was examined by Mr. Hail. Lived at 1301 E street and had charge of the gents' furnishing goods department at Herpolshermer's; on or about Christmas sold Mrs. Sheedy two gentleman's handkerchiefs, couldn't describe the handkerchiefs minutely: couldn't tell the size of them. Witness' attention had been called just ofter the murder to some muslin night shirts with embroidered fronts, just like some he had sold to Mrs. Sheedy on or about Christmas; they were unlaundried when he sold them and didn't think they had ever been worn or laundried when afterwards shown witness by Malone, although they were wrinkled badly; couldn't remember whether or not Mrs. Sheedy said for whom she was buying the night shirts; knew John Sheedy was quite a large man but couldn't swear positively whether or not the shirts would be suitable for him. The shirts had white insertion on the front and pink embroidered edges in front and on the collars and cuffs, and were made by the Queen City company. The witness had evidently lost some of the confidence with which he had formerly identified the handkerchief and shirts found in Walstrom's room as the one's he had sold Mrs. Sheedy about Christmas. He knew they were just like them, but couldn't begin to swear they were the same.

"Don't you remember," asked Mr. Stearns, "that when Mrs. Sheedy bought these night shirts she said that 'if these shirts don't fit John I will return them?"

"I think there was something said about fit and return, but I don't remember."

"Didn't she say that if they didn't fit her husband she would return them."

"I don't remember that any name was mentioned."

"Didn't you understand from her conversation that she was buying those things for her husband?"

"One would naturally suppose that she was buying them for him."

"Did she buy any other articles in the store that day?"

"I transferred her to the hosiery counter."

"Do you know whether or not she purchased a ring pouch there?"

"No, sir."

The witness was evidently very glad to get out of the chair. He said that Captain Billingsley had talked to him about the case and had merely remarked that his testimony didn't amount to anything.

They Would Not Fit John Sheedy.

James Catchell, a clerk in charge of the hosiery department at Herpoisheimer's, sold Mrs. Sheedy three pairs of men's black cotton hose, No. 9 1/2; that was within three weeks prior to Christmas; the same hose were shown to witness about the time of the coroner's inquest; identified them by the dye--the Gloria dye; didn't know that any other store in town handled the same goods; sold two pairs afterwards; couldn't remember to whom. Witness would not swear positively that they were the same socks, but believed they were. Identified them by the dye mark; didn't notice whether the mark placed on them in the store was there or not when he saw them last; they had not been worn.

Thought They Were Giving Him Something.

Harry M. Shaeffer was acquainted with John Sheedy; lived right around the corner on Thirteenth street; was at the Sheedy house the evening that he was assaulted; talked to Sheedy; the latter said: "I have no idea who it was that wished to do me up in this manner;" went in on Monday afternoon; was standing at the foot of the bed; Mrs. Sheedy stepped up and took John's hand and said, "If John dies it will kill me; I don't believe the blow would have killed him but I think they were giving him something to put him out of the way;" Dr. Hart was in another room, but couldn't say whether or not he heard the expression; saw no emotions of sorrow or grief; thought her manner and the tones of her voice were very quiet when she said it.

Cross-examined, the witness said that he was in the house three times on the Monday after the assault; witness was present the evening before when Mr. Sheedy was put to bed by Dr. Hart and Dr. Everett: didn't see who put his night robe on, as was out in the next room washing his hands.

The attorneys for the defense, with the type-written testimony of this witness at the inquest before them, pressed the witness hard upon his former utterances, and it appeared that much of his testimody before the coroner had slipped his memory, and he didn't know whether or not he had testified to a great deal of it.

It appeared that in his former testimony witness had testified that Mrs. Sheedy had told him on Monday that John had shown at 12 o'clock Sunday evening peculiar symptoms that Dr. Hart testifies to having discovered at 4 a.m. Monday, but he didn't remember.

Harry's Gorgeous Four-in-Hand.

James Smith, in January last, sold clothing and gents' furnishing goods at Schwab's; Mrs. Sheedy was in the store about the 19th or 20th of December with Mrs. James Hood; she bought three neckties of witness; the ladies were admiring some ties and saw one puff tie the pattern of which suited her, but she wanted it in a four-in-hand; witness had one of the latter which he had ordered for himself; sold it to her with two others for $3.25; afterwards saw this tie and identified it at the coroner's inquest; knew it because it was the one he had ordered for himself; never saw the other two ties.

How Morphine Could Have Been Used.

Dr. Beachley had lived in Lincoln eleven years; had practiced medicine since 1854; was a graduate of a Cincinati medical college and of the medical department of the state university of Indiana: was present at the post mortem examination; such an instrument as the cane could have made the wound; Dr. Casebeer conducted the autopsy; witness assisted him. There was no confusion shown on the internal surface of the skull, which was apparently in its normal condition; the brain was normal; there were no ruptures of any of the vessels and no coagulation. The heart was enlarged, and showed some fatty degeneration; the liver was enlarged but the kidneys were normal; the bladder was full of water. The upper part of the medulla oblongata was examined, but did not cut into the upper of the spinal column. The witness explained the construction of the bones of the skill and the lobes of the brain. Then he gave in detail the symptoms of morphine poisoning and in relation to the contraction of the pupils of the eye said that atrophine had directly the opposite effect from morphine. Sulfonal was a drug that had been in use for about five years as a sleep produce: a dose is from 15 to 30 grains.

"Now assuming," said Mr. Lambertson, "that John Sheedy was a man about six feet and over in height, apparently [?] in good health, but in fact being affected somewhat with fatty degeneracy of the heart, and in the condition revealed by the autopsy at which you were present, and the brain being affected as revealed by the autopsy; that he was, on or about the 11th day of January, struck with a blunt instrument which produced a wound such as you have described; that it was dressed and the patient put to bed; that it was not thought at the time to be a severe wound; that he was given at first ten grains of sulfonate, which he vomited; at a later period ten grains more which he omitted, and at a still later ten grains more in a cup of coffee, which he retained;that he then sank into some kind of a sleep, which continued until about 3 or 4 o'clock the following morning, about nine hours after he was struck, at which time he was found to be breathing heavily, only five or six times a minute, the breathing being what is characterized in medical parlance as "heavy or sterorous;" that his pulse was up to 140: the pupils of his eyes being normal; that swallowing, or deglutation as it is called, was impossible; that his body was paralyzed: that his kidneys and bowels were torpid, and the urine had to be drawn off with a catheter; that he continued in this prodounf state of coma, the pulse alternating or changing from time to time, running down some hours before his death to 95, until at about 10 o'clock on the night following the blow, consciousness not having been resumed during the period between 4 o'clock. at the time he went into this comatose condition and the time of his death, and that at 10 o'clock he died, what in your opinion was the cause of his death?"

To this hypothetical question the defense, and both branches of it, strenuously objected.

Mr. Stearns contended that the question was improper, as it did not accurately state the symptoms.

"If your honor please," rejoined Mr. Lambertson, "there is some difference of testimony as to some of the symptoms I think the question as propounded will square with the evidence the state has advanced, and if it doesn't suit the defense they may formulate a question embodying the symptoms as they find them?"

Colonel Philpott vigorously contended that the phrase intimating that the autopsy had shown the brain to be affected should not be permitted, as he denied that the evidence showed the brain to have been found in no way affected at the autopsy.

The court finally held that the question came within the requirements and the witness replied:

"Well my opinion is that the man died from morphine poisoning, from the symptoms and from the conditions we found in the post mortem examination."

On cross-examination the witness related in detail the conditions revealed by the autopsy.

The symptoms of compression of the brain are nearly the same as those in morphine poisoning except in the breathing, it is not so slow; where you find one breathing heavily and only about five or six times a minute, it would indicate morphine poisoning; where the breathing is equally heavy but at the rate of fifteen or twenty times a minute, it would indicate compression, where the rate fluctuated it would indicate morphine. Compression would be apt to dilate the pupils; would not expect dilation from sulfonal. Compression of the brain is caused by the rupture of a blood vessel, and the blood pouring out upon the tissue. If death had been due to the effects of the blow on the condition of the heart, it would have been apt to occur immediately upon the receipt of the blow.

"What is esteemed to be a fatal does of morhpine?"

"Morphine varies. In some people half a grain would produce death, while in others a much larger quantity would be required."

"Is it any different where it is injected under the skin?"

"Yes sir; the morphine is the more easily, surely and quickly absorbed in the circulation than if it is, put into the stomach, every particle being readily taken up. In the latter case it is very uncertain."

"Suppose morphine were injected under the skin, would its presence be revealed in the stomach?"

"No sir, it might not."

"Where would it it be be revealed?"

"It would be likely to be revealed in the urine/"

"Would the effect be the same if the morphine were put into the wound?"

"Yes, sir."

Upon cross examination the witness testified that morphine administered upon the stomach might lie for three hours without assimilation, but it usually revealed itself inside of an hour.

When the noon hour arrived Judge Field easily coincided with the suggestion that an adjournment to Monday morning would be appropriate, as a faithful week's work had been accomplished and attorneys might have other matter demanding a modicum of attention. An ajournment was therefore had until 9a. m. to-morrow, when the testimony of the other physicians attendant at the autopsy will be given. It is understood that their opinions will differ from either of those given.

Real Estate Transfers.

The following is a list of the real estate transfers filed in the office of the register of deeds May 16:

B McNiel Amith to R. H. Harrison. 10 lots in Lincoln Heights--wd......... ... $1,000 00

Sarah J Worley to P H Sudduth, lots 808, 809, Waverly---n.d. ................................. 150 00

H J Cosgrove to Grandview building association lot 6 Block 4 Cosgrove's add--wd 300 00

C T Brown and wife to Grandview [hallding?] association, lots 4, 5, 6, block 15 Yolande Place add--wd ...................... 1 00

S C Thompson and wife to J Fosfinger, lot 7 block 7, Madison Square add--wd...... ------------------

W H IRvine and wife to W H Ohlman. lots 33, [3?], block [?], W H Irvine's Rd add-- wd...... 800 00

J H McMumry and wife to Thomas Hornby. n [word? word?] and [words?]--wd.......... 3,000 00

S McClay. sheriff, to Wm Sweeny, lots 1, 2, [?], [?] block 20, sprague--wd..................... 227 00

R H Artlett and wife to Matilda Zinsmeler. lot 11, block [?], Growedale--shd....................... 250 00

Row[?]
Not Complete 5/15/20.

DEATH DUE TO MORPHINE

SUCH IS DR. BEACHLEY'S OPINION.

The Difference in Symptoms of Compression of the Brain and Morphine Poisoning.

Some of the Fair Defendant's Little Attentions Toward Walstrom Took the Form of Night Robes With Pink Trimmings.

Close of the Second Week.

The Sheedy trial reopened yesterday morning with the usual large crowd in attendance. The testimony adduced yesterday was not lacking in interest, especially that of Dr. Beachley, whose opinion as to the direct cause of Sheedy's death is in direct conflict with that of Dr. Hart, who testified on Monday. It will be remembered that Dr. Hart gave it as his professional opinion that Sheedy's death was caused by compression at the base of the brain, due to the shock from the blow with the cane. This theory would throw the direct responsibility for the murder upon Monday McFarland making it necessary for the state to prove Mrs. Sheedy connivance with the darkey in order to hold him any way responsible. The testimony of Dr. Beachley is directly in opposition to this theory and while it does not fix the [crinie?] upon Mrs. Sheedy, shows that he found the conditions and symptoms such as to indicate morphine poisoning. The witness went into details to explain the difference in the symptoms accompanying compression and those of morphine poisoning.

The testimony further related to Mrs. Sheedy's tender solicitude for her new found chance acquaintance and "sweetheart." Harry Walstrom, who, it is claimed, has found it convenient to be in Europe during the trying scenes through which his late patron is now passing. It shows how she purchased a number of articles of wearing apparel, among the rest some pink-embroidered night robes, neckties, socks, etc., which were subsequently found in Walstrom's trunk.

Mrs. Sheedy evinced the utmost serenity during the examination, and, while apparently listening intently to the evidence, took no part in the examination, as she had on the previous day by whispering pointers to her counsel.

Walstrom's Pink Embroidered Night Robes.

Albert Katzenstein was the first witness sworn in the morning. He was examined by Mr. Hail. Lived at 1301 E street and had charge of the gents' furnishing goods department at Herpolshermer's; on or about Christmas sold Mrs. Sheedy two gentleman's handkerchiefs, couldn't describe the handkerchiefs minutely: couldn't tell the size of them. Witness' attention had been called just ofter the murder to some muslin night shirts with embroidered fronts, just like some he had sold to Mrs. Sheedy on or about Christmas; they were unlaundried when he sold them and didn't think they had ever been worn or laundried when afterwards shown witness by Malone, although they were wrinkled badly; couldn't remember whether or not Mrs. Sheedy said for whom she was buying the night shirts; knew John Sheedy was quite a large man but couldn't swear positively whether or not the shirts would be suitable for him. The shirts had white insertion on the front and pink embroidered edges in front and on the collars and cuffs, and were made by the Queen City company. The witness had evidently lost some of the confidence with which he had formerly identified the handkerchief and shirts found in Walstrom's room as the one's he had sold Mrs. Sheedy about Christmas. He knew they were just like them, but couldn't begin to swear they were the same.

"Don't you remember," asked Mr. Stearns, "that when Mrs. Sheedy bought these night shirts she said that 'if these shirts don't fit John I will return them?"

"I think there was something said about fit and return, but I don't remember."

"Didn't she say that if they didn't fit her husband she would return them."

"I don't remember that any name was mentioned."

"Didn't you understand from her conversation that she was buying those things for her husband?"

"One would naturally suppose that she was buying them for him."

"Did she buy any other articles in the store that day?"

"I transferred her to the hosiery counter."

"Do you know whether or not she purchased a ring pouch there?"

"No, sir."

The witness was evidently very glad to get out of the chair. He said that Captain Billingsley had talked to him about the case and had merely remarked that his testimony didn't amount to anything.

They Would Not Fit John Sheedy.

James Catchell, a clerk in charge of the hosiery department at Herpoisheimer's, sold Mrs. Sheedy three pairs of men's black cotton hose, No. 9 1/2; that was within three weeks prior to Christmas; the same hose were shown to witness about the time of the coroner's inquest; identified them by the dye--the Gloria dye; didn't know that any other store in town handled the same goods; sold two pairs afterwards; couldn't remember to whom. Witness would not swear positively that they were the same socks, but believed they were. Identified them by the dye mark; didn't notice whether the mark placed on them in the store was there or not when he saw them last; they had not been worn.

Thought They Were Giving Him Something.

Harry M. Shaeffer was acquainted with John Sheedy; lived right around the corner on Thirteenth street; was at the Sheedy house the evening that he was assaulted; talked to Sheedy; the latter said: "I have no idea who it was that wished to do me up in this manner;" went in on Monday afternoon; was standing at the foot of the bed; Mrs. Sheedy stepped up and took John's hand and said, "If John dies it will kill me; I don't believe the blow would have killed him but I think they were giving him something to put him out of the way;" Dr. Hart was in another room, but couldn't say whether or not he heard the expression; saw no emotions of sorrow or grief; thought her manner and the tones of her voice were very quiet when she said it.

Cross-examined, the witness said that he was in the house three times on the Monday after the assault; witness was present the evening before when Mr. Sheedy was put to bed by Dr. Hart and Dr. Everett: didn't see who put his night robe on, as was out in the next room washing his hands.

The attorneys for the defense, with the type-written testimony of this witness at the inquest before them, pressed the witness hard upon his former utterances, and it appeared that much of his testimody before the coroner had slipped his memory, and he didn't know whether or not he had testified to a great deal of it.

It appeared that in his former testimony witness had testified that Mrs. Sheedy had told him on Monday that John had shown at 12 o'clock Sunday evening peculiar symptoms that Dr. Hart testifies to having discovered at 4 a.m. Monday, but he didn't remember.

Harry's Gorgeous Four-in-Hand.

James Smith, in January last, sold clothing and gents' furnishing goods at Schwab's; Mrs. Sheedy was in the store about the 19th or 20th of December with Mrs. James Hood; she bought three neckties of witness; the ladies were admiring some ties and saw one puff tie the pattern of which suited her, but she wanted it in a four-in-hand; witness had one of the latter which he had ordered for himself; sold it to her with two others for $3.25; afterwards saw this tie and identified it at the coroner's inquest; knew it because it was the one he had ordered for himself; never saw the other two ties.

How Morphine Could Have Been Used.

Dr. Beachley had lived in Lincoln eleven years; had practiced medicine since 1854; was a graduate of a Cincinati medical college and of the medical department of the state university of Indiana: was present at the post mortem examination; such an instrument as the cane could have made the wound; Dr. Casebeer conducted the autopsy; witness assisted him. There was no confusion shown on the internal surface of the skull, which was apparently in its normal condition; the brain was normal; there were no ruptures of any of the vessels and no coagulation. The heart was enlarged, and showed some fatty degeneration; the liver was enlarged but the kidneys were normal; the bladder was full of water. The upper part of the medulla oblongata was examined, but did not cut into the upper of the spinal column. The witness explained the construction of the bones of the skill and the lobes of the brain. Then he gave in detail the symptoms of morphine poisoning and in relation to the contraction of the pupils of the eye said that atrophine had directly the opposite effect from morphine. Sulfonal was a drug that had been in use for about five years as a sleep produce: a dose is from 15 to 30 grains.

"Now assuming," said Mr. Lambertson, "that John Sheedy was a man about six feet and over in height, apparently [?] in good health, but in fact being affected somewhat with fatty degeneracy of the heart, and in the condition revealed by the autopsy at which you were present, and the brain being affected as revealed by the autopsy; that he was, on or about the 11th day of January, struck with a blunt instrument which produced a wound such as you have described; that it was dressed and the patient put to bed; that it was not thought at the time to be a severe wound; that he was given at first ten grains of sulfonate, which he vomited; at a later period ten grains more which he omitted, and at a still later ten grains more in a cup of coffee, which he retained;that he then sank into some kind of a sleep, which continued until about 3 or 4 o'clock the following morning, about nine hours after he was struck, at which time he was found to be breathing heavily, only five or six times a minute, the breathing being what is characterized in medical parlance as "heavy or sterorous;" that his pulse was up to 140: the pupils of his eyes being normal; that swallowing, or deglutation as it is called, was impossible; that his body was paralyzed: that his kidneys and bowels were torpid, and the urine had to be drawn off with a catheter; that he continued in this prodounf state of coma, the pulse alternating or changing from time to time, running down some hours before his death to 95, until at about 10 o'clock on the night following the blow, consciousness not having been resumed during the period between 4 o'clock. at the time he went into this comatose condition and the time of his death, and that at 10 o'clock he died, what in your opinion was the cause of his death?"

To this hypothetical question the defense, and both branches of it, strenuously objected.

Mr. Stearns contended that the question was improper, as it did not accurately state the symptoms.

"If your honor please," rejoined Mr. Lambertson, "there is some difference of testimony as to some of the symptoms I think the question as propounded will square with the evidence the state has advanced, and if it doesn't suit the defense they may formulate a question embodying the symptoms as they find them?"

Colonel Philpott vigorously contended that the phrase intimating that the autopsy had shown the brain to be affected should not be permitted, as he denied that the evidence showed the brain to have been found in no way affected at the autopsy.

The court finally held that the question came within the requirements and the witness replied:

"Well my opinion is that the man died from morphine poisoning, from the symptoms and from the conditions we found in the post mortem examination."

On cross-examination the witness related in detail the conditions revealed by the autopsy.

The symptoms of compression of the brain are nearly the same as those in morphine poisoning except in the breathing, it is not so slow; where you find one breathing heavily and only about five or six times a minute, it would indicate morphine poisoning; where the breathing is equally heavy but at the rate of fifteen or twenty times a minute, it would indicate compression, where the rate fluctuated it would indicate morphine. Compression would be apt to dilate the pupils; would not expect dilation from sulfonal. Compression of the brain is caused by the rupture of a blood vessel, and the blood pouring out upon the tissue. If death had been due to the effects of the blow on the condition of the heart, it would have been apt to occur immediately upon the receipt of the blow.

"What is esteemed to be a fatal does of morhpine?"

"Morphine varies. In some people half a grain would produce death, while in others a much larger quantity would be required."

"Is it any different where it is injected under the skin?"

"Yes sir; the morphine is the more easily, surely and quickly absorbed in the circulation than if it is, put into the stomach, every particle being readily taken up. In the latter case it is very uncertain."

Not Complete 5/15/20.