Reports of Trials for Murder by Poisoning; / by Prussic Acid, Strychnia, Antimony, Arsenic, and Aconita. Including the trials of Tawell, W. Palmer, Dove, Madeline Smith, Dr. Pritchard, Smethurst, and Dr. Lamson, with chemical introduction and notes on the poisons used

by G. Lathom Browne; active 19th century C. G. Stewart

Question.—“And do those facts exercise no influence on your judgment?”

Answer.—“They would not unless I knew how the post-mortem examination had been made. If it was commenced at the head, the blood being fluid, the large drains would be opened, and the blood, from natural causes, would drain away.”

Question.—“Do you know how the post-mortem examination was made in this case?”

Answer.—“No. Excuse me, I do. The chest and the abdomen, not the head, were first opened.”

Question.—“The heart, then, was not emptied in the first instance?”

Answer.—“No.”

Question.—“Then what occasioned the contraction of the heart?”

Answer.—“When the heart is emptied it is usually contracted.”

Question.—“But how do you account for its contraction and emptiness?”

Answer.—“I cannot account for it.”