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The Murder of Anna Wiese | ||
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EVENING TIMES REPUBLICAN |
THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1894 | |
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HEADLINES APRIL 12, 1894 LINKS IN THE CHAIN A Witness Put on the Stand by Defense That Few Knew Of He is Dr. Taylor, Chief Microscopist of the United States Government What Microscopical Examinations of Various Samples of Hair Revealed Dr. Thos. Taylor sworn - I live at Washington, D. C. Am government microscopist and the only one established by law; have been employed by the government for thirty-three years. I received hair about some months ago said to have come from the heads of Anna Wiese and Mrs. Bennett. I examined the hair; from Mrs. Bennett's head I had about 1,000 from Anna Wiese's about 500; in the examination I found split ends in both; they were very similar in character; two-thirds of each were split; there is no characteristic in splitting of hairs; want of nutriment causes splitting, also combing; curling of the split hair would not be from its nature, but would be caused by combing or other mechanical means; in examining hair we throw out all abnormal hair; in samples sent me the diameter was very much alike; I found a few large hairs in both samples; they were a dark brown; I examined the hair with as good an instrument as is made; I have examined samples of hair found in the hand and that found on the shoulder of Anna Wiese; looked them over; did not take notes; thought they were the same as the hair from the head of Anna Wiese; could see no difference; there was difference in the color, constriction or shafts of the two samples of hair. (Drawings of hair made under microscope were offered in evidence, made from hair of Anna Wiese to show color and general appearance, also hair from the head of Mrs. Bennett. A number of drawings were offered to show that hairs from men and women and from beard show the ends split and that it is a common thing, but were not allowed to go to the jury because incompetent and immaterial.) It is impossible to take a lock of hair and tell whether it came from the head of a particular person; take the hair from a long haired, silky dog and you can't tell it from human hair. There is no such thing as red hair; there is no distinctive peculiarities in the samples of hair from the heads of Mrs. Bennett and Anna Wiese. The guac test is very unreliable; the color will come up very quickly; gluten will do the same; to be able to say there was blood in a garment I would take the high powers of the microscope; if I failed to find evidence of blood with the microscope and applied the Guac test, and it produced a blue reaction, I would not consider it an evidence of blood. Fibers are found floating in the air and in all rooms where there is sweeping done. The splitting of hairs, if long, is almost universal. The hair sent me at Washington was by mail, by Prof. M. Ricker, of Marshalltown; it was hair said to be from the heads of Mrs. Bennett and Anna Wiese. Do not expect any pay for my services in this case, only my expenses. Cross - I am 74 years old; my eyesight is strong; can read large print; am a good judge of colors; can tell by half a dozen hairs what the color is. The hair found in the hand of Anna Wiese and the hair of Mrs. Bennett is the same color - they look the same; by ordinary observation there is no difference; in the small quantities I received I would say the three samples of hair are exactly the same - that is, Mrs. Bennett's hair, Anna Wiese's hair and that found in the hand of the latter. I am satisfied that the hair of Mrs. Bennett and Anna Wiese appear as the same color (shown hair). This is a yellow brown; (another sample shown) this is a brown yellow, and contains more of the brown; I didn't see any of the hair taken from the hand of Anna Wiese until I came here; they are too limited to say what the color is; I did not examine the hairs with reference to finding whether the splits averaged deeper and larger in the hair of Mrs. Bennett than in the hair of Anna Wiese; they were about the same; I did not spend more than five or ten minutes examining the hair found in the hand of Anna Wiese; I did not find any abnormal hairs in these. Bangs do not have split ends; I would not expect to find them. My motive in coming here was to clear what I considered an innocent woman. I don't consider the Guac test reliable; I consider the microscope better; I have seen the tests made for blood; I made an examination for blood; I examined by microscope; the red matter found on the waist looked more like iron rust than anything else; none of the samples came from the hem of the garment. W. J. Nichol testified - I live a little more than 2 miles from place of murder; was notified by Mr. Low; went to place of murder; couldn't tell how hair was arranged; don't know whether it was down; stayed from one to two hours; as we were coming home we passed a man near No. 5 school house; our horse was trotting. My brother-in-law stayed with the woman at our house; I would say the people were badly excited. Cross - I went home between 1 and 2 o'clock; saw a man going along the road; was going away from the scene of the murder; he was walking. Dr. Cottle - The hair from the head of Anna Wiese has not been in my hands all the time; it was in the hands of Dr. Haines, of Rush Medical college, about three days; the waist was with him also; I think about three weeks; I heard he tested it; I have seen Dr. Haines; I saw him five days ago. John McKarrel sworn - Live one and three-quarter miles from place of murder; arrived there about 12:30; her hair was disarranged. That night the murder was charged on Isenhart; it was the general opinion of those present; some parties manifested a good deal of excitement in the immediate neighborhood, and the women did not stay alone. I was present when the body was exhumed by Prof. Ricker and others. I was at Russie's when Anna Wiese was buried. Thomas Allen testified - I examined a gate in Bennett's cow yard; saw a stain I supposed was blood; it was on the middle board; saw the board in Binford's office; saw no other stain on the gate. I heard blood had been found on the gate and looked at it to see if I could find any. From the highest point in the yard could just see Neill's chimney and top of roof. Blood will dry on the hands in four or five minutes. Cross - I went out with Size one day last March; saw this gate about two weeks after the murder; the stain was near the middle of the board; didn't examine under the edge of the board; the patch I saw was about as big as a dollar; could not tell whether the stain I saw was put on after the murder or not. Blood will dry on the hands going 70 rods. J. W. Peperman sworn - Am postmaster at Beaman; was deputy sheriff of Grundy county last year; got to place of murder about 9 o'clock Sunday morning after the murder; went through the slough east of place of murder; grass was two feet high. A person walking across there would not be obscured; was there again on Wednesday; went part way down that slough; went across that section; on Bennett's east line there is a willow hedge; that hedge extends to a corn field; in the corn field after I passed the willow hedge about twenty rods east I saw a track in the corn; followed it about fifteen rods; it was the size of my shoe; I wear No. 8 shoes. It went southeast towards Sprecker's house; the tracks commenced in the corn, about seventy rods north of Bennett's house; the tracks appeared to be made by some one running; people went through the corn, so I abandoned further search. The people seemed to be excited. Cross - There was a line formed near the place of murder and passed down the slough, searching for any tracks or anything they could find; formed a line on west of corn field, which passed through the field and obscured the track; I would say the tracks had been made since a rain; there were probably 150 men in the company that was searching. A man at night could pass through the grass east of place of murder and not be discovered. THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1894 Continued with the Following Headlines: GOOD PROGRESS TODAY Quite a Number of Witnesses Examined in Behalf of Defense Their Side Strengthened Considerably, but No Material Developments Something Relative to the Expert Testimony introduced and its Value Apparent Contradictions on Essential Points - The Interest Unabated THE END IN SIGHT Probability That Evidence Will Close in the Murder Case Tomorrow - Expert Testimony and Its Value Good progress was made in the Bennett murder case today. Quite a number of witnesses were examined, but there were no important developments. From present indications evidence will all be in tomorrow and arguments of counsel will begin Saturday. The case isn't likely to go to the jury, however, before next week, probably Monday or Tuesday evening. There has been considerable discussion of the expert testimony introduced by both sides, and opinions vary greatly regarding its reliability, clearness and weight. Expert testimony in criminal cases is seldom convincing or satisfactory. Scientific men frequently differ widely in their views on microscopic and other methods of investigation and the results obtained in many cases. And there are always technical terms used that the average juryman finds it difficult to comprehend. Expert evidence figured very conspicuously in the celebrated Cronin case in Chicago, and yet it was often directly contradictory. Professional men have their individual theories, just like ordinary people, and unless an assumed fact can be positively demonstrated so that the result is absolutely clear of all doubt, they are very apt to reject the assumption, especially if it disagrees with their own preconceived notions along a certain line of experiments or investigations. In the Bennett case three experts have been examined at great length and detail. The first was Dr. C. C. Cottle, in behalf of the state. His testimony is quite generally regarded as the pivotal factor in support of the state's theory of the crime. His investigations have been very thorough. His conclusions have been reached after a most exhaustive research and experiment. His is conscientious and careful. It is no more than just to say that he has not been actuated by prejudice or favoritism. His theory regarding the hair that has figured so prominently in this trial, of the fibers of clothing, etc., is resultant upon months of investigation prosecuted upon authorized lines and recognized professional tests. It is hard to refute such testimony. It is difficult to undermine the basis of such a strongly buttressed theory and overtopple the superstructure. |
But, controverting the version of Dr. Cottle at every essential point, attacking his most logical conclusions both in basic principle and confirmative analysis, come the stories of Prof. Maurice Ricker and Dr. Thomas Taylor, both equally entitled to credence, apparently and each equally conscientious and conclusive. These investigations have apparently been thorough, fair and impartial. Yet they are in direct conflict with one another. No one believes but what each is honest in his views, yet it is readily seen that no court and no jury can reconcile their widely divergent theories. People are watching the process of the case with undiminished interest and will await the result with unusual eagerness. The evidence introduced today is given herewith: THURSDAY MORNING Frank McKarral testified - I live in Vienna township; arrived at the place of the murder between 12 and 1 o'clock Sunday morning; was there before the body was removed; noticed the hair was disarranged and covered with blood; could not say whether it was over her shoulder. I passed Bennett's house about 12 o'clock; stopped there; saw Mr. and Mrs. Bennett; Mrs. Bennett came out to the buggy and talked to me; didn't notice that she was any more excited than any one in that vicinity; all were more or less excited. I was there about twenty minutes; Bennett had on boots, a pair of overalls and a shirt. The grass east of the place of murder was one and a half feet high; the weeds were four or five feet high and scattering; would not conceal a person standing up. Cross - I was out for the purpose of alarming people that had not been notified; don't remember of seeing a light at Bennett's when I drove up; called and Bennett came out. Redirect - At time of murder Arthur Sherlock was waiting on a girl and had been for a year or two; I have seen him with her since the murder. Recross - It was Etta Simmons; he was the only young man waiting on her before the murder. I had a rifle with me that night; left it with Bennett. Bessie McKarral - Arthur Sherlock was going with Etta Simmons at the time and after the murder. Cross - She lived one and three-fourths miles from Bennett's. H. Greenbaum testified - Am a clothing merchant in Marshalltown (Shown button, Ex. ?) I have furnishing goods with same kind of buttons; they are usually on underwear; they are generally on Wright's make of underwear; not on cheap goods. Ed Beebe sworn - Arrived at place of murder about 2 o'clock Sunday morning. The hair was partly down; was down from sides and back partly; don't remember of seeing it on the shoulder. I was there at sunrise; did not see any one in the fields east; there was a great deal of excitement; did not hear the crime charged upon any one while I was there. Cross - I was at Bennett's place about 3 o'clock in the morning; there was no light in the house and no one around; I was there again about half past 6; saw Mr. and Mrs. Bennett and Arthur Sherlock in the yard; Arthur Sherlock came to the road; his mother came a moment after; I saw his mother speak to Arthur before he came down; saw Mrs. Bennett at the well near a wash-tub; saw her throw something in the tub; she spoke to Arthur and he came right down to the road. Redirect - The article Mrs. Bennett threw in the tub looked like a cloth; it was near the well; the tub was on the well platform. T. A. Brown testified - Am a photographer; went to place of murder last November and made photos (shown large photograph); this is a photo of the spot where I was told the murder was committed. (One showing Russie's house from place of murder, one showing Arthur Hill's residence from place of murder, one showing field and slough east of place of murder, were also submitted). Cross - Binford told me where to place my camera. John Knight sworn - I went down with Mr. Russie and Mr. Low; as I remember it the hair was down over the left shoulder; can't say how far it was. Cross - I didn't notice the hair especially; I am certain the hair was down on the left shoulder. George Ryan testified - I know when Anna Wiese was buried; saw Mr. Ricker and others there getting samples of hair; it was at the grave of Anna Wiese. James Crabtree - I was at place of murder the 16th of November last; examined fence; the wires were ordinarily tight; saw this club before I went out there; I examined the groves at the two Hill's and Russie's and Bennett's; found sticks in all the groves similar to this one; found them with manure on them; there is nothing peculiar to the sticks in Bennett's grove; I found some spots on the top board of the gate on west side of yard; looked like cow manure or mud (shown top board of gate); this is top board of gate west of the house and is the one that fastened the gate; looks same now as when I examined it. (A number of clubs were here introduced). Cross - Went out at request of defense to look for clubs and make measurements at place of murder and examine the gate; think part of the groves at E. N. Hill's and at Henry Russie's were in the cow yards. Sam Bennett sworn - Am a stock buyer; went with Crabtree, Binford and Brown to the place of murder last November; I am no relation to the Bennetts in this case; looked at club in sheriff's office before going and went to see if we could find similar sticks; found a number in the cow yards and feed lots at Hill's and some at Henry Russie's (shown seven clubs, which he recognizes as the clubs picked up by himself and Mr. Crabtree); There were a good many clubs around there. Made a number of measurements at place of murder; climbed up on the windmill tower in Bennett's cow yard and had to climb twenty three feet high before I could see the ground around the house of Arthur Hill (shown board, which he recognizes as second board of gate. This board has no stains on it and has not been cleaned or scraped.) On April 2, I covered my hand with blood and in four minutes could not stain anything. Wm. Size made experiments at same time. Cross - You cannot see Bennett's house from the place of murder (shown photo). This is a good photo of the surroundings; photo shows the Bennett premises; I would think this was the barn. The clubs we got in Hill's yard I think came from the sheds in the yards. THURSDAY AFTERNOON W. A. Size testified - I am a brick manufacturer, and do detective work; have been at the scene of the murder; (shown photo) that object to the southeast is the top of the windmill and top of the tallest trees; none of the buildings can be seen from place of murder; windmill I would say is 50 feet high and some of the trees are 50 to 60 feet tall. I examined Low's grove, Ebon Hill's, Mr. Russie's and Mr. Bennett's; saw clubs in all those groves that resembled the club that was found at place of the murder; some of them had manure on them. I talked with Mrs. Sprecker; she said Mrs. Bennett told her she was leveling up the platform so it would not teeter; said nothing about poking for rats; I went to slaughter house and covered my hand with blood and then walked and ran along the fence and took hold of the fence and could not make a mark on the fence; it was perfectly dry. I went 70 rods and then tried to make the stain; ran half the way and walked fast the balance of the way; it was at noon and wind not blowing. Cross - Binford suggested that I make the test; made it on the 2d of April. I commenced to work for defense in January; have made the test and went out to Bennett's since I was employed. I had been doing some work for the state before that; was working the case by the job; was to work from that time to this term of court; the circular top of windmill was round and eight or twelve feet across; if there is anything shows there at all it is a cow shed that has been built upon the hill; there is a new cow shed in Bennett's cow yard; don't know as to fences and gates. I understood Mrs. Sprecker to refer to a conversation a day or two before the arrest. Mrs. S. K. Ernst testified - I knew Anna Wiese six years before her death; lived with me four years; she was about 15 years old when she came to our place; did not have her growth then. I think she was five feet ten inches high; she weighed 145 pounds. She was a well muscled girl and was reasonably strong; had very long arms; was strong in her arms and hands; could always hold her own with the boys in playing and scuffling. I don't know as she was more than ordinarily strong for a girl of her size; was very slow with her work; saw her in January before she was killed; her health was good then; never saw her look better; she was a straight girl, very erect, a perfect farmer girl; hadn't worked for us for two years; I have combed her hair a good many times; I would call it brown or auburn; her hair was not uniform in color; her bangs and hair on top of her head was sun burnt; under it was better color; there would be two or three shades difference in the color; it was streaked; the sun burnt part would be lighter. Her hair was very much split; my attention was called to it; she wore bangs and a knot on the back of her head; I went to the funeral; saw several scratches on the hand; don't remember having seen any cuts. I never knew Anna to keep company with Arthur Sherlock; never knew of any young man waiting on her. Cross - I have good eye sight; don't know whether I am a good judge of color or not; could see splits in Anna's hair (shown samples and distinguishes Anna's hair from Mrs. Bennett's). Anna was weighed a year ago in January; she might have fallen off several pounds before she was killed; did not see her after January; she was very slim about the waist; when she worked for me I saw her scuffle. The sample you showed me I would say was the lightest shade in her head.
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