Helling Dittmann; nativity, Germany. Does not know the deceased; does
know Gabriel. Met him the night of the 15th on the road from Wingdam;
thinks it was after eight o'clock. He was talking to a Chinaman.
Cross examined. Has not been told that these are the facts stated by the
Chinaman. Believes a Chinaman as good as any other man. Don't know what
you mean. How comes dese dings? Has noticed the prisoner used his left
hand efery dime.
Dr. Pressnitz recalled. Viewed the body at nine o'clock on the 16th. The
blood-stains on the linen and the body had been slightly obliterated and
diluted with water, as if they had been subjected to a watery
application. There was an unusually heavy dew at seven o'clock that
evening, not later. Has kept a meteorological record for the last three
years. Is of the opinion that this saturation might be caused by dew
falling on a clot of coagulated blood. The same effect would not be
noticeable on a freshly bleeding wound. The hygrometer showed no
indication of a later fall of dew. The night was windy and boisterous
after eight o'clock, with no humidity. Is of the opinion that the body,
as seen by him, first assumed its position before eight o'clock. Would
not swear positively that the deceased expired before that time. Would
swear positively that the wounds were not received after eight o'clock.
From the position of the wound, should say it was received while the
deceased was in an upright position, and the arm raised as if in
struggling. From the course of the wound should say it could not have
been dealt from the left hand of an opponent. On the cross examination,
Dr. Pressnitz admitted that many so-called "left-handed men" were really
ambidexterous. Was of the opinion that perspiration would _not_ have
caused the saturation of the dead man's linen. The saturation was
evidently after death--the blood had clotted. Dr. Pressnitz was quite
certain that a dead man did not perspire.
The defence rested amid a profound sensation. Colonel Starbottle, who
had recovered his jaunty spirits, apparently influenced by his animated
and gallant conversation with the veiled female, rose upon his short
stubby feet, and withdrawing his handkerchief from his breast, laid it
upon the table before him. Then carefully placing the ends of two white
pudgy fingers upon it, Colonel Starbottle gracefully threw his whole
weight upon their tips, and leaning elegantly toward the veiled figure,
called "Grace Conroy."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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