The Dansville poisoning case.

Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Dansville poisoning case. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    George W. Shepherd.—Reside in Dansville, lived there 12 years; ana a physician, knew D. J. Wood, practiced medicine about 15 years, D. J. Wood is not a'ive, he died in Dansville, I attended him daring his hist illness,saw him on the 14th day of May, 1855, this was Monday, saw him about;7 o'clock that evem ing, had not previously attended him, had made prescriptions for him at my office: saw him at his house on the 14th, he was sitting up and was dressed, was drinking tea and eating toast. (A lengthy discussion here ensued between the respective counsel relating to the propriety of admitting this evidence The evidence relating to the poisoning of D. J. Wood is introduced by the District Attorney for the purpose of showing the motive fer the murder of Mrs. W., it is claimed on the part of the pros- ecution that the murder of D. I. Wood is a connecting link in the series of crime of which the prisoner is guilty,aad that they have a right to show it. It was decided that the evidence is inadmissible.) Tom E. hemen Tecalled—(witness is shown the note alhad«d to by Mr. Hibbler.) Knew David J. Wood ever since I was a boy, was engaged in business with him at Dansville as partner in trade, this was from Aug. 1850 till April 1854, have seen hltti write, know his handwriting-, think the signature to this noteis not his writing, have no doubt it is not. during the j?-.nnership 1 was with him from day to day. Cross-Ex.—Think I saw tins note first about a year ago, am well acquainted with D. J. Wood's handwriting, have distinctly in my mind the form of characters used, the D. here is similar to the genuine, the J. is quite different, he generally connected th« J. and \V. in writing his name, have never seen him wcitft his uame where oo Was looped, notice no other distinction except its general appearance, never had any business relation with I. L. Wood, I have laken an active part in this prosecution, I had a lawsuit with D. J. Wood, which is stfll in litigation: I claim against the estate about $2,000 and costs, there are 4 suits now pending, have not been at enmity or had any bitter feeling against the prisoner. Re-Direct.—Don't recollect of ever seeing D. J. Wood loop the two oo in Wood as these are on the note. John W. Brown.—Reside in Dansville,have lived there since 1844, knew David J. Wood from the time 1 moved there till his death, am a merchant, have had deal with D. J. Wood, am ac- quainted with his hand-writing, this signature (on the note) does not look like his, should say it was not. Cross-Ex.—Have seen D. J. Wood write, this signature has been the subject of seme talk in Dansville, Mr. Bulkley showed me the note first, have heard the note spoken of, but no opinion as to its genuineness have taken a <ireai many order* and due- hills from D. J. Wood, neither ot the capitals look like his, the D nearest to it, his signature is pretty uniform, the oo in Wood are not joined at the top, he sometimes joined all the capitals to* gether, and then only the J. and W. (Witness is shown a number of papers on some of which he identifies the signature ■ if ]) J \\.i! d. and expresses doubt about others.