Reading Time: 3 minutes [348 words]

ORRIN DE WOLF. BT

has occurred from violence, a suitable and competent officer
shall proceed to the spot for the purpose of investigating the
eause and instituting such inquiries as may be proper, in
order that the facts may be properly stated, so that the pub-
lie may be satisfied there was no crime or carelessness in the
ease, or if otherwise, that the erime may be charged upon its
author. Such was the course pursued, and such was the
mode of examination adopted in the present case. Now what
is the value of the avidence on such an examination, and the
facta which it brings here, but to derive testimony from which
to form opinions, Opinions are no more evidence on medical
subjects than on any other. But in matters of unknown risk,
men are called to examine and give opinions because those
who are not learned or skilled are incapable of forming cor-
rect conclusions. But when they have given their opinion
and come here to dictate it before you, both parties have a
right to question and examine them. Opinions, therefore, in
such investigations are deserving of great weight and consid-
eration, and greater liberty is allowed because they are
opinions which unskilled persons cannot give.

Those who were called on this oceasion were Dra. Heywood
and son, and Dr. Green. Whether others should have been
called was a matter for the Coroner to determine. It does
not appear whether others were called, nor whether any ob-
jections were offered against it. Be that as it may, gentle-
Imen, you have now one question to decide. It is whether
this death was occasioned by strangulation or something ap-
plied to the neck. A very small amount of force would be
sufficient to destroy the life of a person prostrated by disease,
debility or intoxication. But was there any force applied to
produce death in this case? It is proper you should bear in
mind that the more feeble the person the slighter would be
the physical force necessary to destroy life, and this circum-
stance of itself would leave less evidence of the crime. Then
what are the facts in this case,

Stiles was a resident of this village. He was a diseased,
deformed, and feeble man, possessing a small property, and

Related Posts