614 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

582 X, AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

enough to discredit her. What she said at the police is of a8
little importance, being easily reconcilable with what she has
sworn here. She said ahe had no connection with a white
Man, meaning ne such connection as could produce a child;
end she admitted before the same magistrates, on the same
occasion, that she had a struggle with one, and that he tore
her petticoat, If she did not say the whole of this when upon
oath, at the time her depositions were written down, it is not
material; she might not have been so particularly questioned
till afterwards; but viewed with common candor, there is no
contradiction to discredit her. On the one occasion and on
the other her evidence was this, that she had a struggle with
a white man, but that she prevented him by resistance from
accomplishing his purpose, and was sure there could be no
child born in consequence of that encounter.

‘Why did not the gentleman on the other side call this white
man? He could have contradicted her if her testimony was
false.

‘With respect to the alarm with the pistol and its possible
effect upon the mother’s imagination—that changes in the
foetus do happen from such accidents, stands upon the high-
est authority; and has been supported in a way not to be
shaken, by Doctor Mitchill, who has related facts proved past
contradiction, Doctor Pasealis thinks it far-fetched to sup-
pose it would change the complexion, but seems to admit that
it might produce abortion or deformity; yet the change the
most easy of operation has been stated to be that in the color
of the skin. Doctor Mitchill has stated that reasoning a
priori upon such subjects is only presumption; but that where
facts of a certain nature have arisen, it is possible that similar
facta may arise from similar causes, and he has given in-
stances of infinitely greater changes than this by the power
of maternal affection. Certainly, to oppose arbitrary rea-
soning to the authority of facts, is the height of presumption;
and no man is better qualified from his extensive reading
and continued investigation, to collate a number of facia,
and draw certain conclusions from them.