Part 8 (2/2)
”Yes, sir. I saw her die.”
”Of what did she die?”
”I object!” cried Mr. Bliss, springing to his feet and interrupting the prosecution for the first time.
”State your objection,” said the Recorder, tersely.
”Your Honor,” began Mr. Bliss, ”I object to the form of the question.
The whole point at issue is contained in it, and I contend that this witness is not qualified to answer. If he were, the trial might end upon his doing so.”
”The witness is only expected to testify to the best of his belief,”
said the Recorder.
”Very true, your Honor. I only wish it to go to the jury in the proper form. If they understand that this witness does not know of what Miss Sloane died, but simply states what he thinks, I shall be perfectly satisfied.”
”You may as well modify your question, Mr. Munson,” said the Recorder.
Thus Mr. Bliss scored a little victory, which at once convinced the older lawyers present that, though young, he would prove to be shrewd to grasp the smallest advantage. His object had evidently been to belittle the value of the answer, before it was made, by thus calling attention so prominently to the fact that Dr. Meredith could not know positively what he was about to charge.
”In your opinion, what caused the death of Miss Sloane?” This was the new question formulated to meet the objection raised.
”She died of morphine poisoning!” replied Dr. Meredith.
”You mean you think she died of morphine poisoning?” interjected Mr.
Bliss.
”Kindly wait until you get the witness before you begin your cross-examination!” said Mr. Munson, with a touch of asperity. Mr.
Bliss merely smiled and kept silent, satisfied that he had produced his effect upon the jury.
”Will you state why you conclude that Miss Sloane died of morphine poisoning?” continued Mr. Munson.
”I observed all the characteristic symptoms of morphine narcosis prior to her death, and the nature of the death itself was consistent with my theory.”
”Please explain what the symptoms of morphine poisoning are?”
”Cold sweat, slow pulse, stertorous breathing, a gradually deepening coma, contracted pupils, which, however, slowly dilate at the approach of death, which is caused by a paralysis of the respiratory centres.”
”Did you observe any of these symptoms in Miss Sloane?”
”Yes. Practically all of them.”
”And would these same symptoms occur in any other form of death, except from morphine poisoning?”
”They would not. Of course they do not apply to morphine only. They are generally diagnostic of opium poisoning.”
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