Hasheesh, Absinthe, and a Human Pelvis in the Page Murder Trial

The Page case will in all probability be submitted to the jury today, and before another twenty-four hours have passed the defendant will know his fate, unless the jury disagrees. The defense rested its case yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock, and the court adjourned until this morning, when counsel for the state will take up testimony in rebuttal. The principal portion of yesterday's session was taken up by expert testimony on the use and effect of hasheesh, supposed by the defense to have been the drug used on Page the morning of the shooting, and also on the position a man must be in to produce a wound similar to the one that caused the death of Fraser. To prove their theory, counsel for the defense had in the courtroom bottles of hasheesh and absinthe and a human pelvis. The physicians called were generally in agreement, the only differences being the quantity of hasheesh required to make a dose and the length of time before it took effect. The state claims these points are vital to its case. It argues that a person under the influence of the drug remembers what transpired and can tell or write what occurred while in that condition. At the conclusion of the expert testimony the defense closed by calling two witnesses who had formerly lived in Mitchell, S.D., and who testified to Page's good conduct while there. The usual large crowd was in attendance during the day and, except during portions of the expert testimony where words of ten letters and about seventy syllables were used, was very attentive. An amusing incident happened while Mr. Lewis was preparing a mixture of absinthe and hasheesh. He looked around for glasses and, finding none, asked Clerk Hughes for a pair. Mr. Hughes quietly opened a drawer behind his desk and handed him a pair of smoked goggles. Mrs. Fraser was in court as usual, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Madigan. Page sat in his accustomed place, surrounded by a number of friends and his sister, who has been with him since the beginning of the trial. The first witness called by the defense at the opening of the morning session was H. B. Dusinberry, formerly of the Abbott House. He knew Johnson, who in November drugged a drink and gave it to him in the Mug saloon. On cross-examination the witness was asked if he was known about town as 'Dusey' and had kept a saloon for about a year. He said he was called 'Pusey' by some people. Detective Cudihee said he asked Johnson after the shooting if there was any gambling going on the night of the shooting, and Johnson said no, they were shaking for drinks. He then asked Johnson if the men were gambling for money, and he said they were not. M. A. Winters, owner of the marble baths under the Bailey building, was asked whether he saw Johnson in Vancouver drug a man, beat and rob him, but the question was ruled out. Jack McDonald, ex-deputy sheriff, testified that Stolder, the state's witness, told him after the shooting, in answer to a question whether there had been any gambling or dice throwing, that there had not. McDonald said he had not been employed by the defense in the case, but by Mr. Hager on a matter having no bearing on it. He said he called on Stolder at the Northern to talk about the case, as what Stolder knew might benefit him if he were employed. He denied saying to Stolder that now Fraser was dead Stolder could have a bearing on the case. Dr. Shannon said he was called to see Page at the city jail on April 23 and found him lying on the bunk. He called to him and Page got up. He said he was sick at the stomach, dizzy and felt badly. The doctor examined him and found his muscles twitching, his eyes rather glassy, and his temperature and pulse high. The next time he saw him his temperature was lower. He saw him next on the following Saturday, when his pulse had dropped, but his temperature had only dropped half a point. Several things could have produced Page's condition. A large dose of alcohol could hardly have caused such symptoms, but four or five cocktails might, unless the person was uncommonly susceptible to alcohol. Strychnine or hasheesh might do it. Absinthe in small quantities produces exhilaration or slight intoxication; large quantities produce delirium tremens, general exhaustion or insanity. Hasheesh and absinthe mixed would cause general stupor and great weakness, together with sickness. On cross-examination the witness said Page did not tell him what had happened, but said he was dizzy. Some of the symptoms most annoyed the patient, but there were other symptoms and a temperature that were not attributable to alcohol. Chief of Police Rogers was recalled and stated that the amount of money found on Page's person was $31.50. He was asked if in a conversation with Hastie he had said he took no stock in the drug theory. He said he did not in the way Mr. Hastie put it. He told Hastie he did not know what to think of Page's condition, but thought he had been drugged with something. He said he told Hastie the eyewitnesses to the tragedy were bunko thieves. Dr. Villier was called by the defense. He said hasheesh is commonly called a drug in his profession. Its first effect would be exhilaration, intoxication, hallucination and then prostration. If the hasheesh was active, it might take two teaspoonfuls to produce unconsciousness. Dr. George Newlands took the stand at the beginning of the afternoon session. He said the natural conclusion from the testimony of Mr. Baxter and Dr. Shannon on Page's condition was that there was something besides alcohol to cause it. He gave materially the same evidence as Drs. Shannon and Miller. A pelvis was handed to him and he described to the jury the exact location of the pelvis in the human body. Mr. Lewis asked the witness what position a weapon would have to be in to take the course described by Dr. Kiltie two days before. Objection by the state was overruled, and the question was repeated: 'What position was the victim in for the bullet to have taken the course described?' The answer was: 'The body must have been bent forward at almost right angles.' Counsel for the state cross-examined in the same line as with the other experts. Dr. Voorhees testified to the effects of hasheesh substantially as the preceding witnesses had. Mr. Lewis then asked him to tell what position the body would be in to produce the wound of the deceased. In propounding the question, Mr. Lewis used words of ten syllables and seventy letters, which dumbfounded the jury. His cross-examination disclosed about the same facts as that of previous witnesses. Robert Tozler, barkeeper in the Nevada saloon, was asked if on a certain date last February he ran Johnson out of the saloon because he used loaded dice on a man, but the question was ruled out. P. A. Huggins, at one time mayor of Milwaukee, testified that he knew Page in Milwaukee and that Page's reputation was always first class. H. C. Gordon, deputy county clerk, stated that he lived in Mitchell, S.D., from 1880 to 1891 and that Page's reputation was always good. William Sledge, a colored man who formerly lived in Mitchell, knew Page to be a peaceful, law-abiding citizen. Prof. Friars, principal of the Snohomish schools, was professor in the university at Mitchell from 1890 to 1891 and knew Page's reputation to be good. Mrs. A. M. Moore of Mount Vernon lived in Mitchell and said Page's reputation was good. E. E. Trednour, professor of schools at Van Asselt, lived in Mitchell from 1882 to 1890 and also testified to Page's good reputation. He was asked if Page did not have a reputation for playing poker, and said he played a little poker at times with his friends. C. J. Johnson of Tacoma, who lived in Mitchell from October 1892 to May 11, 1893, and who was clerk of the circuit court for two terms, stated that Page's reputation was very good in that city. H. T. Curl of Tacoma knew Page in Mitchell and said his general reputation was good. He was not cross-examined, and the defense then rested its case. Counsel for the state asked for time in which to marshal witnesses in rebuttal, stating that they had not had time to properly attend to that portion of the proceedings because of the large number of witnesses introduced. Counsel for the defense assented and the court granted the request, adjourning until this morning at 9:30 o'clock.