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Six Physicians Declare on Oath That Death Was Caused By Strangulation. (Krontstienx: City Tribune) Cherokee, I., Sept..20--Six doctors, one of them a widely known specialist, have sworn to the opinion that Bertha Hessenius came to her death by strang ulation. This denouement in the chain of evidence came yesterday afternoon when Dr. Ludwig Mektoen, of Chicago, was called by the state in the trial of Ernest Hessenius for the murder of his wife. The testimony of other witnesses relative to the condition of the body when first examined and later at the autopsy, Was read to him, and he was asked how in his opinion the woman came to her death. “By strangula tion,’ was: ‘in response in the same language, “used by other medical men who had preceded him. The state, scored notably when the Chicago expert said that. the stain on a piece of broken, looking glass that the father of the. dead, woman had picked up in the room of the Hessenius home after’ the ‘trage was caused‘ by mntosecution has in dustriously ‘sought. tor: establish that after the alleged time Hessenius killed tthe. ‘doctor to make him afte ee the same ae as: “followed” the expects to turn the stanioe today, and question... in the ‘atrangulation. D made..the safe ... Dr. E. Feiis also’ called, ‘ba lense. ‘objected to his fale ee eet that he sauced ‘in ca fro the of many of the family jars of which the Hessenius home was the scene. It will be shown, it is said, that the couple lived amicably when their trou bles were not irritated by the Vines. Maintaining throughout an unruffled demeanor, such as he has characterized him ever since the hearing opened, Ernest Hessepius, on trial for his life for the murder of his wife, took the stand in his own defense this morning and endeavored to explain away the evidence that has been offered by the state against him. Cooly, and without the slightest show of emotion, he admitted that he had, on occasions refused to kiss his wife, directed coarse epithets at her and conducted himself in a boorish manner about the home. He denied however, having cursed his wife while she was sick, though admitted that he was in the habit of swearing. He de nied specifically that he had called her a ‘‘—son,’’ as witnesses for the state alleged. Hessenian explained his quoted statement that ‘‘there would be another funeral soon,’’ by stating that he was afraid for the health of his child, whom his wife had taken to Sioux City in an automobile on a day in March, fearing that the exposure of the trip would be harmful. He admitted ‘having interviewed an attorney with the idea in view of get ting a divorce, and he also admitted having cursed the whole J. H. Vine family in the presence of his wife, though he could not recall the words he used. George Reifsteck,of Calument, a brother-in-law of the defendant, testi fied that he had been at the Hessenius home at the time of Mr. Hessenius death. He said he asked practically no questions about the circumstances and had little conversation with any one concerning it. Mrs.. Hessenius, mother of Ernest, testified that her daughter-in-law was addicted to fainting spells, and that she had twice been in a hospital, with in the few months preceding her death. Fatal Hurt Does Not. Exclude Act on Victim’s Part Cherokee, Ia., Sept. 23.—The entire strength of the legal talent defending Ernest P. Hessenius on the charge of wife murder was assembled today ‘in the attempt to prove, that. Bertha Hes senius was sickly and that she received her fatal injury by falling from an out side porch of her country home. The defense called an expert witness of national reputation, Dr. F. Robert Zeit, of Chicago, professor of pathol ogy at the Northwestern university; and a leader in pathological science. Dr. Zeit testified that it was possible for a person to receive serious injuries in a fall and still arouse, and walk several feet before dying. . The admission of his testimony help ed the defense in explaining how the wife reached the dining room after her: fall from the porch. “It is possible,’’ said the doctor ‘‘for a person to fall, recover, have a hem orrhage, taint, have another hemorr hage no die.”’ The defense has several other ex perta ‘waiting to testify. _Hessenius, by his cool testimony joning ef the SESAneyS for the strengthened his case spasonally, f. saving his own life. . t in..the trial. shows no ‘sign ishing, although entire ‘pes; consumed in reading lengthy “(Continued on page 2)
Newspaper Details
Aurelia Sentinel
Aurelia, Iowa, US
Fri, Sep 27, 1912
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Elena M.
USA 09 Aug 2026
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