Another in our series of new transcriptions of contemporary articles on the Leo Frank case.
Atlanta Constitution
August 7th, 1913
Dr. Roy F. Harris, the pathologist, head of the state board of health, and the expert who exhumed and examined the body of Mary Phagan, went on the stand at the close of the argument over Judge Roan’s reserved decision to continue the testimony from which he was interrupted Friday by a fainting spell in the courtroom.
He still suffered from weakness and was allowed to sit in a heavily-upholstered armchair.
He was questioned first by Solicitor Dorsey.
“Dr. Harris, what is your particular branch of medicine?”
“My usual line is pathology, chemistry and chemical work, as well as diagnosis.”
“Can you indicate the signs of what you saw on Mary Phagan’s body which showed strangulation?”
Died by Strangulation.
“It was out of the question that her death was caused by a blow on the head—it was not sufficient to even produce noticeable pressure. The only thing evident from which death could have resulted was the deep indentation along the throat, obviously inflicted during life. There were other signs as well—the protruding tongue, congested blood in the face and hands, all of which indicated that strangulation had caused death.”
“Did you notice the larynx?”
“Yes; there seemed no damage done.”
“Did you see the windpipe?”
“Yes.”
“Did you take it out?”
“No; there seemed but little damage to it. I did not remove it because I did not want to mutilate the poor child any more than necessary.”
“Did you see the lungs?”
“Yes, but the lungs were congested, due to the use of formaldehyde used in embalming.”
The solicitor asked the defense for the bloody stick found by Pinkertons on May 10 in the pencil factory. It was produced and shown to the physician.
“Do you think the blow you found on the child’s head could have been inflicted by a cudgel like this?”
“In my opinion, I would think not—the gash evidently was inflicted with some sharp instrument.”
“Did you make a scientific examination of the female organs?”
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