602 Page – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

Here is the translated text as follows:

570

X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

Dr. Hosack: From the appearance of the father, the mother, and the child, and the laws of nature which I have uniformly observed in such cases, I certainly would not take it for the child of a black man; I would say it was that of a white one, or at most of a very fair mulatto.

Mr. Vanhook: Has it not some of the features of a negro? If its features, in my judgment, were those of a negro, I should not have given the opinion I did. Dr. Hosack, might it not be possible, judging after your reading or experience in such matters, that in the early stage of pregnancy, the agitation of the mother's mind, irritation, terror, or surprise, might alter in some degree the nature and appearance of the child? I am not of that opinion.

Mr. Morton: What is the period at which a mother becomes sensible of her pregnancy (as the witness calls it), by feeling life? From three to four months; but four more commonly than three—at three it very rarely happens.

Dr. Post: From the appearance of the child, I would suppose it the offspring of a white man and a mulatto woman, or of two light-colored persons; I could discern none of the features of a negro in it; there were instances of black men with black women producing children as fair as this; but they were exceptions to the general laws of nature; my opinion is that this was not the child of Whistelo; what confirms this most of all is the color and straightness of the hair; as to albinos, I have never seen any of them, but from what I have learned from books and conversation, I am convinced there is no analogy.

Dr. Seaman: I should not believe the negro to be the father of that child.

Dr. Titary: I am fully of opinion with the other gentlemen; I cannot conceive this the child of a black man; I have no principles of physiology nor philosophical data to lay down touching ticks of this sort.

Dr. Moore and Dr. Anthon declared themselves of the same opinion.

Dr. Secor: I saw the child in question at its birth; it was then quite white; from its appearance at that time and now, I am of the opinion that it is the child of a white man.

Dr. Williamson: I have seen and observed both the man and the woman; if this was the child of that woman by that man, it is a prodigy; I do not believe that prodigies happen, though daily experience unfortunately proves that perjuries do.

Dr. Osborne: From a long residence to the southward, I have had most ample means of observing all the varieties that these mixtures of race occasion; but I have never seen any fact that could warrant me to suppose this the child of a black man; I have seen albinos, but this child bore no resemblance to them; they were always distinguishable by the red dotted iris, and the tremulous movements of the eyes; I have never seen the produce of African parents with hair such as this; I have seen some with fair or yellowish hair, but that was peculiar.

Mr. Furman: I am keeper of the Almshouse; I received an order to take the child and place it...

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