GRUESOME EXHIBIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 August 1932, Page 7

GRUESOME EXHIBIT

AT MIAMI TRIAL CLARKE’S SKULL PRODUCED “EVERY INDICATION OF SUICIDE” .United Press Association —By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright) MIAMI, 12th August. The bullet-pierced skull of Clarke was brought into court to-day, along with slides showing parts of the head by Dr. M. H. Tallman, a defence witness and one of a commission of four specialists who conducted an autopsy. Two bullet boles, marking the entrance and exit, were pointed out by Dr. Tallman, as the jurors leaned forward with expressions varying from acute interest to horror. Lancaster peered intently at the skull.

(Received 12th August, 9.25 a.m.) MIAMI, 12th August. Usin'g thq skull and the fatal pistol to illustrate his testimony, Mr Arthur Hamilton, criminologist, Auburn, New York, told the jury that he was absolutely convinced that Clarke committed suicide. “There is not a scintilla of evidence here to show that Clarke was murdered. There is every indication of suicide,” Hamilton added. He said that a microscopic examination of the pistol showed blood tissue on the front sight, indicating that it was pressed firmly against Clarke when the shot was fired. Taking the skull in his hands, Hamilton stepped down before the jury, eventually passing the skull to each member of the jury. “The skull shows five radical fractures made not by the bullet but by exploding gases that followed the bullet,” Hamilton said. He added that the ballooning of the flesh around the wound, and the discoloration of the skull bones, showed conclusively that the pistol was held firmly against the head when the bullet was fired. He held the pistol against his own head and snapped the trigger to demonstrate the point, showing the position in which the pistol was held when the bullet entered Clarke’s head.