ng up. "You are here to give
expert testimony. We do not want any guess-work!"

"Professor," said the Recorder, "can you not state what was the
minimum quantity which must have been administered, judged by what you
found?"

"It is difficult, your Honor. The drug acts variably upon different
individuals. Then again, much would depend upon the length of time
which elapsed between the administration, and the death of the
individual."

"Then in this case your opinion would be a mere speculation and not
competent," said the Recorder, and Mr. Bliss seated himself, satisfied
that he had scored another point. But he was soon on his feet again,
for Mr. Munson would not yield so easily.

"Professor," said he, "you said in reply to his Honor, that you could
not answer without knowing how long before death the drug had been
administered. Now with that knowledge would you be able to give us a
definite answer?"

"A definite answer? Yes! But not an exact one. The drug is absorbed
more rapidly in some, than in others, so that one person might take
two or three times as much as another, and I would find the same
residuum. But I could tell you what was the minimum dose that must
have been administered."

"Well, then, supposing that the drug had been administered about three
hours before death, how large must the dose have been, or what was the
minimum quantity that could have been given, judging by what you
found?"

"I must object to that, your Honor!" said Mr. Bliss.

"Your Honor," said Mr. Munson, "this is a hypothetical question, and
perfectly competent."

"It is a hypothetical question, your Honor," replied Mr. Bliss, "but
it contains a hypothesis which is not based upon the evidence in this
case. There has been absolutely no testimony to show that morphine was
administered to this woman about three hours before death."

"We have a witness who will testify to that later," replied Mr.
Munson, and this announcement created no little sensation, for here
was promised some direct evidence.

"Upon the understanding," said the Recorder, "that you will produce a
witness who will testify that morphine was administered three hours
before death, I will admit your question."

"We take an exception!" said Mr. Bliss, and sat down.

"Now please answer the question," said Mr. Munson, addressing the
witness.

"Under the hypothesis presented I should say that the minimum dose
must have been three grains."

"That is to say, she mu