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Test Proves Blood on Murder Weapon Was Fruit Preserves

Originally published in February 1857

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“Dr. H. Burdell was found stabbed in his own room in this city. There was bad feeling existing between him and his housekeeper, but science has removed some of what were at first strong indications of guilt. A dagger was found in her drawer faintly stained with blood; these stains are proved by chemical analysis to be rust. A very palpable bloody stain on a blue silk dress proved to be sugar or fruit preserves. A knife from the place of business of a suspected boarder, and a newspaper found in his room, showed stains which responded to the chemical tests for blood, and under the microscope showed the blood disks or red globules to be arterial.”

Scientific American, February 1857

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