Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-12
CRIlINAL ABORTION.

- N
A woman Dies I'm EIyria, the Victim
or n Cleveland AbOrtiOnist-COr-
onerss Observation-Disclosures ict OF
Jury-Arress of b Guilty Parties.
On Thursday, the 4th of Janury, 8 young
woman named Aletha Houghton died in the
house Of Mrs. Charles E. Mason, in Elyria,
Lorain county, in consequence of frightful
Inflammation induced, as is alleged, BY the
manipulation, with instruments, of DR..
Hosea W. Libbey, No. Essences street. this
city. We are indebted 70 the Elyria Demo
erat for many oft5s fcts-in the case. The
death of this stranger did not excite much
surprise at the time, but ON the follow
ing day, Prosecuting Attorney Hale, of
Elyria, received information from Yelling
ton, where the deceased had lived the last
year, which led to the belief that her death
was the effect Of violence Coroner Briggs
was summoned and . jury empaneIled, when
they went to the house where the body lay
TO investigate the case. "a
The testimony taken on Friday, showed
that the deceased went to Wellington about
. year ago, from Berkshire county, Massa-
ennsetts, where her parents and friends still
live, and engaged as seamstress in the tailor
establishment of Mr.. Levi Bowman. It
appears that she left the east for the purpose
or procuring a divorce from her husband.
Her maiden name was Sherman. She was
almost twenty-three years of age, made a
quite pleasing appearance and was of fine
address. Herdemeanor during her residence
in Wellington had been to all appearance
unexeeptionable. Is 4
Among the witnesses examined was DR..
". h. Park, who was called to prescribe for
her and who was present at the time Of her
death, but nothing of q positive character
was elected from his examination. The
convictiOny however, was deepened, that her
death was the result of violence. The
Coroner adjourned the inquest until Satur-
day afternoon, that a post norton examine
ton might be made. Drs. Strong and Park
made such examination on that morning,
and discovered that her death was caused
by acute Inflammation induced by violence
used in e~ffeeting an abortion. On the an
nouncement of the result of their examina-
ton, the COroner's jury met and entered
upon a searching investigation which re-
suited in developing all the main facts in
the case. Mrs. Mason was recalled, for the
jury became satisfied on the day previous,
that she knew who were the guilty parties.
The Prosecutor wormed the secret out of her,
and the substance of the evidence ELECTED is
as follows, as reported in the Democrat:
4 young man by the name ofA.J. Brown.
who had separated from his wife, and who
in the same shop with the deceased
weeks ago applied to Mrs. Mason, who i
Formerly lived in Wellington, to aid him in
out of a difficulty that was likely 10
snsue through his intimacy with the de-
ceased at Wellington, and on the Saturday I
previous 10 her death, met her by appoint
nent in Cleveland, and took her to the Office
IF DR.. H. W. Libbey, Seneca street, where
he crime was committed by means of in
'truments. She then brought her to Elyria,
md while on the cars she was taken serious
y III, and had 70 receive assistance in reach
the residence of the witness. 1t did not
appear that any physician was called until
short time before she died, and then,
the effects of acute Inflammation,
~ SooS "eo AoPN4OSSs .... ..--
The above mentioned Mr.. Brown, who
as a witness, was arrested and
edged in jail, where he is still, and a man
vas dispatched to this city to procure
he arrest DR.. Libbey. He was arrested
Saturday evening, and gave bail in the sum
# $1,000 for his appearance in court The
J%OrOnersjur adjourned over till Monday
asst, when they returned the following
After having heard the evidence and ex-
mined the body, W do find that the de-
,eased came to her death by means of me-
violence inflicted on the deceased
" b. W.. Libbey, in producing an abortion.
We the jury do further find that Asa J.
Brown and Mary E Mason were concerned
n the perpetration of said violence and
leath as accessories before. the fact.
7a'7g JOHN H. BorNToS,J
i.s HENRY BRUSH,
Wnr z W0o.nun