The New York herald., 1871-09-06
FEMALE FRAILTY.
A Night in the Clinton Street
sDOctOr's Den."
Half Dozen "Patients" for the EnterprisiDg
"PractitiOner" in One Night-WhO They
We're and What They Were-
An Alarming Exhibit.
An Important Witness in the
Russell Murder.

.H.
= HERALD reporter entered the den yesterday
evening IN company with Sergeant Brooks, OF the
Thirteenth precinct. 1t was part OF the police
programme that Sergeant Brooks was to play
'quack doctor'' for the nonce, ana receive
whatever patients" or inquirers should hap
pen to present themselves. 1t must be
stated, In preface that Tuesday evening was the
reception evening OF the "Madame," or Mrs.
Burns. on Tuesday, in the middle OF the day. she
deserted her comfortable residence on Long Island
ana remained at her apartments at No. 1l3 Clinton
street during the entire evening, return.
ing home at night. On Wednesday she
occasionally returned to town in the
middle Of the day and consulted with
some Of her more wealthy patients who disdained
evening consultations The Sergeant was dressed
IN private clothes and looked every inch q
'practitiOner." Tho next house to No. 113, at the
Delaney street side is lager beer saloon. Three
chairs were placed In front or the window and three
quiet looking individuals were seated smoking
cigars and apparently having little interest In
WHAT WAS GOING ON
about them. As the sergeant and the reporter
passed the saloon quick glances were exchanged
between the gentlemen who were enjoying their
evening smoke, and murmurs sounding some
thing very like "Al rightn was heard. Between the
Is q narrow aleywsy, and into this the reporter
was hustled by the sergeant. Walking TO the end
he was confronted by another gentleman, who
apparently had no particular business about He
and the Sergeant, however, understood each other.
and the three went into yard upon which the
alleyway opened. Sergeant Brooks then explained
that the three men in front and his companion in
the yard were detectives. He said he had been be-
sieged all day long with applications for ad-
mittance to the house by reporters and Others but
he was obliged TO refuse aN-even some Of the
HERALD representatives, who had presented them.
selves during the daytime. He feared that If there
were the least excitement manifested In tine neigh
borhood the visitors he expected would be
scared on. Very few people knew Of the arrest Of
Mrs. Burns and, save what. had appeared In the
evening papers OF yesterday. nothing was known
OF the crime with which she stood charged.
However. the appearance Of q number OF strangers
outside the house during the day mad defeated his
object to certain extent and some few people in
The ncighborlug houses were gathered together IN
groups in front OF their houses. To any one who
was not In the mystery, however, this would not
appear very strange on fine night like last night,
and even as the reporter approached the house he
could detect no signs Of
UNUSUAL EXCITEMENT.
1t would appear, however, from what detective
afterwards said to our reporter, that the negnbOr
hood had been schooed and tnat they were willing
pupils to the pohce and iully shared their Wish
that the culprits should be arrested. Sergeant
Brooks. after an interval, said he would 60 quietly
round to the house and admit the reporter.
After few moments tho reporter found
himself at the corner OF the alley in
Clinton street again, and at q given signal from
Sergeant Brooks quickly ascended the stoop OF No.
ll8 and was admitted. The house Is OF red brick,
two stories high, with high s,oop and unostenta-
tious looking entrance. Inside the han door the
Sergeant knocked at a side door to the right which
was quickly opened by young man. When this
Individual saw that the Sergeant was
accompanied by stranger, the reporter
could see his hand steal to the back pocket OF his
pants, from which he produced pistol, which he
transer TO the breast pocket OF his coat Keeping
his left hand on the door KNOB all the time The
reporter was barely inside ,he door when 1t was
The Sergeant laughed and the Young man looked a
little sheepish at first. However, when 1t was ex-
planned tnat the reporter came for no
UNLAWFUL PURPOSE.
He smiled and said, ave cannot be TOO cautious" p"
TINS o &c and 4 @ e pay
geant Brooks The only other occupant OF the room
was tall, sallow woman with snarp pncned annGi
betrayed the greatest symptoms OF excitement,
porter as Mrs Ann Brice BY Sergeant
IL
..sne has no connection with Mrs. Burns beyond
being the landady Of these houses, you know.
There are respectable people living up stairs here,
ami OF course she knew nothing OF what was going
on IN tins den.o
nothing OF what was going on. Town this house
anu the next and let them out to lOdgers. / had
no idea OF what Mrs. Burns used to be at.
RFPORTER-Csed not great many ladies, part
cuiarly young ladies', visit Mrs. Burns here
Mrs. BRICE-Yes, SIR, great many indeed.
REPORrER-Ot what social standing would you
think these ladies' generally were Z
Mrs. BRIcE-Uf every Kind, sir, from the highest
REpoRTER-About how many used generally to
come here
less every Tuesday evening. You see that was the
evening on which Mrs. Burns prescribed for the
ladies. She used to come up rom ner pace e. on
stranre to say. afterwards, in the nearing OF the
repOrtcr Mrs. BrIce INFINITELY described the instrt-
ment which Mrs. Burns used IN operating on ihe
woman who called on ner. Mrs. Brice's APP
Ser an arresI wsGm sa% SS' with MRS. Eurns when
It remains vet be decided whether or not she was
ihe woman who ned the unfortunate Mary Russell
6eayored to operate on her. Mrs Brice stated to
the reporter that Mrs. Burns rented from her the
front basement ana bedroom at the back the 'front.'
parlor on the first 1oor aud back pedroom Ihe
RAvsAcKED EVERY HOLE AND CORNER
IN the house but could discover no traces either OF
uruCs or instruments or anything which would lead
them to believe that tins nefarous trade was being
cnrrIed on there The parlor was rather neatly
furnished. A drugget covered rich carpet on the
door, and on a side table were scattered some few
articles of virtu. As the nigni waned the sergeant
iOoked anxlousy at his watch and looked
gloomy. AT nine O'Clock the door oe!l was was r9ng. UNI
The reporter stepped hastily no .ne ,nner oGS he
woman busted herself about the room, and the
young man hurried to answer the summons. IL is
r,ns,Iy subject even TO hint at humor, but
M was impossible TO look at me
st.,lid face OF tho Sergeant and not
lu1i
conversation took place in the all between the de-
Iective and the conner, and tie latter evidently
with difficulty was induced TO euter the sitting
ROOM From his point or view the reporter could
not well see her face, but from the rev ganees nc