The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-11-28
A Shocking Affair.
Attempt to Procure Abortion.
DEATH OF THE SUBJECT.
Arrest and imprisonment of the
Accused.

Shaw, who resides in the East part of
Paris township, this county, was
brought to town in custody of an Off
GER, on charge of having attempted
to procure an abortion on the body of
8 woman named Anna Phipps, who
it is charged died under his treatment.
The following testimony taken before
the Coroner's Inquest. held at Paris,
will furnish all the information, in
reference to the horrible affair, we
have in our possession:
TESTIMONY OF THE DEFENDANT.
Ed.card ShaU, s1UOrn-The name of
the deceased was Anna Phipps. Her
home is in ST. Catharines, Canada.
No father living; been with me three
weeks; did not complain of being
sick when she arrived; was tired
was taken sick on the l 9th inst. had
chill had no physician until Friday:
her chill was light; complained of
being weak; treated her for ague.
On Friday DIR. Fiester commenced to
treat her and treated her until she di
ed. She came to me by request of u
friend to stay until could finda place
for her to learn a trade. The name OF
the person who recommended her
here was John Bellows, married
mau; brought her for no other but for
me to fine her place. | had not tri-
ed to find her, a place. She came from
Reno, Pa, had been there as hired
girl. Bellows lives at Reno; was
here Yesterday. The reason [ had
not tried TO find her place. was
busy with my fall work. Went 10
Leavittsburg for her; was advised oi
her coming by letter from Bellows.
Said she was engaged to be married
to Bellows. Bellows had married
about the Attn ofJaly, as deceased told
me. Bellows said she was goo1 girl
and he felt deep interest in her wei
fare. Never said she had been seduc-
ed by Bellows, and Bellows never
told me that she had. Bellows came a
few DAYS after she arrived and again
last night. He came because L wrote
to him that deceased was lying at tine
point of death. | also telegraphed 10
Bellows, and also telegraphed to step
father. His name is Franklin he was
at Reno. 1 expected Bellows to take
charge of the remains, expected to-
keep the body until Sunday Bellows
said he would try and see Franklin.
When deceased arrived did not think
anything was the matter; nor Bel
lows ever told me anything was the
matter. Don't know that she was iii
family way, and had no reason to
think that she was. To all appear
ance she came an innocent, Christian
girl, member of the Methodist
church. Teiegraphed TO Franklin
IL A Gho hnr
with twenty dollars. Paid DIR. Fies-
ter nine dollars; she got some things
at the Store; the balance / have used
busy he could not look place for
her; depended on me to find her a
place. Treated her .Jr nothing but
fever and ague. Gave her few Do
ver's powders. Her pulse did not
come down; SO sent for my family
physician; had some hopes he would
raise her. Had chills every day and
fever high. Died Nov. 81, about mid
night. Did not give her TO fhe town,
because l thought she possibly would
get well. Bellows never promised to
pay her bill. Her request was to be
taken to ST. Catharines and buried by
her grandfather. Suppose Bellows
paid her fare here because he took so
much interest in her. did have all
idea that that Bellows would pay me,
because he was a friend of my family.
Deceased was twenty years old; un-
derstood she had been healthy, but
had worked when she did not feel
able.
[Signed,1 EDWARD SHAW.
TEsTAMoNY OF MRS. SHAW.
NY name is Hattie A. Shaw. The
name of the deceased wasAnnaPhipps,
her home was St. Catharines, Canada.
Did not come from there, had come
from Reno; was we'll when she arriv-
ed did not suppose there was any
thing the matter with her. She came
on Sunday and John Bellows on Mon |
day. Bellows did not come with her
as I know. Bellows wrote to us to |
find place for her to learn trade,
and we answered that we would
Can't tell Bellows business here
makes home with US when here has
things here that his mother left him.
Think he didn't come direct from Re-
no the first time he came. Don't know |
as Bellows came to the depot. He !
said nothing about paving for her
board; he only wanted us to find her
-
girl and had always worked hard. |
Bellows staid all night when he came.
Saw nothing like intimacy between |
them. Franklin was her adopted fa-
ther. He went to Oil regions and she |
with him. She was an adopted child |
of Franklin. Said she had kept COM
pany with Bellows two years and eX-
pected to marry him. Suppose Bel
lows is married man; wrote to us
that he was married and sent their
pictures. Think the cause of the death |
of Miss Phipps was fever. Left her
clothing and trunk for her relatives.
Asked at first to be buried here, as her
mother did not know where she was.
Never saw anything wrong Or out of
the way with her. We haVe~a good
deal of company of all ages. Bellows
was here-.Saturday morning; stayed
all night Friday night. She request
ed US if we could not send to her mo-
ther to send to- John Bellows, He
could not stay to bury her on account
of his business. Bellows thought we
could get word from her aunt.
[Signed] HATTIE A. SHAW.
TESTIMONY OF DIR. FIEsTER.
My name is John N. Fiesler; am
wac OdliCu "
see the Decreased week ago last Fri
day; examined her; supposed she had
some congestion of the lungs and OF
the bowels aud high fever. She had
slight chills every day; the lever more
or less every day until the last few
days. The cause of the fever is hard
to tell; might have been from the
lower region of the bowels. Made no
inquiries, but found inflammation and
fever. A severe cold and excessive
eating and abortion might cause the
inflammation and fever. Cau't tell
which of the three. Nothing of the
kind was done when ! was here, bat
ruOfT --;r-i>A-l-r--v- oCCIT rrIC u1sc.
mean abortion. Was told she had
been treated before / came by DIR.
c - \ q. J.