The New York herald., 1872-05-15
MALPRACTICE AND DEATH.
A Wealthy Widow Butchersd and Dies in Her
Own House-The Butcher Arrested by Cap
tain Byrnes-A Truly Horrible Case.

Last evening the details OF horrible case OF NAL
practice, resulting in the death OF the victim were
brought to light through the untiring vigilance o
Captain Byrnes Of the Fifteenth precinct, and Dep
uty Coroner +. T. T. Marsh.
Mrs. Mary Ann Lowden, widow lady, forty-nve
years OF age, OF hitherto unblemished reputation,
and who has moved In the best society, has lived
for many years at 22s Thompson street, which
property she owned. She has grown up daughters,
one OF whom Is married and lives In the
house with her. For some time past Mrs. Lowden
has been receiving the attentions OF a well-known
uptown livery stable keeper, with whom she was In
the habit Of riding out to Central Park and indulg-
ing In dinners at hotels on the road. The relatives
and friends OF Mrs. Lowden, however, did
not suspect for moment that there was
any improper intimacy existing between
her and the stable keeper. but in this,
as appears, they were sadly mistaken. In
an evil hour she betrayed and ruined, and the
next thing for her TO do II possible to hide her
shame from the world. To do this, Mrs. Lowden
secured the services OF George X. Gyles, styling
himself doctor who keeps a drug store at liz
Ninth avenue, and lives at 447 West Twenty-third
street.
At two O'Clock on Monday afternoon
,Gyles rang the bell OF Mrs. Lowden's
house. and was admitted 6y Miss Kate Otto q
proceeded to the widows room, and after remain
ing Just two hours took his departure, but not I'LL
after leaving his Office address, minus his name, on
slip Of paper. Just an hour later Mrs. LOwdcn was
found dead In bed and the matter was subsequently
reported TO the Mercer street police station as
sudden death.
Late that night, or az an early hour yesterday
morning. Coroner Young received information
touching the matter which led him 10 suspect that
the death OF Mrs. L0wden resulted from other than
natural causes and communicated his suspicious
TO Captain Byrnes, with the request that ne would
make an effort to learn some further particulars
concerning 1t.
While the captain was thus engaged DR.. Marsh
held a post-mortem examination on the body OF
deceased, which showed fearful and fatal case or
butchery. The uterus was enlarged ana nled with
blood. There was laceraton OF the posteror por-
tlon OF the uterus. The placenta was torn away at
its lower attachment, and the uterus contained a
fntis OF about the third month ntero-gestaton.
Death was due TO exhaustion from internal hemor-
rhage from attempted abortion and medicine,
while. In the DOCTORS opinion instruments had
been freely and recklcssy used.
The cause Of death having been fully established,
the next thing in order was 10 secure the doctor.
BY dint OF inquiries Captains Byrnes learned
that the sOcalled doctor was named Chfds orGiles,
whereupon the captain and DR.. Marsh started out
and secured the city, visiting nearly III the persons
named "a above TO be found In the city, but their
mission was frultless. Captain Byrnes again visited
the residence of deceased ard there learned
from one OF the inmates that the so-called
doctor who had boen attending deceased
gave his address liz Ninth avenue, bnt the
paper on which he had written IL could not be
Captain Byrnes started for Ninth avenue and at
the number indicated found the man Gyes Adj
dressing MIN ON name tne captain shiO, 'DOtLoT,
that lady In Thompson street you called on yester-
day afternoon IL quite sick and wants to see you
Some OF her friends believe Mrs. Lowden has been
operated upon, and want you 10 20 down and see
how she is'' .sOh, yes replied Gyles; don't be-
lleve in any such business, and will go with you at
once'
on the way down town Gyles confessed that Mrs.
Lowden had requested him to perform an opera
tion but said he-deciined 10 do IL.
On reaching tho Mercer street police station
Gyes learned for the nrst time that lie was prs-
oner and after being searched was sent below.
Miss Otto being sent for called at the station house
and positively Identified the prisoner as the man
she had let into the house OF deceased on Monday
afternoon, end Miss Mary Louisa l.owden daughter
OF deceased also recognized Gyles as being In her
mothers room on Monday afternoon. All this time
the accused in ignorance Of his victims death,
and on being informed OF 10 by the captain sank
back In his seat and came near falnting. Recover
ing himself slightly Gycs exclaimed, captain,
! didn't do it,"
DR.. Marsh states that the bed OF deceased had
been sudousy prepared for the occasion, and there
remains no doubt whatever but that Gyles called
| at the house by appointment and for the business
| specified.
| As soon az Coroner Young returns nom the coun
l try arrangements will he made for holding the in
quest, and In the meantime the prisoner remains IL
close confinement. Gylcs Is forty-six years Of ago
! born In ireland, aud has family.