The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-07
The Mysterious Death Of Sarah Ma
ria Bancker, the Wife ola
Harlem Physician.
STRANGE RUMoRs AND ACCUSATIONS.
An Investigation Into the Case and Post
Mortem Examination by DR.. Cushing-Dr.
Bancker Arrested by Order Of Coroner
Newman-He Asserts His limo
cence-A Chemical Analysis
to Decide Whether
al This Il Case
of Poisoning.

Hath street, died under mysterious circumstances
on Monday last. They had been married but one
month and seemed to have lived happily together,
but there were, nevertheless, at the time OF her
death strange rumors IN the vicinity, until the au-
thoritles were at last compelled to investigate the
case. Sergeant Wilson, OF the Thirty -second pre-
cinct, was the first who heard these rumors. The
Sergeant was passing drug store in the neighbor-
hood, when the druggist called to him.
sergeant" the druggist said, "there fs some
thing very mysterious about the death Of Mrs.
Bancker.n
The Sergeant asked several questions, and the
druggist finally said
"well, have heard all sorts Of rumors and don't
know
WHETHER TO BELIEVE THEM.
They have not been married a month. and she,
nevertheless, had miscarriage on Friday last
(3lst OF july. know this positively. She became
I'll ten days ago, and the doctor said she was suf
fering from cholera morbus and vomiting. Now, 1t
was very singular that they could not stop this
cholera morbus and vomiting in five days. An
other strange symptom was that her tongue was
Dlack.n
do you think there were any symptoms OF
poison p" the sergeant inquired.
'It looks very much like it'll the druggist re-
piled; "but of course it would be impossible for
any one to give an opinion without having first
made an examination. think 1t is the duty Of
the proper authorities 10 investigate this matter"
The Sergeant pursued his inquiries in the ward
and found that almost everybody who had heard
OF the death of Mrs. Bancker suspected foul play
He ascertained, as is alleged, that the doctor had
bad reputation, and some people said he
HAD sEDUCED THE GIRL
and lived with her long before they were married
They went so far as to assert tnat he had motive
for killing her, he would not have her bear
child SO soon.
Mr.. Charles Ron the grandfather Of the de-
ceased, called on the Sergeant and also requested
HIM to have the matter investigated. Sergeant
Wilson went yesterday morning TO the CorOners
Office and told Coroner Herman the facts which
have already been stated. Coroner Herman, in
company with DR.. Joseph Cushman, promptly re-
paired 10 the residence of DR.. Bancker, III l24th
street. Carriages stood in front OF the door and
everything seemed to be ready Tor the funeral.
DR.. Bancker did not seem surprised at seeing the
Coroner, and said when the latter told him that he
Would have 10 investigate the case and examine
the BODY, "A rightln
The appearance OF DR.. Bancker is not that OF the
mildest and most kind hearted. OF men. He is IL
man of thlrtyfve, large, both tall and broad, with
A LARGE MASSIVE HEAD;
n heavy black moustache, that looks ferocious and
eyes, full lips, which were always SET and rather
lowering brow, set OF by mass OF thick, dark,
glossy hair. His manner was not calm and self
possessed. On the contrary, he was exceedingly
nervous. and several times when he was at a dead
changed color.
the Coroner was made stin more suspicious by
the answers Or. Bancker gave him. He SAID he had
been married one month ana his wife had not been
pregnant so far as he knew. The lady first suffered
from bilious attack and had been constipated Tor
week. He had called DR.. L. quick, oil 155 East
127th street. Then she began complaining OF her
throat. He and DR.: Quick had treated her both
hOmmopathically and ALPHABETICALLY. Her death had
been caused by laryngtis.
DR.. Cushman then made careful post-mortem
examination. Ii was held in the back parior, all
THE ONLY PERSONS IN THE BACK rARLoR
T Teoorter and Dr. Hsncker Who SEEMED I lo
be uneasy as he nervously paced the room. The
body lay IN neat coffin, which was placed near the
window, SO that the doctor should have good light
when examining the body. 1t was the corpse OF
what seemed 10 have been young girl. She
little slim form; pale, long race, with peculiar
expression Of pain; haggard cheeks, per-
thin lips, sharp, small nose. This was
the corpse Of Sarah Maria Bancker.' The re-
suit Of the examination follows:--Ur
Cnshman found that the stomach was distended
with daiK-colored fluid, aud presented on its In
ternal surface several points OF Inflammation The
liver was normal, but the Kidneys were enlarged.
There were evidences also that child had been
born whether dead or alive, but apparently the
former The brain was in "a perfectly healthy con-
ditiOn.
When Or. Cushman had finished the examination
and was sewing up the body,
DIR. BANCKER STEPPED UP
and asked, with some nestatlon:-
"Wel, Doctor how do you find ltY''
at is very difficult TO say DE-. Cushman replied;
'but this much is certain, there are symptoms
at all OF laryngltis. The. woman died from the
effects OF Miscarriage
ms was the main point. DR.. Quick, who had
attended the deceased had given a death cerul-
cate naming aryngits TN this instance KIND of
throat dsease) rs the cause oi death DR.. Cush-
man said positively there were no symptoms OF
throat disease whatever and tod the reporter alter
wards that DR.. quick might have given just
wei a certlhcauon Of death caused by wound
IRON "a shotgun
There were two very important points already
10 the first place DR.. Cushman found that death
had been caused by the effects OF miscarriage
ana not 10y laryngitls-the cause named IN tue
death certificate THIS was certainly suspicious
circumstance. In the second place, the husband,
VINO was
HIMSELF A PHYSICIAN
denied that his VIE had been encetnte, while DR..
Cushman found unmistakabe evidences or the
contrary CONDITION having existed. What could be
more suspiclousr
third point supplied possible motive for
causing the death oi this poor unfortunate girl;
she was but eighteen years Old when she died They
had been married but four months, and in Jour
months she would have probably borne child The
rest Is mystery, which is yet TO be cleared.
The Coroner, after the post-mortem examination,
questioned Ut Bancker DR.. Bancker denied once
more that his wife had been pregnant: but when
Dr. Cushman SAID he was positive OF that fact he
changed color and was unable TO give a satisfac-
tory reply The Coroner then ordered Sergeant
Wilson TO arrest Dr. Bancker and TO take him TO
the police station. The Sergeant
TOLD BIN IN A WHISPER
what he had been ordered 70 do, but DR.. Bancker
can right; I'm ready to 60"
DR.. Quick, who had attended the deceased
told the HERALD reporter that be thought she bad
bad a miscarriage, but he did not know IL at the
time. 81 did not ask her many questions he
said. 'as knew That her husband was physician
IL would have been quite different If had attended
the vile OF an ordinary citlzen, VINO knew nothing
OF incidence
The reporter conyersed with DR.. Bsncker before
the latter was taken 10 the police station.
REPORTER--DO you wish say anything in
regard TO these charges
DR.. BANCKER very earnestly ana seiying hold OF
the reporters arD)--Wby, know nothing about
81. am utterly at loss TO understand these pro-
ceedings
MY WIPE HAD BILIOUS ATTACK
and suffered afterwards from laryngitls from
which she died. l really don't know why the
Coroner made this Investigation ] deny having
committed any criminal act for which should be
paced under arrest.
kErORrER.--Dr. Cushman found that your wife
was pregnant,
=, Dr BAsckHR (shrugging his shoulders)-T don't
nno" dnylnlng about IL. You may also have heard