The New York herald., 1874-08-12
MRS. ISABELLA POTTER's FATE.

A Sad Story OF Disease and Death-Dr.
Schieferdecker Denies That His Patient
Died from Negleet-What Dr.. Elisha
Harris says-A Deathbed Marriage.
The sad circumstances connected with the death
OF Mrs. Isabella Potter, daughter OF an Episcopal
clergyman OF this city, at well known water
cure establishment kept BY Dr. c. 9. Schefer.
decker, at No. Sl3 West Twenty street,
have been extensively commented upon by the
citizens Of New York during the past week. Ac-
cording to the story OF DR.. Schieferdecker pro-
prietor of the Water Cure House at No. 3l3 West
Twenty-second street. three months ago Rev. DR..
Depue came to see him and spoke about his
daughter being parslyzed n consequence
Of rheumatism and, as he thought, an
overdose of strychnne. DR.. Schiefer-
decker says he told Mr.. Depue that If
the cause OF the paralysis was not central he
thought he might be able TO cure the case, and,
therefore, he volunteered to 40 80. DIR. Schiefer-
decker added:-"She was brought into the house
eight weeks ago, and, relying on her fathers word
and her own statement made no local examine
ton on the lower part OF her body, because / did
not like to, only in exceptional cases. was then
suffering from dysentery, and as the young lady
was in the third story could only occasionally 60
up to see her. She declared repeatedly during the
first two or three weeks that she was much i'm
pIOVtu lue tHlIu Wccks uOWcNcI lOuuu Smcu
in the room and requested lady patient TO ex-
anime her on the lower part Of her body, and
there sne found gangrene. / then Immediately ex-
amiued her myself and found her condition much
worse than was previously represented to me.
sent Tor Surgeon Minor, my own assistant not
being present. DR.. Minor thought she should be
taken to Roosevelt Hospital, but she was refused
admission, and MIR. Depue brought DR.. Leale to the
house to see to ner condition. She died soon
AFTER"
Dr. Schieferdecker denies the statement made
by another physician before the Coroner's jury
OF criminal neglect on his part, and says that his
daughter visited the patient every day and at
narents " bronpha stranSe phvs,can "I ,nfo the the
house. when she was left to the atter's charge en-.
tirely. He thinks the charge of "negIect' pre-
ferred against him was merely Instituted for the
purpose OF injuring his business and breaking him
down, and is confident Of being able to establish
his entire innocence should the case ever be
brought before the courts. The Doctor says his
patients are numbered from among the most re-
spectacle and wealthiest citizens or the country,
aud they are unanimous in their expression OF
confidence in him as man and physician.
representative OF the HERALD yesterday inquired
any action in the Case, and was
to their attention. DR.. Elisha Harris, IN conversa.
rl0n with HERALD reporter yesterday, thus
expressed himself upon the existence OF water
cure establishments-"These establishments, like
medicines with mysterious names. draw certain
class of customers from all grades OF people, from
born idiots to doctors in divinity. 1t s natural,
because when person is q hypochondr1ac or ma.
turaly diseased, pretensions OF mystery go further
with him than sound medical advice or practice
In this particular establishment, 1t appears that
promise was made to perform a cure upon what
appears to have been an 1ncurable disease. ANY
physician or hospital Ofiicer who makes such over
lures should not be believed. No sensible pnysi
clan thinks Of allowing delicate patient, suffering
from so serious disease, to be subjected to such
unusual risk, such as surrounds the practice OF
most persons, no these special AL estab-
Iishments."
The case as 1t stands at present Will be brought
to the attention OF the courts provided the Grand
Jury find indictment.
Mrs. Potter a few days before her death was a
Miss Depue and bore the latter name when put
under the care OF DIR. Scheerdecker. She had
long been sufferer from disease, but had q con-
slant and faithful friend and lover in the person
OF ner husband Despalring OF ever recovering
her health again. very shortly before her unhappy
DEATH she sent for and was married to Mr.. Potter.
He ls spoken OF as most devoted lover, and Is
said TO he deeply afflicted in the loss he has
tatned In the death OF his beautiful and accom-
plished, though Invalid wife.