The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-30
IS THIS AN OFFICIAL MURDER9
THE TRAGIC DEATH OF LIZZIE sTEARN UNDER

The HERALD OF yesterday briefly referred TO the
case OF Elizabeth Stearn. who was conveyed in an
ambulance from one OF the station houses on
Tuesday morning last to Bellevue Hospital, and,
instead oil being admitted there, was put on board
the steamer Bellevue at the loot OF East Twenty
sixth street to await transportation to the island,
but, giving birth to child on the vessel died
before the Bellevue lett the pier. reporter
yesterday proceeded 20 Bellevue Hospital and
ptner points ascertain full details, and II they
are IS he learns this is another Illustration OF
the
RECKLESS DISREGARD OF HUMAN LIFE
entertained by some of the officials on the pay.
rolls OF the Commissioners OF Charities and Cor
rection. Coroner croker, who has the investga-
ton OF the case, ana has named Thursday. at
Bellevue Hospital as the time and place Tor such
investigation, was unable to give any further de-
tails than that the woman had died as stated and
referred the writer to Keeper White, or the
Norgue, for the details.
President Bailey, OF the Commissioners, al
mitted that the woman had died as stated, and
read the reporter special report made upon the
ease BY DR.. Murray house surgeon oil Bellevue.
This report, which sets forth an ugly cOnd
ton OF affairs in the management Of
the transfer OF cases OF this kind
to Bellevue and their treatment there,
President Bailey declined to permit to be copied
without the consent OF the Iull Board. From the
report, however, it appears that the woman
reached the pier about two or nalf-past two A. NJ,
In ambulance on account OF the tide being
out the boat was several feet below the pier, and
some time was consumed In getting the woman
Oh board. She was then placed on a couch In the
cabin, wnen 1t was discovered that she was
LIKELY TO SOON BECOME MOTHER.
The Doctor reports that he and a nurse were
sent for. and this consumed about twenty min
ntes' time. When ne arrived, with nurse from
the hospital, the steam pipes were cold, the room
IN no condition for her treatment and no neces-
Jaries at hand. He at once sent to the hospital
or these necessaries and nearly nalf an hour
Elapsed before the return OF the messenger, al.
though the pier is within 100 yards OF the
hospital. In the meantime ne made
her as comfortable as possible and gave her
stimulants and medical attendance. She gave
birth to living child, and, beginning to sink
rapidly, died about five O'Clock IN the cold cabin Of
the vessel tied 70 the pier. The Doctor. In his
report, states that he was unable to account for
the sudden death OF the woman, unless 1T was
from the exposure to the cold-the night beng a
severe one. The above Is the substance OF the
suppressed report. DR.. CLARK, cnel the faculty,
In forwarding the report, calls the attention OF
the Commission TO the necessity for having
A MATERNITY HOSPITAL.
It seems that about IL year ago tue wards de-
voted TO obstetrics were discontinued on the al
legged ground that they were unnealthy, and cases
HO pital on Blackwell's Island Tor treatment.
President Bailey states that since this report
sucn hospital. but as yet tney have not agreed
apon location, some OF the members being Ill
avor OF having it IN the Bellevue building, while
others want It located slde. The reporter
visited Bellevue Hospital IN search OF DR.. Murray
or the Warden Tor information. Both were absent.
ana ior nearly two hours he sought IN vain, from
basement TO garnet, to hnd any one who repre-
sen,ed Warden O'Rourke. DR.. Murray was
absent and his substitute for the day. Or.
MetCat QOtllQI OF the FACTS. PeODe
crowded the office IN search OF az Official and
failed 10 find any one. Alter all other efforts mad
iaed the reporter sought the rooms 81 DR.. Morrell,
the ambulance surgeon, VINO conveled deceased
to the boar, and is himself now Ill. From this
gentleman 1t was ascertaned that in answer to a
summons alter midnight on tuesday morning he
proceeded with an ambulance TO tue station house
corner OF Fit II street and second avenue. where
he found the woman in labor pans. she had been
accompanied there ny young female friend, VINO
1ay before she had been allowed TO go out OF me
Charity hospital. hlch she mad entered Tor &C.
cOuchment on pass. He at once conveyed her
to the pier and, placing her on tine boat, summoned
DR.. Murray. The Doctor reports that The cabin
was very cold. and toere were no iacltles at hand
TO make her comfortable, and she had to be car
RED on board by the watchnan on the pier. He
reports that sne was not taken to Bellevue HOspi-
ts, because there are no cases OF this nature
treated there. In answer to the question whether
the are frequent cases OF this KIND occurring at
one cold night last winter one DOR woman gave
BIRTH TO A CHILD IN THE AMBULANCE
under the charge OF surgeon Hathaway while
night When ne brought Lizzie Stearn to the boat
Is very colo one and expresses the
pace TOR s"ch cases, especal as
1t night there are no women in attendance upon
It, Keeper WHITE rep rts mat the girls mother
resides at No. SO Ridge street. where the deceased
took tea on Monday evening" and then proceeded
to the house Of female friend at NO. As Ridge
street, intending to speDd the night there. Being
taken with labor pains, she was taken ny this girl
to tie Seventeenth precinct station house, and
our ambulance was sent Tor. she arrived at the
per about nalrpa two A. Nj. The Commissioners
mad several weeks ago provided warm room in
the building on the per in wnlch N BED was
Of the boat. 1t seems that
THE BuNGLING DOCTORS
did not know oil This room. and placed the girl In
ehe boat instead. One OF the officials reports that
house surgeon Murray assured Commissioner
Brennan that he dld not know OF this room, and
hence she was treated on the cold and cheerless
steamer where she died in the gray oil the morn
Ing. HE officials report that the girl bore bad
character. This Is her second enid, although
never married, and only twenty-one years OF age.
a year ago last November she was confined OF
child IN Bellevue hospital. IL is said her mother
Is too poor TO give her interment, and she was
Yesterday buried in Potter's Field by the charity
auLnorl les. The child Is still living, and Is cared
Tor in Bellevue Hospital.
The wharf master, on being informed OF the ma.
ture OF tie report OF DR.. Murray denied that the
fire on the boat was out. He asserts that hot air
is Kept on all night in the cabin, uut they mad
business to place her on board. as apartments are
provided III the mouse on the pier Tor sucn cases.
WHERE is THE RESPONSIBILITY?
This is the question that the jury must answer
II Vie luCUS are as stated 10 tHc reporter ny va
nous persons more or less familiar with the CIR
cumstances, the laGlt, III the first place, lies with
the physician IN the Charity Hospital, who
permitted the woman TO leave on pass
when near her confinement; In the
second place, with The ambulance sur
eeOn who ought to nave known OF the
existence OF the room in The building on the pier
Tor the reception OIL such cases, ana third with
Dr.. Murray, VINO did not remove her to this room
from = cold, bleak cabin, which, If his own report
be true, was unit lor the housing or u person III
usua health. The TACT tnat accommodations mad
on n
cases OF tins kind was known in every newspaper
pfice In TINS city weeks ago and published in the
papers, yet IL would appear that thq louise sur
ReOn OF Bellevue Hospital, Dr.. Murray, The
ambulance surgeon DR.. Morrel, and the watch
man on the pier only discovered 1t last Tuesday
morning, when IL was too latc to repair their
blunder. There Is certainly m opportunity here
presented Tor Coroner Croker To teach these
officials q lesson as TO their duties.
SEIZURE OF AN ENGLISH VESSEL.