The New York herald., 1875-03-18
THE MALPRACTICE TRAGEDY.
A Singular and Remarkable
Romance Developed.
The Parties Concerned and
Who They Are.
EVIDENCE AGAINST MRS. IHL.


The sad end OF Mrs. Annie Josephlue Curtis,
which was published in Wednesdays HERALD o.
lered some new developments yesterday. Alter
protracted agony she died on Wednesday morning
at fifteen minutes past twelve. having been
hardly conscious during the last hour OF her life.
She repeated several times after the woman Ihl
had lett her bedside, that she IT was who per-
formed the operation upon her which was about
TO result fatally.
Immediately after death the lady began to NOR
THY, showing the intense Inflammation which
must have taken place before.
Mrs. Curtis had been in many respects remark
able woman. She was gifted with great personal
beauty and voice OF wondrous power and sweet.
ness, SO much so that she was to have made her
debut at the Academy OF Music this month. under
the management OF Mr.. Max Strakoscn, had he
not determined TO give no spring season. Her
first part was to have been Arda, ana her stage
name was to have been Anna Cartez. Failing to
appear In March Mr.. Strakosch had offered her
permanent engagement OF five years, and meant
to send her to Italy In May Tor further study She
recently studied under Sgnor Erran, or this city.
Mrs. Curtis was the wife OF Tyler Curtis, one OF
the best known citizens OF San Francisco. He ran
for Mayor at one time, was Fire mmlssioner
and president OF an insurance company there Tor
some years. He was noted at one time as q man
or large wealth. He married Miss Annie Mac
kenZie Ghe deceasei's maiden name) some TWO
years since and brought her TO New YORK, together
with his beautiful daughrers. The newly married
couple went on trip 10 Europe, wncn suddenly
was broken up Dy Ill news rom San Francisco.
Returning here, Mr.. Curtis found MS affairs IN
VOWED tina, he determined to visit the Pacific
coast alone and leave his Wife and daughters
here. 1t was their last parting. Instead orre-
naming two weeks, as he intended, he remained
eighteen months, dltflculty Guilty came
upon him. In the meantime he vile worked bravery
ard nobly here TO earn livelihood for herself aud
the daughters, varied by occasional remttances
without proper introductlOns ana acqualntances
1t was uphill work TO the poor woman. sne sang
Ior time in Christ church. out there the Objec-
ton was made that her voice was too strong for
the other members OF the choir. In the meantime
dwlndled down until they became almost nothing.
AT times she almost subsisted on the charity OF
tnat She answered an ADVERTISEMENT in the the
HERALD for position IN the choir
OF an up,own church: The advertisement
tue man Benjamin Gregory, who mas been the
cause OF her downiall. she sang at the church Tor
some time. and then Gregory, VINO was the organ
ist o the church. began 10 pay her visits at In
tsrvals. It would appear that she met him out at
times, and the people or the house IN which she
lived had no idea that ANYTHING was wrong. She
probably fell as much rom the want OF money as
from anything else, and 1t Is alleged that In addi.
tion she had received news from California which
did not satisfy mr. with her husbands conduct
there. Manv reasons combined to MAKE one VINO
had hitherto been pure OF soul and body iall into
ways which different circumstances would never
have Above ed to enter ner mind
Yesterday her husband was telegraphed to, and
he was Informed of tle death oil his vile. He an.
.swereo, saving that the remains should oe placed
send them on. The children VIII remain with .
BENJAMIN Gregory, who appears by his demeanor
to bitterly regret MS lault. and on wnom some
palatou rests III consequence OF his having given
tha tnI1 vVh1 rnl.A ~
Nine. Ihl, the midwife, gave bail Yesterday in
$1,000 to appear at the trial as witness against
the woman.
several witnesses VIII appear at the inquest
when Will be ned on Friday at ten O'Clock, and
place the quit upon the shoulders OF the woman
lhl. The dying concession OF Mrs. Curtis. the
the visit oI the woman to the house. the testimony
OF the doctor ana oil G. egory himself and the
partial confession Of Mrs. hi WIN furnish an
abundance OF evidence upon which q conviction
Will PROBABLY be had. The atrocious crime she
committed was fortunately sworn to by the dying
woman. Another halt hour ana 1t would
have been too late. The post-mortem ex-
animation yesterday comes in as nnal piece
prooi. Dr. McWmnnie conducted II. ana be-
side him there were present DIS. Barry, Van
KeeE and + nnell. Coroner Croker empaneiled
jury or twelve persons. VINO viewed the BODY ana
most OF whom assisted at the autopsy. II was
observed that there was ilttle taceration, while
there was unaouoted evidence OF violence, and
an abortion mad been procured The evidences OF
peritonltis and metritls were abundant, and the
oniy wonder was she lived so long From most
beautiful woman she mad been even the day be-
fore sne mad changed TO hldeous sight. The
autopsy lasted ABOUT one hour, and was entirely
satisfactory.
The following Is the ante-mortem statement of
Josephine Curtis
"A week ago yesterday went TO see Doctress
Ih: she had a silver plated instrument and oper-
ated upon me; also gave me medicine; the woman
here present Is the woman who operated upon
me; am an awful bad woman Tor telling on her:
God VIII punish me my husbands name IS Lyon
Curtis; lie is IN San Francisco and has been
there for fifteen montns met Mr.. Greg
Ory III the Church OF the Atonement; ne did not
send me; he did not know went; have told the
truth IL was to go before my God this moment
would say the same; am twenty-iOur years Of
age and was born ia California;
Mrs. lhl, the midwife, was committed to the
Tombs, wtnOus bail, by Coroner Croker.
The Iather OF Mrs. GURUS was at one time
noted man in san Francisco. lie was sheriff or
the county whcn the Vigilance Committee was in
Iull force. and he made remarkable record at the
time He was also at one period Cnlef OF Police
OF san Francisco. The latner OF Gregory was aG
one time Mayor of Jersey Ci y and one OF the prln-
cipal stockholders OF the New Jersey Railroad.
He died recently leaving some seven millions be.
hind him.
the funeral wil take place to-day, from No IL
Union square, the late residence or the dead lady,
ut une O'Clock