The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-14
THE BROOKLYN MALPRACTICE CASE.

| The BROOkLlN MALPRAUIlCE CASE.
THE MYSTERY CLEARING AWAY FROM THE CIR
CUhsTANCEs WHICH LED TO THE DEATH OF
MISS ANToINETTE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BE-
FORE CORONER MISUNDERSTANDING DEVELOP
MENTs
The prompt action OF Captain Ferry, OF the Third
precinct, In causing the arrest OF John II. Belts,
the alleged betrayer OF Mss Antonette Fenner
and Dr. Estes, has enabled Coroner Simms to
commence the investigation. Tue inquest was
begun yesterday forenoon. The parties to the
case were present and manifested mucn uneasl-
ness.
Mrs. Bertha Fenner was the first witness called.
She testified that she was the mother OF the de-
ceased; that on Friday morning, February &c
1875, AntOinette had an engagement in New York,
at Espenchieds', Futon street, for the first
week in March, where she was to be employed;
she returned the same afternoon and COM
blamed OF being SICK; the following day
she called witness to her bedside and
asked her If she would forgive her, saying, IL
know poor mamma you will not respect me any
more - she sid she had had miscarriage, aud
begged me not to say anything to her papa; she
would not permit witness to send for doctor
the day following, though she was IN a much
worse condition; subsequently deceased asked
visited by the Witness who gave her some medi-
cine; the day following the Doctor came to see
the patient, and brought with him his uncle, DR..
Ford, ST.; the Doctor askel the patient whether
anything had been done to her, and she said,
ayes; lady had operated on her, and instru-
ments had been used on her." Mrs. Fenner con.
tlnued-Mr. Belts was not a frequent visitor at
my house he has been at my house only twice
within one year; she did not mention his name
WHO the father OF the child; Mrs. Gale pre-
! vlously had FURNISHED rooms IN my house, and had
! lett some things there; she called Tor the things
/ on February q. ana then saw my daughter;
/ was not social with Mrs. Gaze, and tod
her That on account OF a quarrel sne had in my
house with lady that she must move out; that
mace her mac with me; 1 did not know that my
daughter VISITED Mrs. Gale; ! do not know whether
mrs. Gale ever went to New York wltn my
daughter; nor do know that my daughter ever
! visited Nj. Belts at the Eastern Hotel; / 40 not
know that Mr.. Belts gave my daughter any
presents a boy Drougnt a pair OF bracelets my
daughter, but she never tod me VINO sent them 10
her; she said sue dld not know herself who sent
them.
Charles Fennsr, father Of deceased, testified that
! he knew very little about the case. and that the
FRS ntimaton ne had that she was Ill was on last
Thursday week. March 4, when he saw her lying
SICK and two doctors by ner; Dr. Ford told him II
his wife told him mat tney we're IN great trouble
because their daughter had miscarriage; ar.
Belts was at the house on New Years Day was
aware that she was in the nabit OF visiting any
/ one at the Eastern Hotel
] VI. A. ~.
at his ONCE. No. SIS Henry street, March q and
sad there was a lady at ner house. No. 6S Ples!-
vious SUNDAY, aud that she was suffering llom
! chlls and dysentery ne Prescribed, and the fol-
| girl suffering from Inflammation; the mother told
] witness that the girl had been married without
! the knowledge oil tue iatner, VINO was not aware
/ Of tue nature or the Sickness ana she desired me
! to keep II from him. objected 10 this, and al.
vlsed tnat he should be acquainted with the iacLs
/ en- Thursday ne mad consultation with DR.. Ma
| thaniel FORD, ana again on FRIDAY; several otner
| consultations were he'd, but the patient died sn
| Tuesday night OF perItontis; the day she died a
! man called at the Office OF the witness and asked
how the patients were dong, ana how q GER
tail lady IN President street was; the
tod witness he was perfectly conversant
OF the child was. He saba man by the name
OF Betts, who mad been the proprietor OF the
had seen MIN that morning that he had acknowl-
edged TO he the father OF 1T; tnat Miss Fenner's
father had that morning called on Belts; then
there was some hing SAID the purport OF wnicn
was that Belts was willing TO pay all expenses
and pay TO nave It kept quet; deceased said that
lady friend U! hers advised her 10 go 10 a New
YORK aDOrtiUnlst; That sDe nad gone " TN her and
made an appointment Tor FRIDAY, February 26;
/ that the operation was performed on that DAY
tins lady iriend was not allowed to be present
wnen the operation was done, and that she ttne
deccased) na1 PAD the operator $40; the money
furnished by the father OF the child Tor the
purpose OF having the abortion performed; alter
the operation she had driven home la a carriage J"
tins confession was made on March 8.
samuel H. OIfnStedd teStIueQ Lndt on Satur.
day Afternoon March 8, lady came to has ONCE,
No. ly2 Union street, and said, IN anxious
manner, If came mere to fad out how Netts
feuner is. Miss fenner mad Informed her some
days previously that sue intended engaging me
take care OF ner IN view OF some expected mis-
carnage" Witness assured hes he mad never
heard the lazy Miss Fenner; she expressed
great anxiety lest Miss Fenner should DIE
speaking Of Nette's VISIT TO New YORK sDe SAID, III
went there with ner;' she told witness that her
own name was Mrs. Gale, and mat her husband
was butcher IN Court street. Mis-. Gale was
here pointed out Ny the witness as the lady VINO
visited MN the 9th inst.
The inquest was resumed at seven O'Clock last
evening. cyrus Ii. Estes, physician, oil No. "
Van Brunt street. was tue first witness sworn.
He testified tnat he had seen deceased but twice:
/ Belts mad introduced him TO her at the National
Hotel CoTtlandt street, New YORK, telling aer ne
was physician, VINO would be OF service to her. by
request OF Belts witness VISITED her the next day
anu ascertained her condition ne told Belts that
an operation wonln result fatally Belts sat Oh the
sofa ny the deceased aud saa, "Nettie you shall
never run that FISK; ] Will get you nice room
ana you shail nave a nurse ~ a few moments alter
ward Belts o0ered witness $3.50 TO perform
aoout February l, and two weeks alter
ward Belts met witness Al the hotel ana
informed MIN that deceased was determined 10
nave an operation performed taat he mad given
her money and tnat she had gone up town
informed witness that deceased was in and asked
MN TO make inquiries or the physician no at.
tendance, which ne did.
ARREST or TnE ABoRroNIsr
As the witness was leaving the chair Detective
Roach and Offlcer Mccullough entered the Coroner,s
office, bearing armchair IN winch was seated
large, coarse looking woman, whom they mad
arrested on charge OF being the principal in the
murder OF MISS Fenner. she gave her name as
OF physician Mrs. Gale, VINO was taken
into custody Immediately after the death
or the victim, ana VINO accompanied
! nshed the officers with the clew winch led 10 the
arrest o; Mrs. maxwell. The prisoner lives at No.
| ia East Tenth street. New York. where she was
| Ht.ah p thA "A naf. "a