The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-20
THE UNION SQUARE TRAGEDY.

INQUEST IN THE CASE OF MRS. cuRr1s-THE
WOMAN IHL COMMITTED WITHOUT BAIL.
The inquest In the malpractice case which
resulted Ia the tragic death of Annie Josephine
Curtis az No. IL Onion square was held yesterday
at the Coroner's ONCE the result being she honor
able acquittal OF Mr.. BENJAMIN Gregory and the
committal without bail of the accused aborronisf,
Mrs. hi. The investigator was conducted by
Coroner Croker.
Long before the hour for beginning the inquest
large number OF gentlemen bad assembled about
the ONCE. most OF them being friends OF Mr..
Gregory, who, accompanied by his brother, came
about quarter OF ten O'Clock, ana shortly AFTER
the woman hi was brought in. She was accom-
panied by Mr.. William F. Howe as counsel and
ex-Mayor Hall was present on behalf Of Nj.
Gregory.
THE FIRST WITNESS
called was Mr.. Gregory. He said 81 reside at No.
S2i West Twenty-third street; knew deceased
three months; last saw her alive on the evening
OF March 10; first me- her at No. l. Union square,
where she lived; became acquainted with her
through the tenor OF the Church Of the Atone
meur, who had advertised for singer. and re-
qucsted me to 60 and see Mrs. Curtis Tor the pur-
pose Of hearing her stag; i wish TO state just
here that whatever happened between US was
alter she had lett the church choir,
where she sang two or three Sundays only;
believe I was the father OF the chlld she tod
me in the latter part OF February that she was
pregnant and had been so since about the 5th OF
that month; she never spoke TO me about going
TO an abortionist; promised her that would
stand by her and see her through her trouble:
wednesday, the 10th OF March. l nrst learned that
sne had been TO an abortionist
At this point Mr.. Howe interposed an objection
TO the evidence being given By the witness as
hnW
was overruled.
witncss-wnen I found she was Ill went and
goJ a physician, DR.. Barry OF Thirteenth street;
he attended her TIL her death; never saw Mrs
hi till the evening she was brought TO tue bedside
OF Mrs. Curtis Tor Identification; Mrs. Curtis,
however, had told me previous who had performed
the operation, spelling Mrs HIPS name object 10
stating whether or no. furnished money to Mrs.
Curtis; the unfortunate woman Is deao, and re-
spect her memory too much 70 answer question
OF that KIND.
The question bringing out this answer was put by
Juryman James A. Hearn, who insisted upon hav-
ing a direct answer. lhe witness became indig.
nant and refused point blank TO answer, and
Coroner Croker sustained him.
MRS. LAURA BYRN
was next called as y witness IL knew deceased;
she had boarded with me about five months; she
was sick about week, and when | asked her
what was the matter she satd ''Onlv little IN
nammatIon;' ~ on Thursday previous to ner death
a woman called TO see her; this woman was q
At this juncture The witness pointed to the
prlsoEer, Mrs. hi, said That IS the woman"
81 admit Ell her." continued the witness. sand
she renamed in Mrs. curtis room about an hour;
did not see her again until last Tuesday night,
when she was brought there Dy an officer 10 be
identified by Mrs. Curtis. Last sunday went up
To Mrs. Curtis room and she told me That she had
had an abortion produced ana that Mrs. hi hai
performed the operation. she objected then 10
telling the womans name, but SAID IL was the
Tuesday she told me the name, spelling it OUT, as
she seemed unaole TO pronounce 1t. She also said
to an aoortionist-tnat is mad not advised her TO
CO. and knew nothing OF her going until 1t was all
over.n
DR.. ROBERT DAIRY.
OF No. 233 East thirteenth street, was called as
the next witness. He sald:-I was called 10 see
the deceased about SIX O'Clock on saturday even.
ing last; Ar. gregory came Tor me, ana stated
tnat he wished me 10 caii on lady at No. II
Union square, VINO had had mis- carriage and was
very M Mrs. Curtis told me the first operation
had been performed the tuesday previous. and
that sac had had IN all three operations per-
iormed; ound she had been suffering the last
two days with CELLS. accompanied by seve
noodings she was then suffering from intense
nervous excitement, and complained oil great dis
tress IN ner stomach; upon examination 1 found
an abortion mad undoubtediy been producec;
saw her several times; III my opinion sac died
from the effects OF miscarriage.
JoSEPHINE CURTIS
the little stepdaughter OF the deceased, was now
sworn:-I lived with my stepmotner at No. Il
Union square; my Iather IS In California he has
a strange woman came see her; the woman
here prcsent-Mrs. Ih-is the woman who Called
when she came into the room my mother sent me
out; the woman came to The house twice The Sec
ono time being the night Ga which my mother
oied: there was no one in the room with my
mother ana Mrs. hi.
DIR. THOMAS c. FINNELL,
OF No. 49, West Houston street. VINO assisted DR..
McWninnle Ia making the post-mortem examind.
ton OF Ths BODY OF deceased was examined as to
the cause OF death, and after mlnutely describing
the conritiOn OF the various o gans winch would
naturally affected by the operations wn;ch tad
been performed, said death HAD been caused by
metro per tonitls, Drought about by mechanical
ABORTION.
Az the conclusion OF DR.. Flnneil's examination
Coroner croker addressed a few words 10 the
Jury, after which ne left the case IN their hands.
Iaoy retired and In ABOUT ten minutes returned
with the following verdict
THE VERDICT.
We ind thar the said Amaze Josephine Curtis
came 10 her ceath oy inetro-perltonitl-, Oh Marcn
H. 1875, 81 No. II Union square. SAID death being
caused by M chanlcal abortion produced Dy a
woman nameI Mrs. - inl, residing at Forty
ninth street and Tnrd avenue, Ia the city OF New
YORK.
Inc Coroner then announced tnat he would
release MIR. Gregory ana commit Mrs. lbl, withouE
BAH, Tor trial. she was soon alter removed 10 tue
1omD5.