Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-02-03
A LESSON OF LUST.
The Victim Of a Sedueer Becomes in
Turn the Victim Of an Abortion
list, and Goes Down to an
Early Grave.
The Sad Story of Scandal and Shame
Evidence Before the, ,COrOner's
Jury-Dr. Johnson Arrested
IasIthe AbOrtiOnist.

Our readers will remember that the
following article was published in Tues
days APPEAL: Saturday night Doc
tors Johnson and MarabIe were called
in to see young lady who boarded Oh
Winchester street, near S. eond. She
gave birth to an infant, which, being
examined, was found to bs dead. A
jury OF inquest returned verdict that
the child's death resulted from accident
al causes. The young lady refuses to tell
her name, parentage, or lace Of resi-
dence. She say IS that she was sent here
by shoemaker, who promised that he
would follow and marry her. The un.
fortunate woman's given-name is Kate,
and her home is said to be at Hum
boldt."
ARREST AND INTESTIG ALTON.
At late hour Tuesday night, the un-
fortunate young woman whose name
was ascertained to be Kate Simpson,
GtiGS Kate Mccormick, died at the place
where she was boarding the house be-
ing that Of Mrs. Widrig's, on the corner
Of Second and Winchester streets. Mrs.
Mccormick, neither of the young
Athy, came to this city from her home
at Humboldt, and yesterday DR.. d. 8.
johnson, who keeps q private dispensa-
ry at No. II Jefferson street, was arrest
ed on suspicion Of having produced the
abortion, and thereby caused the death
OF the girl. Daputy-C Coroner Spelman
summoned jury and proceeded to Mrs,
Widrig's clearinghouse to hold an in
quest.
THE DEAD GIRL
was robsd in white and laid out on a
plank board. She had been seduced by
man at Humboldt, and in order to
hide her shame from the world, fed
from home and kindred to seek conceal
ment in a strange city. Her face was
never beautiful, but In the cold immo-
bility Of her features, as she lay in
death, there was something strangely
pathetic, arOusing the compassion, even
Of the stout-hearted men who were
called there to give their judgment, and
find, if possible, the author of the base
crime. The jurors, whose name ap-
pear below, were duly sworn, and then
Coroner Spelman proceeded to hear the
evidence Of q number of PERSONS. The
first witness,
that Kate Mccormick first visited her
house sorre time before Christmas, re-
mained one night only, but came back
three weeks ago, gave birth to dead
child Sunday morning, and had been
attended by DR.. johnson. Katie refus ed
to satisfy her suspicious, but Dr.. Frsyser,
who had been sent to attend the girl by
Chief Athy, said she could not recover.
After some entreaty, the girl made to
her q statement, to the following effect:
"Mrs. Widrig, l think my time is short"
and then she added: "Dr. johnson gave
the medicine to destroy my child; tel
DR.. johnson that promised not to de-
ceive him or tell any person, but the
time has come when L can keep the &C.
cret no longer; 1 paid DR.. Johnson
twenty-five dollars for the medicine; he
gave me the medicine some three weeks
ago, and said if it did not do its work in
six days il would be failure; / took the
medicine from DR.. johnson to kill my
child, and paid him twenty-five dollars
for it,"
other Testimony.
Mollie Brown testified that Katie told
her DR.. johnson sent her medicine by
express; that she was satisfied she
would die, and that DR.. Johnson was
the cause OF il; this was Tuesday night.
Mrs. Keith testified that the girl said
she asked DIR. johnson for medicine to
destroy her child; he adv.s I'D her not to
take it, and il she took his advice he
would befrieDd her; did not see her I'M
til Sunday; said she came here to hide
her shame, her friends thinking she was
visiting in the north.
DIR. MARABLE'S EVIDENCE.
DR.. Msrable gave his evidence, as fol-
lows: Sunday morning l was called by
DR.. Johnson to make call; he told me
about the case, and said he had pre-
scfibed for diarrhea; the treatment was
correct as stated by DR.. Johnson; he
said that he had discovered that she had
q baby last night, and that she was in
danger Of dying from the afterbiIth; l
attended to her Immediately, and gave
her the necessary remedies to stop the
flooding, and the remedies resulted sue
cessfully; the girl appeared very weak;
DR.. Johnson and [ went to see Chief
Athy at once with reference to the dead
child, and at my instigation DR.. John
son called upon Coroner Spelman to
hold an inquest on the dead in
fant, which iuques! WAS held en-
Sunday; l advised DIR. Johnson as
to the necessary treatment 10 place the
girl under with view to her recovery;
the girl had diarrhea, and l prescribed
with DR.. Johnson for its treatment; the
girl was nervous and troubled in mind;
she said she was out OF money and had
no friends; trouble Of mind and excite
ment very often cause a6OrtiOns or mis-
carriage, and the greatest trouble physi'
clans have in such cases is to keep the
patient quiet; | think flooding and
mental anxiety was the cause OF her
death.
DIR. JOHNSON'S S EVIDENCE
was substantially es follows: Three
weeks sg) first saw the deceased; she
came to my Office and told her story,
and wanted to hide her disgrace; ad-
vised her rot to commit abortion, as it
was against the law; called to see her
at Mrs. Wi6rig's bosJdinghOuse, and
prescribed for diSIrhea; Sunday morning
I called, and found that she had mis-
carriage; 1 then called on DIR. Marble;
the prescription given her by ME was
ascitate of lead and morphine; the girl
seemed troubled, and said she would
rather die than live; this she said both
before and after the birth Of the fOetus.
YOU MUST DIE.
MIS- w Hui u pun
said that Tuesday afternoon DR.. FrSyser,
having examined the girl, informed the
witness that she could NOT recover; the
girl then made the statement above
given. After DR.. Frsyser left the girl
asked witness: /" Is the doctor goirg to
do anything for me?" To this the wit
ness Teplied: "NC, Katie; the doctor
says you must die" S1e then began to
cry and pray, and taid that she gave
DR.. Johnson twenty-five dollars for the
medicine to procure an abortion; the
medicine was sent her by express, and
she said DR.. Johnson told her that il the
medicine did not relieve her in six days it
would do no good; DR.. johnson on Sstur-
| day morning took the bottle of medicine
away; she was confined on Saturday
evening; before her death she put her
arms around me and kissed me; she was
perfectly rational; pressed her to tell
me all about it, and she said she wanted
to see DIR. johnson first; she said she
! had made the arrangement with DR..