The New York herald., 1879-02-14
CORA SAMMIS' FATE.

INVESTIGATION By THE coRoNEE-"MADAM"
BERGER HELD IN TEN THOUSAND DoLLARs
BAII-FRANK cosGnovE RELEASED ON BAIL.
The tragic and dramatic elements combined
at the Coroners Office yesterday during the inquest
on the body of the unfortunate young woman Cora
sammis the alleged victim OF malpractice. Seldom
before in history of that of sensations and
surprises the Coroners Office, has q attracted
such and attention. has there witnessed
SO remarkable an audience Occupying prominent
position the front seat facing the Coroners desk
were the principal actors in the proceedings under
investigation. Conspicuous among these was the
squat and corpuent figure Of the Madam" Mrs.
Bertha Berger BY her side seated her daughter
Mrs. Rachel Davis, apparently indifferent specta-
tor to the unusual surroundings. Next came Minnie
Russell, alias Belenda Callum, comely looking
young GIRL one Of the inmates of the Berger house.
hold. Frank Cosgrove. the reputed lover Of Cora
Sanmis, occupied adjoining seat Throughout
the pro .eedings he shrank away in a of the
court room and looked the picture of misery.
He is a slim young man. with sharp. narrow fea-
lures, prominent nose, dark brown mustache and
retreating forehead. At the extreme end Of the
line sat a small, wry y-looking woman, who watched
the case with remarkable curiosity. This Mrs.
McLymond, the Westchester gardeners wife, who
was arrested by Captain Murphy as she was about
entering Mrs. Bergers house last Wednesday. and
who subsequently confessed that she was of the
''Nladam's" patients To the left of the Madam
was the blithe and attractive Nellie Whalen alias
Tcssie Williams. who rented furnished and
otherwise adorned the household OF the German mid
wife, This young woman, by her coquettish behavior,
relieved the proceedings Of that solemn and sombre
character which the tragic nature of the in
spired She chattered necessarily while her mobile
| features wore wreathed in smiles. with an affable
officer who apparently was gratihed with the favor
| atil inn he IA
Tessie Nellie, rs the may be. Back OF these
seated side by side Mrs. Belts and her sister
both aunts OF deceased and residents OF Brooklyn
They were tall, matronly women. dressed in mourn
ing. but who preserved remarkable composure
undeE the circumstances They were attended by
! young Mr. Belts and another cousin of deceased
Grouped to the rear of these were the father aud
uncle OF Frank Cosgrove sad and silent spectators
casting anxious glances on their relative.
Mrs. Mary Belts was the first witness She said she
resided i'll Brooklyn. and was the aunt OF deceased;
day week. and her nioce WAS accompanied by Frank
Cosgrove; witness knew that deceased and Frank
they were engaged to be married: she had heard
that her niece was sick in this city last Tuesday;
about the OF her sickness witness knew nothing
until che arrived at the house in East Twenty
street when she learned that her niece was dead.
WHAT BoARDERs
| Ellen whalen, alias Tcssie Williams. came trip
| pugly to the stand. She u willing witness, gave
her testimony glibly and seemed on the whole to
relish the situation She said hef age eighteen
years. she had lived for three weeks at No. l61 East
Twenty street; she saw Cora Sammis for the
room over the parlor when Cora Saminis arrived
she accompanied by Frank Cosgrove; Cora
never sS Iss seen cosgroye VI before. but sa~ HIM him
once twice snce he came down one night
rnd asked Minute Russell IL she would please come
up stairs he went out, and upon his return Minnie
came back to her room; she visited deceased
with her; Rachel Davis told her she sick; after
Cora had been there little while Mrs. Berger in
formed the witness that Cora had come there for the
purpose OF having miscprriage: she heard Mrs.
Berger tell Cosgrove that II he wanted to consult
doctor he would have to call in HIMSELF she did
not know when Cora Samms died.
Minnie Russell, alias Belenda Cullum, stated she
had lived at No 16l East Twenty street for
two weeks she saw Cora Sammis at breakfast Thurs
day last week the night before she died Cosgrove
asked the witness TO up stairs and stay with Cora
as he was gong out mrs berg"r ~ inIormea ner .mat
riage; she never had conversation with Cora; the
latter delrious when the witness in the
ASrE-MonIEM STATEMENT
At this stage of tho proceedings Coroner Flanagan
instructed DR. Miller to read to the jury the ante
mortcm statement of deceased but Counsellor Howe
objected until Dr. Miller was first sworn. When that
ceremony performed counsel asked DR.. Miller IL
cause the Doctor had so informed her or f you say
l suppose 1t is so" DR.. Miller promptly an
swored. NO sir; those were not her words" Coun-
sci demanded the exnct words and the Doctor re.
piled :-"what she said was. i think am going to
die or am not going to get we'll, or words to that
effect"
Then protest against the reading of the ante
mortem said counsel 'bccause it Is not competent
evidence after the answer of the Doctor"
The objection ovcrruled. and the following ante
mortcm statcmen; submitted To the jury: My name
Is Sanms. reside in Northport. l.. J. believe
l going to die Have hope for nay recovery.
to this house, No. l6l East Tw rnty seventh
street, Tuesday, February L. Mrs. Berger. living
in the house and who has Just lett the room. per-
formed operation on me that night with an in
srument. l came from Mrs. Belts, No. 3o3 Ray
mond street, Brooklyn. where had been visiting for
two weeks was about three months pregnant; have
known Frank Cosg-ove two years: knew him at
Northport, L. l.. where my parents reside: ltvci
with Them; they are both alive; | the instrr-
mcut which Mrs. Bcr ger used. IL looked like steel.
M;tr brief consultation the jury returned with
the following verdict THAT Cara Saunls came 10
her death IRON operation performed upon her by
Mrs. Berger al No. 16l East Twcpty-scvcnth street,
about February ., 1872 AMI We hold that Frank
Coagrove was accessory TO the same.
Mrs. Berger rcmandcd 20 the Tcmbs In default
of $40 900 BALL and bail being fixed $4,000 in the
OF Frank Cos,rovc. his father and uncle became
his snrcties to- that amount. The othcr witnesses
to the House of Detention.
Dr. Krog found in his Office, in East Fourth
street. lie said lie called In to- tho sick
woman, but didn't know at the timo what was the
matter with hcr He had never hccn in the house be-
fore Hc thought that IL wus not proper place and
refused having anything further to do with tho
The body OF Cora Sammis taken to Northport
yesterday for ntermcnt.
REFUGE FOR THE UNFORTUNATE.
To TIN EpIroR HEnALp;-
The sad story of Cora sanmis. who diod few days
since from the effects OF malpractice produced it is
said, by Mrs Berger once more arouscs public at-