The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-10-25
THE STRIKER CASE J!
STATE OF oGN. vs.. D. s. sTRYKER.
An Interesting Court Trial.

1 This case was called for trial Wed.
nesday morning. Fifteen witnesses
had been subp@naed, and the matter
of securing them attracted the atten-
tion and became the object of solicitude
on the part of the Sheriff and his dep.
uties. Eight jurors were secured with
out difficulty but when it came to
finding the other four, there was expe-
rienced considerable difficulty. Fin
ally the jury was found, and was thus
made up: Henry Landers, s. c. Sum-
ner, r. s. Applegate, Perry Kilbourn,
Dwight Reed, II. T. Hawthorne, o. A.
Barker, N. Mitchell, John Rast. A.
Rose, John G. Aiken, and James L.
Hutchinson.
Prosecuting Attorney Hazard read
the indictment charging the defend
ant with killing and staying Mary E.
Hart, by inserting surgical instru-
ments unskilfully into her womb to
remove dropsical sac there found.
or supposed to be there found, and that
the killing was contrary to the Stat
ute of the State. Afterwards Mr.. Haz-
ard made full statement of the law
/ in the premises. We do not give Mr..
Hazards statement of the evidence
since we publish summary of the
testimony eIicited from witnesses be-
low.
Mr.. Lane followed with statement
of the defense, and gave notice that he
would object to allowing the testimo-
ny of physicians who performed the
post mortem examination of the de-
ceased's womb, on the grounds that
they were not appointed by law. He
also asked that the witnesses be sworn
separately.
Judge Watson ordered the witnesses
be sworn together excepting the medi-
cal experts, who were separately
sworn, excepting one IN. Johnson)
who affirmed Then followed all ex-
animation of witnesses.
Mr.. w. A. Hart was called and
sworn-Reside near Drains station,
lived there since October last became
acquainted with etryker shortly after
moved to Drains ne attended on
my wife during her sickness while
was there; went to Drains, and for
some cause-I do not recollect-think
it was for medicine went into DR..
Stryker's store; second time | went
to the store, the doctor told me he
thought my wife was quite ill, and
that was loosing good time in her
trsao n me of a hn
could not be cured; he didn't want q
job, but he didn't want to see her
suffer ; two or three weeks thereafter
he insisted about her sufferings, anu
short time after I employed him j;
about Ist of December he sent her med
icine, which she took; he inquired
about it and when l told him it had
done no good, he came up he said he
thought gravel was what allied her; he
could not tell definitely until he had
made an examination Of her womb I;
that he had an instrument for the pur
pose and could do 1t without injury !;
told my wife he could do it in that
way and that was the only way to
tell that he had made many such ex-
He made the examination and said
there were ulcers or sores in the womb
which caused the sickness. After sew
eral such examinations, and she was
severely bloated, DR.. Stryker declared
the disease was not gravel but dropsy
of the womb-there was water in
sac or inside the womb and
said that it would have to be opene d
before she got well; he made the same
statement several times to me, and
told each time how the operation could
be performed; most of the conversation
hnty ba. e, nd 4 Il
in the presence of my wife; he said
this operation would have to be per-
| formed to save her life, and as soon as
| the water was removed she would get
/ well. | talked to him about getting
/ counsel; it looked to me like blinl
operation and the doctor needed help,
/ but the doctor contended that he un-
derstood the case, and that there was
a natural channel through which to
/ perform the operation; that he had had
| many such cases in getting the water
away; believe this was said in the
presence OF my wife, for il was talked
over several times; my wife said she
was willing to have the operation per-
| formed if 1t would cure her-was will
ling to suffer anything to get well.
| First time of the attempted surgical
| operation was during last of Febru-
ary; the conversations were held before
! this; the doctor said he could draw the
water; he had her lay down on the
| bed, and he took an instrument he
called sound; the instrument was
over a foot in length; this instrument
he introduced through the natural
channel to burst the sac he thought
contained the water; the introduction
| of the instrument caused so much pain
she couldn't keep still; she finally
| begged so hard for him to desist in the
operation that he did quit; he worked
upon her half hour, and tried to in
| troduce another instrument but failed
couldn't get it in; had half the sound
in, and tried to get the other in to
draw the water, but the pain was toe
great. AS | said before, she was lying
on the bed and the operation was per-
| formed while she was there, and she
couldn't bear the pain caused by the
second instrument, and thought 1t
would kill her. The doctor said before
the operation was performed that II
would not hurt her-that it would
cause only slight smarting; I oh.
served my wife and was present when
the operation was performed; she com
! planned OF severe pain, and we used
camphor and water to keep her from
fainting. On the Sd of March be
tried the operation again; the second
time he had her stand in the middle
of the floor upright; one of my wife'i
arms was thrown over my shoulder
and the other over the shoulder of 9
lady present, and in that way she was
held; the doctor used the sound fist
didn't use the sound much-only Q
few minutes; he said he couldn't dC
any more good with the sound; tool
| the other instrument and said b,
could bring the water with that; tht
instrument was like o catheter; hat
no handle; the instrument was solid o.
hard and in shape a little crooked; /
was introduced the same as the othe
called the sound; the doctor worked
hard to get the instrument int,
the sac and its Introduction caused .
great deal of pain; he put his fingel
on the instrument to push it furthe
up, and pushed the instrument so har,
that it cut his fingers; then he used
small piece of ramrod from a gun;
was used as handle to the instrumen
used; when so fixed he pressed on
and was engaged half hour In tn
operation; all at once he gave q jer
downwarti; my wife came near faint
ing-at least aid; after second instru
ment was inserted the water starte,
after the stick was withdrawn from th
Instrument; at the doctors suggestion
| whitfield up the ramrod for his use
there was chamber full of waite
caught and set away-there Nigh
have been a bucket full; the docto
/. then said the trouble was over an
e with good care my wife would b
e about the house within three days; b
; said he was aiming to break into fb