Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-18
THE NEGLECTED DEATH.
OORONER's INQUEST OYER THE RE
MAINS OF MRS. CHALMERS.
The Coroner Investigates the Death of the
Woman Found Locked In House In the
Sixth Ward--The Death Resulted from
Neglect--Disappeara of tho Husband
Good Reason to suppose that He has Conn
mitted Suicide.

neglect. Ol6app0ar6 OF tho HuSDand..
Good Reason to Suppose that He has Conn
mitted Suicide.
The coroner's jury to investigate the death
of Mrs. Hugh Chalmers, and to inquire into
the charges of cruelty and neglect against the
husband of deceased, met at MCCARTHY & Dom
nelly's undertaking establishment at o'clock
yesterday afternoon. The circumstances at
tending the death of this wretched woman
will be readily recalled by readers Of the GLOBE.
1t will be remembered that she was found dy-
ing by the police at her house in West st.
kind save.that of a rum soaked and besotted
husband. This much is certain, that the
woman's death resulted from neglect, the
primary cause being miscarriage at child
birth.
The miserable husband was released from
Jail yesterday forenoon, as he could not be held
over twenty-four hours unless by definite
charge. When released he presented a most
pitiful spectacle. he was almost palsied from
the effects of fear and liquor,
and shook like leaf;
he promised to be at the inquest but failed to
make his appearance.
At o'clock a jury was empannelled of the
following citizens: W. d. Rogers, John K.
Davidson. F. M. Finch, George Snyder, Frank
Fairchild and VIM. Gross.
fN CAROLINE zEMPKE.
Mrs. Caroline Zempke, neighbor of the de-
ceased, was first sworn, and testified as follows:
Knew Mrs. Hugh Chalmers; deceased lived
across the street from witness; had known her
for three years; deceased was confined about
two months ago; had been at her house two
weeks ago; deceased was lying in bed; witness
had sent her milk each day for the past two
months; Mr.. Chalmers received the milk
from q little girl each morn
ing and gave her milk ticket;
three weeks ago Thursday Mrs. Chalmers had
been seen at the church; she complained of be-
ing lame; deceased said she would never get
over her illness and expressed fears of dying;
she told witness that she didn't want doctor;
witness sent her soup twice; she refused to eat
it and asked for whisky; had seen her about
two weeks ago; Mr.. Chalmers did the cooking;
the little girl had seen him prepare the morn
ing meals; had never seen Mr.. or Mrs. Ohal-
mers intoxicated; the house was always neat
and clean; deceased had bottle of whisky
and took it as medicine; Mr.. Chalmers owned
the property; Mrs. Chalmers gave birth to a
still-born child two months ago.
ELIZA dA1lLOWELL.
Mrs. Eliza Hallowell, the next witness, testi-
fed as follows: Had known Mr.. and Mrs.
Chalmers for two years; deceased was con-
fined nine weeks ago; witness saw her every
day for ten days; in about ten days she got up;
witness and her husband saw the house closed
recently and tried to get
in, but the doors were locked;
first missed her two weeks ago; had seen Chal-
mers occasionally on his way to town; up to a
81, $hr L,,~n
clean; witness heard they both drank; had seen
Chalmers under. the influence of liquor; they
did not agree well with the neighbors; found
the house locked about two weeks ago; Mr..
Chalmers met the sister Of witness last Satur-
day and he said that he carried the key in his
pocket; thought Mrs. Chalmers was In the house
but supposed she was all right, as Chalmers had
been seen almost every day; couldn't say how
she got her food during her sickness; when wit
ness called at the house she looked through the
window; asked for Mrs. Chalmers but received
no answer.
MRS. HENRIETTA scHENKE
was the next witness. She had known the de-
ceased; she gave birth to baby on the 18th
of July; she was fourteen days in bed; after
getting up she was hardly able to walk; de.
ceased employed little girl to lead her; she
had relapse two wee ks after the first sick
ness; witness had not visited the house, but
had heard that the door was locked; several
of the neighbors had called and were refused
admittance, Mr.. Chalmers being inside; on
Wednesday he was lying drunk on the road !;
her husband nearly drove over him with his
team; had seen Chalmers drunk quite fire.
quently; had seen Mrs. Chalmers
drink whisky and beer; she had
little girl to fetch the liquor;
the little girl left three weeks ago; Mr.. Chal-
mers had provided for the family; they had
ind. Co1 IN nod kxy
Chalmers.
HENRIETTA STENCIL.
Mrs. Henrietta Stencil, midwife, was next
sworn and testified as follows: Had attended
Mrs. Chalmers in July; the child was born dead
there was difficulty in delivery; foot
presentation caused the difficulty;
had not seen the deceased since her confine-
ment; the house was in good condition: Mr..
Chalmers was not under the influence of
liquor. Witness thought she was in good con-
dition; she had said that she had had nine
children; she was about thirty years of age;
liquor was used by the patient the day of the
delivery, which took place on Sunday morning.
RICHARD BRADLEY.
Mr.. Bradley was the next witness. Had
known Chalmers for five years; he worked for
witness as job printer; during the last seven
months he had been absent five weeks; he
worked up to two weeks ago to-day; he came
back last Wednesday; witness did not employ
him again !; he has been dissipated for two
years. he explained his absence by saying that
his wife was sick; up to two weeks ago he had
been regular; witness did not employ him again
on account of his Irregularities; he made BIS
per week,
MATILDA REIMERs,
Mrs. Matilda Reimers was the next witness.
Witness had known the Chalmers for two years;
had been present in July when Mrs. Chalmers
was confined; witness had been called to see
her; deceased did not want any
one about her but Chalmers;
the child was stillborn. Witness had called
the day after the confinement. Had not seen
her since. Mr.. Chalmers called at the store
kept by witness; each night he got fifteen cents
worth of beer. He got fifteen cents worth of
whisky almost every morning. Last Sunday he
took bottle of sarssparilla to his wife. One
week after the confinement deceased had had a
pint of beer. Chalmers came into the saloon
Wednesday morning; be took .'shso fly"
whisky, five cent drink. Witness thought
that the deceased had the reputation of q
drin king woman. At the time of her cOnfne-