Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-17
CRUEL NEGLECT.

A Sick Woman Found In a Dying Condi-
ton While Her Husband Was on Spree
She Expires While Being Taken to the
Hospital.
The attention of the police was called
yesterday to sad case of suffering, sickness
and neglect in the Sixth ward. Yesterday
morning complaint was made to Chief
Weber that woman named Chalmers was
lying sick at her residence on the Dodd
road Just beyond West st. Paul, and that
her prolonged illness was attended with
singular circumstances. 1t was stated that
she had been sick for many days, that her
husband was on q spree, and that not soui
had been seen near the house, which was
locked up.
The house was visited by Capt. Clark, De-
tective Bresett, DR.. Mattocks and GLOBE
reporter, who encountered most sickeniDg
spectacle.
The door was forced open and the deadly
efduvia which smote the senses was enough
to paralyzs the strongest nerves. On look
ing around q woman was found lying on
dilapidated straw mattress, and the sight
was shocking to behold. She was as wan
and pallid as ghost and was gasping for
breath, respiration being almost impossible
in the sitting and horrld air. When ques-
toned she was just able to articulate, stating
that two months ago she had miscarriage,
since when she had been laid up. She stated
that midwife had been present, but that
she had not taken care of herself. Her hus-
band had been on spree, but woman like
she shielded him and laid all the blame on
herself. The condition of the unfortunate
woman was simply horrible and cannot be
expressed in words.
Adjoining the room in which the dying
woman lay, for it was very evident thas she
was in the last stages of dissolution, was q
room, the door of which was locked. It be-
came necessary to force an entrance, and on
breaking in the door the sight was more
wretched, if possible, than where the woman
reclined. The room and surroundings
looked more like pig-pen and slaughter
house than anything else imaginary. The
foorH was strewed with fragments of furni-
ture, and a bedstead which occupied the CEN
ter of the room told tale of terrible wretch
edness aud suffering.
The bed furniture consisted of worn out
mattress from which the straw protruded,
and the bed, furniture, floor and mattress
were smeared with CONCEALED blood. ITO
make the spectacle more inhuman, cat and
brood of kittens occupied one corner of the
room. In this place the woman became
sick, and alone she struggled against 8
world of suffering, the poignant agony Of
which woman only knows.
In health Mrs. Chalmers was a perfect
blonde and quite beautiful. Not over twenty
five years of age, she had wealth of COLDER
hair, a clear, fine complexion, and handsome
regular teeth. AS she lay on her death bed
the beauty and youth had not left her face
which had oombatted with womanly courage
the defacing fingers of pale and cruel pain.
While the officers were at the house Chal
nners came in and was at once put under ar
rest. He was taken to the station by Capt
Clark, and if the stories of neglect are trut
he should be severely punished.
DEATH OF MRS. CHALMERS.
DR.. Mattocks took the caseIin charge, ani
in the afternoon carriage was sent to con
vey her to the city hospital. On the way t.
the hospital 1t became apparent that the
woman was dying, and she breashed her last
just as they were about to remove her from
the carriage.
The migrate husband, Hugh Chalmers, is
type-setter. When questioned b,
3 GLOBE reporter he stated
that his wife had relapse about three weeks
ago. AS to the charge of neglect he acted
very suspiciously. He confessed to having
been on spree and stated that he was
around almost every day. When asked il
his wife had had nurse, midwife or physi.
clan, he refused to state, saying that he die
not want it to get in the papers.
They are both of Scotch descent, and
have been tolerably well-to-do, being in in
telligenes and appearance above the average
Numerous stories are told of his drunken
habits by the goesips of West st. Paul, and
it ia stated that he has been drunk for q
week, during which he never visited thu
house. Pending an investigation sucl
stories as this must be taken with allowance
The case was turned over to Coroner Dav
export last night, and an inquest will bt
held this afternoon, when the causes leading
to the death of the unfortunate woman vii
be determined and the responsibility PLACED
where it belongs.