Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-09-10
MALPRACTICE.
An Astounding Abortion Case in New
YOrk-A Young Married Man
Arrested for Malpractice.
Upon the Person Of His Wife to De-
stroy the Evidence Of Their Ante
Marital Indiscretions.

A few DAYS ago brief dispatch from New
York appeared in the APPEAL stating that
a Well-known physician and the husband OF
a Young married woman had been arrested
| for abortion upon the wife of the latter.
The following are the particulars IN the
case:
DR.. Theodore Young Kenny, well-known
homeopathic physician OF Paterson, n. J.,
is under arrest at police headquarters IN this
city on a charge of malpractice. The hus-
band of the young lady who is the victim OF
the malpractice is also under arrest. His
name is George l.. Davidson, and he is q
man of wealth and high social position.
The details of the crime are OF highly sen
sational character. About 1 O'Clock this
| afternoon Garrett May, an employe OF the
| Iron Steamboat Company, while on the
wharf at the foot of West Twenty-second
street, saw a cirgar-box floating in the dock.
He obtained a boat-hook and brought it
ashore On opening it he found it to contain
the body of female child of about i've
months' development, and he at once placed
the box and its contents IN the hands OF
Palrolman Kelly, Of the special-service
squad, who brought the box to police head
quarters and delivered it to Inspector
Byrnes.
THE CONTENTS OF THE CIGAR BOX,
of the body, were heavy stone china soap
dish and a matchbox, such as are in COM
mon use at hotels. The body, which was sll
crushed out of shape, was wrapped In
piece of common brown paper, which was
thoroughly Mater-soaked. Detective Ser
geauts Dolsn and Adams were dispatched
with the soap-dish and matchbox TO make
search of the principal hotels and to ascer-
tain what hotels used articles Of that descrip-
ton, and to find out whence they came.
While they were engaged in the search In
spector Byrnes, who had taken personal
charge of the case, saw some pencil marks
on the paper in which the body had been
wrapped and which were illegible owing to
the wet condition Of The paper. He had the
paper dried, and then the writing came out
| distinctly. The inscription was "George L.
Davidson, Room 121 Fifth Avenue Hotel.h
The inspector went to the hotel with de-
teciive sergeant, and; on making inquiry at
the Office, learned that room No. 12I was oc-
cupied by Mr.. Davidson and his wife. The
lady was reported as being
VERY SICK.
| 1t was also learned that the soap-dish and
match box found with the body were such as
are used in the hotel. One of the attaches
| of the hotel was sent to the room under a
! pretext, and when he returned to the Office
he reported that the soap-dish and match
box were missing from the room. Mr.. Da-
wilson, who was in attendance upon bis sick
wife, was called out of his room and was
put under arrest. He was brought 10 the
central Office, and was there informed Of
what had been discovered. He was terribly
excited and offered fabulous sums Of money
to be released, and to have the case sup
pressed. Finding that these tactics would
not prove successful, he admitted his guilt
and made full and detailed confession of
what had been done. He said that his wife's
maiden name was Mamie Baldwin, and she
was a daughter Of EK-Judge Baldwin, for
merly of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Her parents and family are prominent
residents of Paterson. He was married to
Miss Baldwin six weeks ago in Paterson, and
at once started on a wedding tour Though
the northern part of the State and Canada
They arrived in this city from Canada on
Friday last, and took rooms at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel.
DURING THE WEDDING TOUR
it became apparent that his wife was in a
condition not warranted by the short time
which had elapsed since their marriage, and
she was in terrible state of mind in conse-
quence. She feared the shame of an exposure
and insisted that she would not; under any
circumstances, permit her condition to be-
come public. She threatened that if he did |
not assist her in getting rid of her unborn |
offspring she would contriFe to accomplish |
the act herself and take the consequences. |
On Friday Mrs. Davidson appeared to be
very i'll and laboring under great excitement.
Her husband thereupon telegraphsd to DR.. |
Kenny, who is the family physician of the
Baldwins and had known Mrs. Davidson
from childhood. He came to this city in
response to the telegram on Friday night,
and the whole facts in the case were laid
before him. Davidson says that he promised |
DR.. Kenny $4,000 If he woald relieve his |
wife from her dilemma, and he consented.
The doctor came to the hotel on Saturday
and placed her under treatment, and called
again on Monday and Tuesday, -ssd-Aboat
O'Clock this morning Mrs. Davidson was
delivered of slill-born child. The question
then arose
HOW TO DISPOSE OF THE BODY,
and Mr.. Davidson says that Dr. Kenny sug-
gested that it be placed in cisar-box with
something weighty to sink it, and it be
thrown into the river. The cigar-box was
procured, and Davidson wrapped the body
in piece OF paper which had been used in
wrapping purchase he had made, without
that the paper bore his name
and address. There was nothing available for
weight to the box but the soap-dish and
MATCHBOX, and he iucesed them in the box.
By the time the box was prepared ii was |
daylight. Mr.. Davidson, with the box under
his arm, left the hotel about noon to dispose
OF the evidences of the crime. He boarded
a Twenty-third street cross-town car and
4
opportunity 10 throw the box into the water
unobserved there, and Mr.. Davidson got on
an Erie ferryboat, and when in midstream
dropped the box overheard. Unfortunately
for him, it was not heavy enough to sink,
and was carried into the slip OF the Iron
Company.
DIR. KENNY
left the hotel during the morning and went
to his home at No. 70 Fair street, Paterson.
When Davidson returned to the hotel he told J
nis wife what he had DONE but she was 30 |
weak that she could scarcely comprehend
What had passed. After hearing Mr.. David
jon's statement Inspector Byrnes summoned
Coroner Brady, as it was necessary that an
inquest should be held on the body of the
:hild, which was sent to the morgue. To the
coroner Mr.. Davidson related the statement
made by him to Inspector Byrnes, and added
ONE minor details. This statement was
worn 10 by Mr.. Davidson. Previous to that,
however, the inspector had induced Mr..
Davidson to write a telegram TO DIR. Kenny,
him to the Fifth Avenue Hotel
It once. This telegram was dispatched, and
was confidently believed that DR.. Kenny
Tould respond to it in person. Two detect J
We sergeauts were sent TO the hotel to watch I
Or him. Fearing that DR.. Kenny might sus-
ect that there was something wrong, and
hat he would therefore remain away, Coro-
er Brady Issued warrant for his arrest, !
nd Two more detective sergeants were sent v
.st night to Paterson 10 arrest him. Coro- T
er Brady, accompanied by police surgeon, 9
zen went TO the hotel 10 take a
MRS. DAvIDsoN's STATEMENT.
hey found her extremely weak, but her
lind was perfectly clear. At the request OF ]
,e coroner she made a statement corroborat-
lg in every particular that made by her
usband. The officers who had been sent TO
le hotel to arrest DR.. Kenny if he came
IRE in response to the telegram were sue
.ssful They secured room immediately C
1posile that occupied by Mrs. Davidson. e
I about l o'clock he arrived at the hotel, -
Id went directly to the room. He was Of
rested before he had an opportunity to s
Tier the room and zee his patient. He was ST
ken to police headquarters and locked up | B
Doraa said tonight that b
RS. Davidson was in a dangerous state,
wing 10 the treatment to which she had W
en- subjected, but he hoped that she would .,
cover She is now under the care Of "
lysician and a trained nurse and every ST
ing has been done to make her comfortable s ss
It'll the arrival of her relatives, who have y
en- informed of her condition. She is but
enty years of age and of great personal -
autY and highly accomplished. Her hus-
nd lie twenty-three years old He is pos
,sed of wealth and lives on his income. II
is family formerly resided in Brooklyn,
t they now reside in Westminster county. II
le accused doctor was arraigned and, with y
10 he