The Butler weekly times., 1883-11-14

/ Philadelphia Special
/ Recent disclosures regarding tn
, outrageous practices of DR." Isaa'
Hathaway have been supplemented
by the discovery OF similar crimina
conduct on the part of Mrs. Anr
McIlhenny, an old cripple, residing
at No. 759 Ringgold street. She
was an object OF suspicion sever
months ago, when young woman
named Jennie Stack died in her
house. Mrs. McElhenny claims to
be an herb doctress, and under this
guise is said to have carried on an
abomininable calling. Two weeks
ago Maggie Conway, eighteen years
old, residing in Nicctown, came to
the house ostensibly for medical
treatment. Yesterday she died.
The police this morning obtained
sufficient evidence to justify the ar
rest of Mrs. McIlhenny who is fifty
eight years old; her husband John.
>ixty-two years Of age: John Stew
art. who Is accused of having inter
red large number of bodies on
the premises, and Jennie Hannon, a
young woman OF nineteen years, who
was in the house as a servant.
The neIghborS claim that women
were constantly visiting the place,
some coming in carriages and not a
few remaining for weeks at time.
The people have regarded the house
with great deal of suspicion, and
this morning after the four Inmates
had been taken into custody and
locked up they congregated on the
pavement and attempted to gam adj
mission to the dwelling. Excite
ment existed in the vicinity and sew
eral policemen were engaged in
keeping the pavement clear.
SEARCHING THE HOUSE.
A woman informed the police
that she heard Il peculiar noise in the
house on Thursnay evening as if a
person was groaning. At noon an
attache of the coroner's office visited
the house, and with the assistance of
the police, made a thorough search.
In a small closet III the parlor were
found about a dozen quart bottles,
each contalng decoctions. several
bundles of herbs and three or four
instruments. The police next direct
ed their attention to the yard, where
1t was alleged that McElhenny and
Stewart had been in the habit OF
burv,ng the bodies of infants. The
yard was dug to depth of four
feet, but the officers efforts were
unrewarded by the discovery of the
skeletons of any OF the victims.
Mrs. McElhenny moved about the
station house on a crutch during the
day, and denied all knowledge Of
the cause OF the girls death. She
said: ''With the use of herbs
have successfully treated dropsy and
rheumatism. The girl Conway
came to my house on Tuesday and
stated that she had lived with an
aunt on Nicetown lane. She told
me that she would not live there anY
longer, as she had disgraced herself.
Living in the same house was her
lover, Joseph Farrell. She SAID to
me whe. she got to my honses ''lf
you don't take me in. Mrs Nell
benny. I will drown myself did
take her in, and found that she was
suffering ftom dropsy. The only
thing l prescribed for her was butter
milk. When she had the convulsion
Just before she died l gave her tea
made out OF water and black and red
pepper as a sort of stlmulant.''
JENNIE LANNON'S STORY.
Jennie Harmon, aged .,ineteen
years, who is employed at the house
as a servant girl, when asked about
the dead girl, Maggie Conway
said:
Maggie had been at the house
on three different occasions. The
first time | saw her was on Wednes-
dav OF last week. Every time any