The Rock Island Argus., 1883-11-12
SINS WAGES.
Fanny Lum's Mistake and Its Fear
tul Penalty.
Particulars in New England sensa-
ttOn---A Broken Hearted Mother
and Father and h Fsieian's
Malpractice.

DANBURY, Conn, Nov. 12-A dispatch to
the press has given the particulars of the death
of young woman named Miss Fannie Lun,
daughter of the Rev. J. L. Lum, pastor of tho
First Congregational church of New Fair
field, through malpractice, and the subse-
quent arrest OF Dr. W. f. Lacey, physician
who had prescribed for her.
The affair now promises to develop INTO a
sensation, and the entire community is in
fever of excitement, and every one is eager
that the DOCTOR if he is guilty, should be
dealt with as severely as the law will
allow. On Monday evening last DR..
Lacy's son drove himself into town, and
repairing to the Turner house called Con-
stable Heating TO him and told him that
he had just returned from Gilbert Cooper's
hotel, at Millplain, where he had gone on
drive with a young woman from New Fair
field, little village six miles from Danbury,
who had suddenly died on his hands while at
the hotel Cooper's hotel is known in Dan
bury as the Road house, and bears rather
queer reputation in Danbury
When the officer arrived at the house Mrs.
Cooper and a young woman was talking eSs
citediy together. On bed in an inner room
lay a thin-featared young woman of about
q years, dressed in black, with gold Chain
at her waist and quite dead. She proved to
be Miss Fannie Lum.
Constable Keating then called tAA yoAng
woman to one side, who, falling on her
knees said to him: "Do you think will go
to prison!" The woman then told, the con-
stable that she was Mrs. Mary Claggett, the
daughter-in-law of the late Rev Mr.. Clag-
gett, of Fairfield. They had come to the
hotel, Mrs, Claggett said, with young Lacy,
for the purpose of having him perform an
operation.
Young Lacey is known in Danbury as DIR.
Lacey, Jr. He has taken three courses Of
lectures in the college of physicians and sur
| geons in New York.
After their arrival at the hotel the doctor
and Miss Lum entered the bedroom, closing
the door after them. A few minutes later
| the doctor came out and said Miss Lum
| had tainted ana he was going to
Danbury for another physician The con-
stable was satisfied, from the condition of the
bed, that it had been recently arranged, An
autopsy was help Tuesday afternoon. Plain
evidences of violence were found. and Tues
day evening young Dacey was arrested on a
coroner's warrant, At IL O'Clock the next
day Coroner Holt, of Bridgeport, released the
prisoner on a bond of $3,O00
At the inquest. which was began Tuesday,
and which was attended by Constable Keat-
ing Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert F. Cooper the
Rev s. Y Lum and his wife, the parents
of the deceased woman; Mrs. Mary Clag-
! gett, DR.. W. A Lacey, Sr., Micheal
Downly, and Thomas Lotus, it was
shown that three weeks ago Miss Lum went
to Danbury and visited Dr. Lacey, Sr, the
fatker of W. F. Lacey. She made known her
trouble to him, but the old physician would
] have nothing to do with the case She was
hysterical and had some affection Of the
heart He advised her TO 60 home and tel
her parents of her troubles. He did not con.
slider her competent to judge for herself
She left his Office, declaring her fear oI
her father, and saying she would xii
herself rather than tell him. Sht
then went to the Office of the younger DR.
Lacey, who. after hearing her story, pre-
scribed ergot, which she used, but which was
unavailing. DR.. Lacey, Jr, denies the
charge against him. At the hotel he says
she was faint, and SO he secured bed.
room for her. He laid her on the bed and
called for ice-water Mrs. Claggett came in
and asked the doctor why he did not go fol
another physician. He went for one, but
before he left the room Miss Lum was dead
The appearance of the parents of the dead
girl before the coroner's jury was affecting
The father is a tall, gray-whiskered man oi
GO years He testified that he was not aware
of his daughters condition. Mrs. Lun
rocked to and fro and moaned as she testified
that she had known her daughters condition
for two weeks. Her daughter told her tha
she had been assaulted in May during he
parents absence from home by man who's
name she would not give for fear that he
father would kill him or he would kill hel
father She did not say she had consulted
physician or taken any drugs. Miss Lum'
sachel, which was recovered at Cooper
hotel, contained several letters which ar
said to contain the complete history of tn
case.
Lacey is still in town, though citizens com
plain that his bail is too small, and say b
wifi leave town. Constable Heating say
young Lacey told him at the Turner hous
that he had taken Miss Lum to Cooper
hote1 to procure a miscarriage.