The Indianapolis journal., 1885-03-09
A VICTIM OF MALPRACTICE.
A COlOred Doctor by the Name Of Finney
Charged with Serious 0ffenSe.

On last Saturday morning some unknown per
son stepped in Watson's drug store, 511 Virginia
avenue. and telephoned for an undertaken to
take charge of the body of woman lying at the
residence of a carpenter named Oliver
P. Coble, at lis Hosbrook street The queer
circumstances of the matter and the actions of
the person who teiephoned excited Mr.. Watson's
suspicious, and he Immediately went to the city
coroner, Dr. Stratford, telling him of the affair.
DIR. Stratford at once began an inves-
tigation into the matter, and found
that the woman who had died was
named Mary Sadler, aged thirty-eigbt
years. Two weeks before she was
delivered of an illegtimate child, the father be-
ing colored man in this city named John
Cockerell. Further inquiry elected that the
woman came from her home at Taylorsville,
Bartholomew county, some time since, and that
she has sister in the city, living at the resi-
dence of Squire Pease. Before her death Miss
Sadler claimed that she had been
married, but other testimony leads
to believe differently. Upon examination
of the dead body, DR.. Stratford found evidences
of brutal malpractice. This fact led him to in
terview Cockerell who said that he had known
Mary Sadler at Edinburg long since and was
her particular friend. This statement was after
ward acknowledged to be untrue by Cockerell, who
implicated, afterward. a colored doctor named H.
H. Finney in the matter. Finney was next visited
by Constable Reinhold and DR.. Stratford and
the latter, in order to obtain full information
quistive greenhorn. Finney said that Miss Sad
Ter came some time since. under the assumed
name of Mary King, to his office
at 2Os Agnes street inquirine for
place Of confinement and soliciting treatment
Arrangements We're made to take her to the
home of Cobie where she was to receive 81 per
week wages and when confined was to
pay $40 per week for board and attendance. Dr.
Stratford next inquired Of Finney as
to what mode of treatment he had pursued
with the woman. The answer Of the colored
doctor showed THAT his knowledge of medi-
cine was utterly worthless Finney
replied that he had given her life root, gravel
root and various other guack receipts and non-
question whether he had received
professional training, Finney said that
he had attended the Culpepper Medical College
of Virginia, reaching per cent. of 98 in his
studies, but failed to get diploma, which he
afterward claimed to have received in the form
OF a certificate from DR.. Edwards. of this citys
for the sum of So Finney said that he found
the blood of the woman getting thick
like molasses. and that she finally
died of kidney troubles and liver complaint In
use of the term ''pelvs of the ribs" and located
the heart Immediately beneath the central part
of the collar bone, also saying that the liver ex-
tends from the collar bone to the ribs Finney
repeatedly contradicted himself in his state
ments
At the end of the conversation Constable
Reinhold arrested the man and took him to the
Justices Office, where Cockerell made an affidavit
charging Fnney with malpractice, the use Of
noxious drugs in the treatment of Mary Sad
ignorant ATTEMPT
an abortion, which resulted in the
death of the patient. The police au-
thorities also placed under arrest Cockerell
who has told different stories of the matter be-
sides attempting to escape the country. A tele-
gram was sent yesterday to the parents of the
woman, and the father answered that he would
be in this city to-day. The post mortem exami-
nation will be held this morning by Drs. Calvin
Fletcher and Albert Stratford. Some time ago
reporter of the Journal was shown death re-
turn certificate signed by Phinney or Finney, as
a literary curiosity. 1t was most palpable
evidence of the ignorance of the man.