The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-05
RH0DA SALTS NIXON.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE INHUMAN
MURDER OF WILLIE TIsDELL.
Rhoda Turner, Placed on the Witness
Stand by the State, Relates How Her
Co-DaendantC Caused the Girls Death
and Removed the Telltale Offspring.

L
and Removed the Telltale Offspring.
The trial OF "Dr." ]. Nixon, charged
with the murder OF Willie Tisdell, in
August last, is moving along rapidly in the
Criminal Court.
As it is the second trial of the case, and
the facts have all been published herto-
fore, there was little interest on the part of
the public, so far as the testimony is con-
cerned.
Until yesterday afternoon the deien-
dants were Rhoda Turner, negro woman,
and Nixon. The first named expressed a
strong desire, however, to tell the truth
about the matter, and the State
asked for the nolle prosequeing of
the indictment against her, in order
| that she might not be hampered
| by dread OF consequences TO herself
This request prevailed, and she was
| placed upon the stand. She stated, in
reply TO questions from her attorney, Mr..
John I. Moss, that she lived on Madison
street prior to arrest, but has been in iail
ten months. She did not commit the
abortion on Willie Tisdel who was at her
house, but she did all she could for her
during the painful days prior to her
death.
Judge Moss-That's all; take the wit
ness
All eyes were turned upon Gen. Turner,
who abruptly said, 81 don't want any.
thing TO do with her"
Gen. Peters then took the witness. She
related that she lived with her son and
grandson at 2i9 Madison street in Septem-
Der last. Willie Tisdeil went to her house
about the middle of August and died there
on Wednesday, the 9Th OF September.
(She was sure II was Wednesday but not
the date.) When Willie Tisdell went TO
the house OF witness she said she came
from Water Valley; that she was married,
but that she and her husband did not get
along well together. No one, so far as
witness knew, came there with her. She
altcward, after about three weeks, went
back to Water Valley, Us she said, to get
money TO fix herself up as she wanted 10
be. DIR. Nixon visited the patient about
twice before she went back to Water Val
ley. Witness heard conversation be-
tween the doctor and patient, in which the
doctor agreed TO commit the abortion for
500 or Sl50. Her visit TO Water Valley
was TO get the money for that purpose.
After she returned, on Friday, Will
lie Tisdell and witness went TO
DIR. Nixon's The three went upstairs
over to DIR. Nixon's store 20 the Doctors
office, as she called it. There the Doctor
did nothing but examine the patient and
say she could easily be unhampered. Wit
ness left Willie Tisdell there, and upon her
return, between 8 and o o'clock at night,
the patient said she was all right and asked
for room to herself Witness gave her n
room, but noticed nothing about her until
next morning, when she say tracks in
blood on the floor. Patient was up and
about, OF an on, during Saturday, but
went TO bed that night in great misery.
On Sunday morning she was no better,
and witness sent Bertha for DIR. Nixon be-
tween ] and 2 o'clock. The Doctor did
not remain long, but long enough 10 de-
liver her Of the baby. II was not alive.
She wrapped II up in a cloth, and II disap.
peared with the disappearance OF DIR. Nixon
Sunday night No one else knew OF the
baby except she and the Doctor. Witness
went to Nixon's drug store Monday nigh,
but did not see the Doctor. Tuesday
morning, about 10 o'clock, the patient was
In awful misery and she sent for Nixon.
lie came, sat by the bed awhile on Tuesday
night, told witness tho patient was
In bid fix, he would have
nothing TO do about IL, for her to do the
best she could with her, and left Wit
ness knew she was going TO die. and when
she did die, witness went 10 Dr. William
sou to learn how the girl,was 10 be buried.
She was referred 10 DR.. Nixon ~ the at
tending physician, who, after some pro-
test, signed the death certificate. Witness
did not know what lac gave M the cause,
further than that he told her that
IL was ''congestible chill" The witness
never met DIR. Nixon until last February a
year ago, but had previously traded little
at his store. She had heard DIR. Nixon
testify on the stand at the previous trial.
that he never knew her before that case,
and had been In her house but once.
Willie Tisdell never told witness how much
money she had. She didn't know whether
DR.. Nixon was regular practicing phys-
clan.
Cross-examincd by Gen. Turnor-w
Willie Tisiell came back from Water Val
ley on the last trip no one met her nj the
door, 10 far as she knew. Bertha was not
present, nor did she help her into the
house. The patient complained Of having
fallen at Water Valley and sprainod her
finger, and after sitting up awhile went 10
| Ufhs Hlt utNtf fNNN KNOW lilt name OF
her patients friend was Brown; she never
made any bargain with him 10 bring his
gal out all right" for any sum Of money.
No friend Of hers was ever in the house 10
her knowledge. She never talked 10 any
one about what should be her testimony
on the stand In this trial Of the case. VIII
liam o. llcdrick did hang her up by the
thumbs under tho slalion-houso 10 make
her confess. This occurred three days at
I ter her original arrest. She never had any
, instruments for use In emergencies like the
one forming the basis Of this trial. She
neye gave any women medicines 10 prevent
them from becoming mothers. There
was no reason for her attempting 10
conceal the fact that there had been an
abortion performed, AS she had nothing 10 do
with H. She didn't remember what she
had told Mr.. Picard, who could say any.
thing he chose. When che went with
Willie Tisdcll and Dr. Nixon into tho lat
, tors Office over his slorc she saw no woman
or man up there When the patient went
10 house Of witness she simply told her she
was just from home, aud never knew until
death resulted that she had been living on
Marshall avenue. Willie Tisdcl never
gave her but -, aud that after she came
back from Water Valley. II she ever had
any more money she did not know II. She
/ mover cared 20 80 upon the witness stand
before, mainly because she was not we'll,
p nor had she ever told anyone before what
she had told the jury from the stand. Dr.
Nixon took the frtus from her house.
| Will. sha al moi AGO him iu tho ACT aha