Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-03
DR.. DOWNS RETURNS.
He Will stand Examination on the
Charge of Abortion.

Charge of Abortion.
Some two months ago Mrs. Eva Cul
yer, of Compton, created sensation by
charging her husband and physician
named J. M. Downs, who resided at thai
place, with having attempted to procure
miscarriage upon her by administering
drugs and using instruments, against bel
will and consent. The husband, William
Culver, was arrest ed on the 9th day q
May last, and RENAME in Jail for sew.
eral days pending bis examination.
When the case was brought into court
the defendant was held to answer to the
charge in the Superior Court, under
81, 500 bonds. On the night of Culver's
arrest the Doctor left his wife and home,
and, in spite of the efforts made by the
officers to find his hiding place, he
managed to evade them until the matter
was almost forgotten.
A good deal of surprise was manifest
among the habitu6s of Justice Lockwood's g
Court yesterday morning, when Downs
walked into the courtroom and suTren-
dered himself to Deputy Constable George
Nail. He was accom- panied by two
friends. whom he had induced to appear
as his sureties upon arraignment. JUS
tice Lockwood at once went through the
legal formula, informing him of the
charge against him and of all his legal
rights, and the preliminary examin alton
was, by consent, set for Tuesday. the 18th
inst. at 9 80 O'Clock. In the interim q
bond of 81 500 was required to insure his
appearance, and this was at once fur
nished and the defendant released.
Since his enforced exile, the doctor has
given up the practice of medicine for the
less profitable but more congenial occu-
patton of farmer, and he stated yesterday
that he came up from San Diego for the
purpose of giving himself up. knowing
| that when the case was brought up for
examination that it would be dismissed
for want Of evidence, and the stain be
cleared from his reputation. He did not,
however, explain his somewhat unac-
countab BILE action in evading arrest by
flight.
The affair, which caused a profound
sensation at the time, was said to have
been instigated by Mrs. Culver's father,
well-to-do farmer named Stevens. But
in spite Of the complainant's attempt to
shield her husband, the testimony she
gave in court on the 25th May last was
very damaging. Tne Culvers had been
married about three years and had two
pretty children. On the 22d of April
last, acting under the advice of her hus-
band, Mrs Culver consulted DR.. Downs
and informed him of her condition. He
at once prescribed some pills, and at her
husbands request she took them. A
few days afterwards she alleged that she
received another visit from the doctor,
who chloroformed her and performed an
operation upon her with surgical instru-
ments. Acting under her husbands in
structions, she remained perfectly
passive in the DOCTORS hands, and she
alleges that he took advantage of her
condition. On informing her husband
subsequently of the affair, he accused
her of maintaining improper relations
with the physician and refused to live
with her any longer. He then turned
over all his belongings to her and came
to town, whereupon she followed him,
and swearing to a complaint against
both Culver and Downs, caused the lat
ter's arrest.