Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-20
A BLOW ON THE HEAD.
How Susan Graham's Infant Child Was
Killed.

| Killed.
THE MOTHER HID FOB THE cRML-REsoRTrNo
TO MURDER TO HIDE HEB sHANE-rHE rEsrI-
MoNY GIVEN BEFORE THE coRoSEHs july
YESTERDAY.
Yesterday afternoon at the third precinct
station Coroner Patterson held an inquest over
the remains Of the colored infant alleged to
have been murdered by its mother, Susan
Graham, as published in yesterdays STAR.
The child was born and murdered in the house
of Mr.. Niles 81. Thompson No. 1852 18th street
north west, where Susan was employed as o
| servant The body of the murdered infant
was on a table in the shed in the rear Of the
station, and it was there that DR.. E. NJ Schaef-
| fer, the deputy coroner. made the autopsy.
The jury was composed Of Herman Koss,
Charles 8. Rawlings, Il. Fl. Smith, ]. E. Brown,
Alfred Worch and Calvin Wilmer. The first
witness called was
PRESENT WHEN THE CHILD WAS BORN.
Sarah A. Tyler, a colored servant in the
house adjoining Mr.. Thompson's. She was
present when the child was born. Sarah testi-
fed that between and O'Clock Sunday after
noon Mr.. Thompson called her and told her
that Susan wanted to see her. He told her
that Susan had cramps in her feet and gave
her bottle Of IMMINENT to rub her feet with.
about ten minutes afterward Susan gave birth
to the child. That was in the kitchen, and she
went down in the cellar. Soon afterward the
cab driver rang the door bell and witness called
down the cellar for Susan to come on. Susan
| called to her to get her bundle. Witness went
to get the bundle, supposing the child was in
/ the bundle.
When Mr.. Thompson returned witness told
him that the child had been born in his house,
but she did not know where it was. Witness
~, rka1l A. IL ~
she again heard the child cry. When they got
down stairs they found the infant 1t was cry
ing. Witness did not touch the child, but left
ii there until Mr.. Thompson went out and re-
turned with an officer. Witness did not remain
there until an officer arrived. The baby was
wrapped in excelsior and was under a large
box. In answer to question asked by juror
witness said that they located the infant by
hearing its cries. Witness said that she carried
Susans bundle to the cab for her and thought
the body was in it.
The coroner suggested that the witness ought
to have picked the infant up, but witness said
that she didn't like to fool with case like that,
as she thought it was dangerous case.
THE cABMAN's STORY.
Robert E. Greenwich, the cab driver, testified
that when he arrived at No. 1852 18th street
yesterday, it was twenty minutes past three
O'Clock. He got the passenger and twenty
minutes later he put her out on 21st street
between X and l. streets. She got out of the
vehicle and went down the bank towards the
alley The woman did not say anything to
him. She was met by several colored women
who came out of the alley. They called her
'Suse."
Did she have bundle with her when
she came out of the house? asked juror.
NO, sir" replied the cabman, but another
woman handed her a bundle"
HOW MIR. THOMPSON WAS DECEIVED.
Mr.. Thompson, No. 1882 18th street, testified
that Sunday about noon he was upstairs writ
ing when Susan called him and told him that
she had not made up the bed because she had
cramps in her feet. Witness told her not to
mind about it. About two O'CLOCK Susan told
him that dinner was ready and she had put 1t
all on the table, meaning that she would not
wait on the table. When witness went down
stairs. Susan was in the cellar. He asked her
what the matter was and she said she had
cramps In her feet Witness suggested that
she had the rheumatism and she said perhaps
1t was. He told her not to remain down stairs
because it was probably cold and damp
down there. Susan then asked him to call
Sarah which be did He gave her a bottle of
liniment and told her to use it. Witness went
upstairs, and few minutes later Sarah called
upstairs and said she thought Susan ought to
go home. Witness asked if Susan was able to
walk. and she answered in the negative. Wit
ness went for cab and Susan left, taking a
bundle OF clothing with her. Witness went
upstairs and an hour later Sarah called witness
aud told what had occurred. She said that
Susan told her she was going to take the child
away with her, but she didn't know whether she
did or not. At witness request Sarah went
down in the cellar. She returned and said she
could not find the child, although she could
hear 1t cry. Witness went down and from hear
ing the child's cries he located it under a box
Witness went to the police station and reported
the facts, but the officer declined to have any,
thing to do with the matter, and referred him
to the 5th-street station. An officer was finally
secured and he went to the house. 1t was then
nearly O'Clock.
THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
Deputy Coroner Schaeffer testified that he
examined the body of the child The lungs
were filled with air. Its organs were perfectly
healthy and it an unusually fat child
There was a wound on the head and there were
two fractures OF the bone Witness believed
that death was caused by blow ON the back of
the head. How the blow Was inflicted witness
could not say, but death was the result of yio-
lence. The blow was severe one.
HELD FOR THE CRIME.
The jury returned a verdict that the child
came to its death from the result of blows in
hicted on the head and held its mother respon-
sible for the crime.
Susan Graham, the child's mother, is con-
fined in the hospital. When she improves suf
fciently TO be removed she will be sent to Jail.
When Policemen Keefe and Olmstead went
out to investigate the case Sunday night they
found the prisoner in house in Alexander
court She was lying on an old cot and had
not been attended by a physician. The officers
did not see a bed in the house lint thara u,aa