Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-01
DIED FROM NEGLECT.
Facts Developed at an Inquest Held
YESTERDAY,

Coroner Meredith held an inquest at
O'Clock yesterday afternoon at the par
lors of Samson & Garrett, upon the body
of Mrs. Juliana Gonzales Nieto, young
woman who died on Sunday afternoon
under peculiarly distressing circum-
stances, at No. AZ Johnston street, East
Los Angeles. From the evidence adj
duced it was learned that the deceased
and her husband, a young laborer
named Renalgo Nieto, have resided at
Downey since their marriage, three years
ago, and that they have child about
years of age. Mrs. Nieto being in a
delicate condition. her husband deter
mined to bring her to this city for proper
treatment, and they came to town on
February 4th last, and took up their
residence with Mr.. and Mrs. f. Bacon
at No, AZ North Johnston street, East
Los Angeles Early on Sunday morning
Mrs. Nieto was seized with labor pains,
and acting upon the advice OF
his aunt, Mrs. Bacon, Nieto
secured the services of woman
named Mrs. Luz Contreras, who lived
ON Macy street, Boyle Heights, it being
understood that she was to receive pay
for her attendance as midwife. Mrs.
Contreras arrived about O'Clock in the
morning, and Mrs. Nieto gave birth to a
fine child at II :25 O'Clock. For an hour
afterwards she felt well, but gradually
became very weak from loss of blood.
Shortly after O'Clock Nieto was dis
patched for physician, and about three
quarters of an hour later ne returned
with DR.. Carlisle OF Boyle Heights, but
in the meantime the unfortunate woman
had succumbed, having literally bled to
death. Dr. Carlisle Immediately noti-
fed Health Officer d. G.. McGowan,
who made an investigation and refused
to issue certificate of death, and the
Coroner, having been notified, took
charge of the body and ordered post
mortem examination, which was made
by DIR. l. B. Hamilton. The result of the
examination disclosed the fact that the
young woman had died simply for want
of proper medical treatment. The ply
sicians stated the deceased was extraor-
dinarily well proportional and that there
was no question as to the certainty OF
her recovery had she been properly
treated.
Mrs. Bacon testified that she had Sc
cured the services of Mrs. Luz Contreras
on the occasion of her daughters con-
finement, and that she considered her
an expert. She gave her, the woman,
$40 on Sunday, but no price was agreed
upon, nor did she ask any recompense
The Contreras woman did everything
that was usual under the circumstances.
Did not send for physician sooner, be-
cause it is not customary to employ one
when midwife is in attendance.
Mrs. Luz Contreras after being in
structed that she need not answer the
questions put to her unless she wished,
stated that her husband, Ismail Con-
treras, was laborer and that she her.
self took in washing and did anything
that came along her way. She had no
license to practice midwifery, and al
ways told ladies who employed her as
a midwife that she did not. She had no
price, but always expected to get paid
for her services, She went in response
to the invitation of Nieto to see his wife
ON Sunday morning. She handled her
former iadies, and gave her teaspoonful
pain. After the delivery of the child,
she Waited for developments and as the
patient tainted at O'Clock she advised
that physician be summoned, but
when he arrived it was too late,. the
patient being dead.
The jury after hearing the testimony
deliberated for about thirty-five minutes
and finally returned verdict to tht
effect that the deceased came to hel
death in childbirth, fatal hemorrhagt
occurring by reason OF the ignOrah'
neglect Of her attendant"
The matter will be referred to the dis
trict Attorney
Buggy robes aud blankets at Foy's Asthe6
shop, sl7 Los Angel IS stresL