Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-25
DEATH FROM MALPRACTICE.
Coroner's Inquest on the Body Of Fan.
ME Bishop, q Colored Scamstress,

Yesterday afternoon Detective Mahon ar
rested two persons-Robert O. Warning. q young
| colored man. twenty-sevcn years old, who lives
at 18th and Corcoran streets, and DR.. John H.
Bushnell, a well-known physician, seventy
three years Of age. living on Q street near 9Th
| and having an Office at 707 N street nor Invest
Both OF them were taken into custody on sus-
picion of being concerned in the death of
Fannie Bishop, young colored woman who,
rs stated in yesterdays STAR, died at 2124 10th
street Thursday night and was buried in Har-
monial Cemetery Sunday. Warning was locked
up at o'clock and the doctor ut 6 O'Clock.
The deceased was a bright colored girl twenty
three years old. She was q seamstress and was
OF remarkably lively disposition and fond Of
company. She lived with .her mother and
stepfather. Tuesday of last week she was
out riding with her afianced, Waring and
the next day some Of the neighbors saw her
engaged in household work and she was then
apparently IN the best of health. FRIDAY
morning Grape on the door announced her
death. The suddennoss Of her demise caused
some comment, and after the funeral the police
were notified of the facts in the case also the
coroner. Detective Mahoh was assigned to in
vestigate the case and 1t was not long before
enough was ascertained to convince the arl-
thorities that there was at least some irregu-
iarlty, perhaps crime, for tho death certificate
stated that the cause of death was mRlarial
fever and congestive chill and that the dura-
ton OF sickness was ten days or two weeks
Then 1t was determined that the body should
be disinterred, and DR.. L. II. Schaefer yestcr-
Gay made post-mortem examination and
found that death had resulted from an opera
ton tor abortion. Then it was determined to
mako the arrests and hold an inquest.
THE INQUEST.
Last evening the coroner held the inquest ut
the second precinct station. Tho Jurors we're
Isaac W. Busey, james Fortune, William Mar
tin, Edward S. Percell, John Port and W. C.
"ahi, VINO viewed the body yesterday after
noon.
The first witness was Mrs. Henrietta Hen.
derson, the mother of the deceased, who testi-
fed with sCbs and .ears as to her daughter
being taken Ill Thursday morning. as she sup
posed with heart disease, bat her daughter
stated that she had eaten some oysters, and so
witness thought it Vas colo. Toward noon the
deceased said she was better. and, asking for a
box OF paper. wrote q note telling her to give
II to boy to send to Waring. who was at work
at and 1lth streets Then the doctor came
ard Warning also came In the afternoon. DIR.
Bushnell came three times and directly after
he left the last time witness saw that her
daughter was dying. DIR. Bushnell had stated
that he would be up in the morning.
TESTIMONY OF Hen LOVER.
Robert l.. Warning testified that he first knew
of Fannie's trouble three weeks before her
death, and on Sunday OATH she told him that
she had an engagement. with DR.. Bushnell that
night and he persuaded her not to 60 there.
she said thai she would go the next day. Wit
ness had not known DR.. Bushnell, nor did he
arrange for or suggest an operation by him or
any one else. The next day Monday she came
past the building and said she had been to Dr.
BushnelPs and IL was all over. Next saw her
Thursday afternoon when he took her ont rid
ing and she was then complaining. Next re-
ceived the note from her Oh THURSDAY and
went to the doctor ami told him that the young
Lady who had been there on Monday was sick
DR.. Is. denied that any such person had been to
him, but said if she was sick he would 60.
DIR. Bushnell-I never saw the lady at the
office nor ever saw Warning till he called
BY juror-On Tuesday she said she had
been to woman on between 9th and 10th
streets.
BY the coroner-On Monday size had box of
pills
DIR. BUsHNELL's DENIAL.
DR.. Bushnell was next sworn and testified
with some feeling: Il can BAY positively no
such person was at my Office on Monday"
The first he knew OF the girl was when he was
to see her On Thursday after Warning came for
him. Was positive about Monday, for he was
painting his house and was scarcely at his Office
that day. He found her i'll congestivc chill
and made three visits. and he had no doubt
but the conSestive chill and heart trouble
caused her death.
DIR. Patterson-H you had seen the post
norton perhaps you would have changed your
mind.
DR.. Bushnell-Yes, it would aggravate the
trouble; but it was not my work. i am inno-
cent as a child unborn.
DIR. Schaeffer testified to the autopsy, and that
death was caused by metro peritonitis.
THE VERDICT.
This closed the testimony, and the Jury found
a verdict that death was caused by criminal
operation performed by some person or per-
sons unknown.
DIR. Bushnell and Waring were discharged
from custody.