The morning call., 1891-03-19
LUIGI DAMA'S NURSE.
She Tells of the Professors Sick
ness and Death.

The tagging interest in the Dana viii
contest was revived yesterday by the ap
pearance as a witness of Mrs. Fannie john
son, the nurse who attended the deceased
professor in his last illness. Against her
such grave charges have been made by
Mrs. Astorg of Ohio as that she had been
guilty OF poisoning a person in the East.
The testimony of Mrs. Astorg, in the form
OF a written deposition, will be produced i'll
due time.
Mrs johnson is a German woman of
ford complexion and a hard expression OF
countenance. During the examination
frown constantly distorted her face, and
that the whole proceedings were distasteful
to her was plainly indicated by her angry
countenance aud the infection o. her voice.
1t is charged that Dana was poisoned.
and from Mrs. johnson the contestants on
cross-exanination hope to elicit some infor-
nation bearing out this theory. None of
Mr.. LlOyd's questions were vouchSated
spontaneous answer, but the witness, cast
ing her eyes upon the ground and uneasily
shifting in her seat. seemed to weigh care
fully the purpOrt Of her every word.
She was Dama'S housekeeper, she said,
having gone into his employ in January,
1883. The professor lived alone IN his help
lessness, aud that the witness was indiSpen-
sable to him is proved by the fact that she
completely gone in, as she expressed 1t,
was he. His connection with the Drs.
Tisdale was explained by Mrs. johnson
and facts relative to their and DR.. Blng-
hams visits to the deceased testified to IN
answer 10 counseP5 questions.
After DR.. Brigham had tapped" the in
valid, relieving him of TWO buckets Of drop
steal matter the patient was banda9ed and
put 10 led, where he remained until mid
night OF Thursday. No one attended nun
hut tra tn bar ha said that
rather than stand the pain any longer, lie
would take his life. From the time of the
tapping until the demise Miss Belle Harris
attended Dana daily, as did Mrs. Sarah
Barker Smith, who was in the house but
hall hour before death occurred.
The witness gave the invalid the medi-
cine prescribed, consisting of cream of tartar
and gin, to be taken whenever the patient
felt thirsty. Shortly after Mrs. Smith had
left Dana in the last day of his illness the
witness returned to the sick-chambrr and
found tie professor in what she thought
fainting fit. She failed in reviyng him,
however, and BurtiS was sent for.
The latter dispatched the witness to his
office with note, and on her return Miss
Harris called. Upon learning of Dama's
death the young woman rushed frantlcaily
to where he lay and threw herself across
the PROSTATE body. AfterNard she eX-
pressed herself glad that the witness was
there, and spoke approvingiy OF her services
TO him.
1t will be remembered that Miss Harris
testified that upon her arrival at DAMS
house she was encountered by Mrs. John
son, who told her of the professors death,
and in an hyserical manner asked to be
forgiven. Ths witness fatty cOntradicted
this statement, aud her testimony in many
other particulars was largely at variance
with Miss Harris.
Burtis dined every evening with Dana,
except that on which the operation was
performed. The witness denied that she
told Miss Harris that on the day of his
death he had said that he felt so well he
could dance the ballet On cross-examina-
ton Mr.. Kowalsky hopes to elicit some
very interesting testimony from the witness.
Mr.. Lloyd will probably finish his direct
examination tO-iav.