The morning call., 1891-12-30
WANTED ALL HER BONES.
A Case That Has Excited Much Curiosit

A Case That Has Excited Much Curiosity
in Tennessee.
Some weeks ago the different newspapers
throughout the United States had great
deal to say about a Miss Niece, a maiden
lady Of an advanced age at or near the town
of Newport, Tenn, who had for number
of years been subject to wonderful ex-
foliation of bones from various parts of her
body. At a meeting OF the East Tennessee
Medical Society last October, DR.. Bell of
the town of Parrottsville read an exhaus-
tive paper on the subject and had on exhibit
ton over 600 bones that Lad been elected
from her body In the last quarter of CEN
tury or thereaboutS. 1t seemed at the time
to be quite fabulous story, but the venera-
BILE DR.. Bell vouched for the truthfulness of
1t and invited those who disbelieved it to
come and see the woman and be convinced.
IL Is now believed by some, since an eXam-
nation has been made, that it is all a fake,
while there are many others who think the
woman has been shedding these bones and
is still at it..
Recently, at the city of Knoxville, Pro-
lessor Charles n. Drake presented to the
class of the medical college over 1000 Of the
bones claimed to have been eXfOiated by
Miss Niece. These bones were all shapes
and sizes, from boys tooth to the lower
limbs of dogs, cats, sheep and chickens.
Professor Drake is of the opinion that Miss
Niece never shed these bones, but that she
has been all t hese years practicing fraud
on these people of Cooke County. He says
she has a considerable knowledge Of
anatomy, as all the bones he presented to
the students OF the medical college, said &c
have been eXfOliated by the woman, re-
Sembled those OF the human body, but still
none of them. said the professor, were hu.
man bones. Fraud seems to be evident on
all sides. Dr. Smith of Cooke County, who
Is late convert of the theory that the
woman really exfoliated the bones, was
present and becoming somewhat enthusl-
astic, if not indignant, in his defense OF
the woman, made brief biographical
sketch of her. She is II years of age,
and has been eXfolating bones the past
thrty-one years. Since the papers OF the
country have given her such widespread
not0riety she has been shedding these bones
to order. and sent them to all parts OF the
country. She is paralyZed on one side and
has not much use Of the other. One Of her
arms is covered with scars, and on the back
of the left hand are signs where she mas
taken out many bones. DR.. Bell, the man
who read a paper before the East Ten
nessee Medical Society, said he had taken
several bones from her ears. This state
ment from such an eminent man goes to
lend truth to the report that she has really
been shedding these bones.
Lately Miss Niece has called all her bones
In, saying that she was going 10 die and
that she wanted all her bones buried with
her. When Dr. Smith had concluded making
few remarks DIR. Drake arose and said
that if all those bones were put into the
body Of Miss Niece at the last day there
would be one Of the most wonderful spec
tacular freaks ever witnessed in any world.
1t is, indeed, peculiar story, and the lady
has many Il believer throughout East Ten
nessee.-Bristol special to Cincinnati En-.
0uirpr.