Evening journal., 1891-12-11
MARKED WITH CROSSES
Strange Wounds on Mysterious
Mrs. Stuckenborg's Body.
WHAT DOCTOR t0oMEs REPORTS


he Says That There Is Apparently No
Fraud About the Peculiar manlfesta-
tions and That They May BE Caused BY
tho woman's Mental Condition.
LOUISVILLE, Dec ll.-Dr. NJ. +. Coomes,
Of the faculty Of the Kentucky School of
Medicine, has concluded his investigation Of
the case Of Mrs Mary stuckenborg, the
woman who, while apparently in a catalep-
tic state, has exhibited upon her person the
stigmata, or marks, 81 the passion Of Christ.
He refrains from indorsing the '.manifeata.
tionas as genuine, hut says that the phe.
nomena may be due to the woman's intense
mental concentration upon tho passion and
death Of the Savior.
blood Issues from the wounds.
In the course Of a very full report, he says
Of his first visit TO Mrs. stuclSenborg upon
the afternoon Of Oct , last
When reached her residence, some time
after o'clock, found her in bed, lying on
her back, with her feet crossed and arms
outstretched. On the top Of each foot. at
the lower part Of the instep, there was a
wound, from which blood wins issuing. There
was also a wound in the palm Of each hand,
from which blood was flowing, Further,
there was a small wound near the center Of
the forehead which looked very much AZ If
it had been made with blunt awl and
from which blood was issuing. She was
moaning add giving every evidence Of pain.
such as contortions of the face and other
eonvulsye movements Of the body.
Her Body Rigid.
The general condition Of the body during
the convulsive state would be at times one
Of extreme rigidity. The hands were clench-
ed, with the fingers and thumbs turned into
the palms; the arms most Of tho time at
right angles 70 the body, with the forearm
strongly hexed upon the arm. During the
paroxyslns Of pain she would occasionally
open and shut the hands a. persons are
often seen TO do when suffering extreme
pain.
Marked with tho Cross
One marking on the woman's body wns a
star shaped crust IN the center OF the fore
head, one and one-fourth inches by one inch.
in the center Of which was a wen defined
cross The second marking occurred about
ten days after the first had appeared II
was wen and perfectly marked cross and
by far the largest Of the markings up to
date, being four inches ia length
The outlines We're SO well defined rs I'd
make it appear that it would to almost i'm.
possible 70 have it produced in any way *.
oept by the use Of hot iron slSillfully ap
Piled. This cross was located near the up
per end a the hreastbone. A large red acs.i
now occupies its position.
4 The next fnurlziurG uufnaoraI ~, fi,s ytlah
shoulder, consisting Of three letters, H. ii
| 5" These letters arc still present and about
half an inch in length. They look as though
they had been burned in with stencil made
OF wiro, the base Of the letters being small.
Formed the Letter "a.
The next marking appeared on the right
side Of the breast, some three inches below
the middle OF the collar bone. The usua
burning sensations preceded the develop
ment Of this mark There was first a local
lied redness covering a small area. On the
following day the redness had extended II
such a manner as 10 make it look az II the
letter ii was being gradually formed. DR.
Comes insists that no burning with an iron
could have been used in the DEVELOPMENT 81
this sore, as he saw it for three days, and
would have detected amy interference. The
last Of these markings has developed within
the last ten days. II is somo four inches be
low the middle Of the collar bone on the left
side Of the breast and is a well shaped
heart, about ono inch and half in its great
est diameter
No Evidence 81 Fraud.
DR.. Comes concludes: 80 far no evidence
Of fraud has been detected, and she has
been watched closely during the unoon.
I uainr5u n4ata barra time o,,1 44....i.
needles into her limbs and feet and dashed
her face with cold water, and tickled her
feet and resorted to all ordinary means oi
determining that the reflex nervous action
was in a state Of rest or inactivity; in short
that it did not respond 10 any iI1itant. The
observations viii be continued and sucl
means resorted 70 as win give every oppor
unity to unrayel this case"
Her Strange frances.
Mrs. Stuczenborg was greatly averse L
giving any explanations Of the manifesto
tions. Regarding the woman's strange
trancelike experience, the doctor says:
During the last eight Fridays the time
at which she goes into the state Of uncon.
sciousness has always been within from
three 70 five minutes Of 3 o'clock There has
been no variation in this. On number q,
occasions just previous to going into the un.
conscious state I have had her attention,
and on one occasion while discussing the ap.
pearance Of certain marks on her body she
fell headlong on TO the door On another
occasion she suddenly became unconscious
and would have fallen into fire had not q
gentleman who was present caught her.
In the Attitude Of Rrayer.
"Ten minutes after the beginning Of this
unconscious state Mrs. Stuckenborg rises ID
her knees and assumes a devout attitude OF
prayer. She remains in this position foT
about thirty seconds, and then falls down.
Mrs. Stuckeuborg gives no evidences Of an
unbalanced mind, nor is she inclined to be
talkatiye about anything, She is very
jealous and devout Catholic Her general
physical condition has changed but little in
two months. While in the trancelike state
wounds upon her body appear in the forms !
have described
Sensational Suicide IN wiikesbarre.