The morning call., 1892-06-10
ll2R.~17
N MURPHY BUILDING, I
Market and Jones Streets.
TIE BELMONT INQUEST.
Two Ferdicts Returned by the
COrOner's Jury.
Dr. Robbins Takes the Stand in a Drunken
Condition an3 Juror Protests.
A Queer Case.

The inquest upon the remains Of Mrs.
Minnie Belmont, alleged to have died from
malpractice, was resumed by Coroner Gar
wood yesterday.
Reuben Lloyd appeared for Druggist
Pixley, and DR.. Edwin Robbins, who re-
ported the case, was present for the first
time
The first witness was May Rail, young
girl who lived at the house, 1l8 Ellis street,
with Mrs. Belmont. The only important
testimony she gave was that Mrs. Belmont's
mother had given beT tanZY tea on the day
the woman died.
Then Dr. Robbins was called. He came
on the stand drunk, so drunk that Deputy
Coroner Bridgew0od had to stand behind
his chair 10 keep him from falling off II.
Robbins said he was q graduate Of an
eclectic college in Cincinnati, but could not
remember the name Of the college or what
year ne graduated. "Guess (hic) twas
bout (hic) '82 or (hic) 80, or somewhere
(hic) along there" was his answer. he
continued saying he did not know Mrs. Bel
mont and only saw her about Is minutes
before she died. He prescribed a iaXseed
poultice for her lie examined the woman
and became convinced that there had been
malpractice Saw a bottle Of medicine
mother said Dr.. Pixley had put up. Pixey,
the mother said, according to the witness,
warned Mrs. Belmont against taking too
much Of the medicine.
ACTED STRANGELY.
Two or three times while testfying DIR.
Robbins got up out Of the chair and started
20 walk away. He acted as though he was
on the verge Of deiirium tremens.
One of the jurors arose and asked the
Coroner II they were expected to take the
testimony Of a man in DR.. Robbins con-
ditioD, protesting against allowing a man in
his condition to give evidence.
The Coroner replied that the jury would
have to take the testimony and decide for
themselves what it was worth.
Had Robbins been sober 1t is possible be
could have thrown some light on the case.
Arthur Webster and Thomas Doyle were
examined, but nothing was learned from
either bearing upon the death OF the woman,
DIR" PIxLEY's LANDLADY.
Mrs. Nancy PTy, keeper OF the lodging
house at 202k Turk street. where 'Dr.
Plxley resides, said that be was called both
doctor and Mr., Pixley. On the I'd or 81
OF the month an old lady had called to see
him In order that he might attend young
woman who was very i'll. PiXley was out
at the time, and upon being told OF the call
for him informed the landlady that he was
not doctor.
John Z. Foster, bookkeeper. who lives al
lVL0 MlSSloh street, was asked by the Cor
Oner why he on the night Of Minnie Bel
monPs death took such deep interest in
the matter, and who were the interested
parties whom he said be represented
Foster replied that be had perhaps taken
a deeper interest Ia Mrs. Belmonts death
than he was justified in doing. He said be
had known Mrs. Belmont for seven or eight
months, but had never visited her and knew
nothing of the cause of Der death
THE VERDICT.
Several other witnesses were examined,
but they all knew or said they knew moth
ing about the matter under investigation.
A majority of the members of the jury,
after brief delibeIation, returned this very
remarkable verdict, which was approved by
the Coroner: Mrs Minnie Belmont, aged
"A years, a native Of Washington, ID. c.,
came to her death on June 2, 1892, at her
residence, 118 Ellis street. in the city and
county Of San Francisco. from hemorThage
into the abdominal cavity, the result OF an
abortion or miscarriage; and we further
ind tnat deceased came to her death from
natural causes"
This verdict was signed by seven Of the
II wise men who composed the jury. The