St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-25
The Pearee Abortion Case
Has Begun It's Sensational
Testimony.
Admission by the Husband
OF His Guilty Completely
in the Case.
Trades Assembly Roasts the
Street Railway Ordinance
Pending.
General Roundup Of the
News Events Of the Day
in ST. Paul.

The remaining four jurors were
secured yesterday morning to pass upon
the guilt or Innocence of DR.. Thomas j.
Pearce, accused Of causing the death of
Helen NJ. Clayton by performing a
criminal operation. At the ope ming of
the afternoon session the county attor-
ney made his address to the jury, in
which he outlined the crime alleged and
the attending circumstances. conclud-
ing with the stateman that he will ask
for verdict of manslaughter in The first
degree.
Douglass Clayton, the husband of the
unfortunate woman, was called to the
witness stand and detailed the circum-
stances that led up to the criminal OPP
Grafton and the tragic death of the
young woman whom he had married
bu, few months before. Clayton tes-
titled that he has been mailing clerk at
the Pioneer Press until last Monday,
when he resigned his position. He mar
ried his wife last June in Milwaukee,
and she died three days before last
Christmas. He admitted his own crimi-
nal connection with the affair that
caused the untimely death of his young
wife, He went in company with her to
the office of Dr.. Pearce on the morning
of Dee. - last, and, after renewing
conversation that his wife had had with
the doctor previous to that time, and
haggling about the price to be paid for
the operation, the doctor performed
the operation for $50, that was paid
him that day. The doctor had assured
them that there was danger IN the ops
Grafton with unskilIed operators, but
that with his experience there was no
danger. ChlOrOform was administered
twice for the operation, and Clayton
and his wife went home on a street car.
The doctor told them to call in physi
clan in day or SO and to claim that
they had performed the operation them
selves. and not to tell who did it. as it
was against the law and would get him
into trouble If he was informed upon.
The witness said that Dr.. Pearce told
them that doctor would think they
lied if they told him that they per-
formed the operation themselves, but
would be too gentlemaniy to tell them
so; but that they must not tell who did
the deed.
The wife was i'll during the afternoon
Of the day the operation was performed
and grew rapidly worse during the
night. Early i'll the morning DR.. Her
bert W. Davis was called in. He ar
rived about 7 O'Clock in the morning,
ard called on the woman twice day
until her death week later. The facts
as to the illness and the horrifyng eff
fleets produced both before and at the
time Of the death of Mrs. Clayton were
loft Ind !, ho bIS ri rbf,
hesitate in telling of his criminal con
sent to the deed, and frankly admitted
that he knew it was contrary to law.
Dr.. Herbert, W. Davis was called to
the stand and testified that he had at
tended Mrs. Clayton several days be-
fore her death. and that he called in Dr.
Park Richie to consult with him in the
case. He found the woman very sick
the morning after the operation, and
she grew worse until her death OH Dec.
%. He was not permitted to tell what
the woman told him as to the operation.
Objection was made to this part OF the
evidence, and the point will be passed
upon by the court this morning. DR..
Davis testified as to the effects Of the
operation and the condition he found the
woman in. He also made post mortem
examination. In his opinion the Wonl~
an died from blood posoning-the blood
poisoning having been induced by an
abortion. The examination in chief of
Dr. Davis was not completed at 5 80 last
evening, when court adjourned until
this morning, when the court will decide
as to the admiSsibility of the dying
statement of Mrs. Clayton. The court
room was crowded during the afternoon.
A number of physicians were in court
and will be called upon to testify in the
case. There were no women present
except two, who sat in the front row of
the crowded gallery.
DR.. Pearce looked distressed and was
nervous. During the afternoon DR..
Ancker, the county physician. went to
the prisoner and spoke to him. Dr..
Pearce grasped his hand and held on to
il while he whispered to him. During
the conversation the frame of Dr.. Pearce
Quivered and his head shook as if in