New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-26
SHE MUST HAVE BEEN JUMPED ON.
DIR. FREEL TEsTIFIES THAT MRS. ADAIR COULD
NOT HAVE INFLICTED THE INJURIES

NOT HAVE INFLICTED THE INJURIES
UPON HERSELF.
The Commissioners Of Charities and Correction yes
terday ended their investigation into the death OF
Mrs Martha f. Adair the County Insane Asylum
on April 90. Her death attributed by the hos
pital staf to senile decay, but an autopsy at TIE
instance Of her friends showed that eleven OF her
ribs had been broken and that she was severely
bruised Mrs. Martha Clarke, daughter OF the
dead woman, charges Charlotte Sutsberg, an insane
pauert, with jumping on and abusing her mother
Dr. Frank J. Freel, who performed the autopsy In the
case OF Mrs. Adar for Coroner Creamer testlned Ill
regard to the nature Of the injuries sustained by
Mrs Adair as he did at the inquest last week. He
attributed death to the shock from the broken ribs,
and said the injuries could not have been caused ny
q fall The injuries must have been caused ABOUT
Q week before death. DIR. Phillips, house physician
Of the asylum, tried to induce the witness 10 AUNT
that sene decay the Of DEATH but although
he admitted there signs OF 1t. he said POSI-
lively that the fracture Of the ribs and shocks there
from were the causes Of death. The three Charlues
Commissioners asked DR.. Free If Mrs. Adair could
have broken her own ribs by fall against the SIDE
Of Q lounge bed, but he said 1t was Impossible.
Her RIBS must have been broken by being jumped
on or by being knet upon. Dr. John NJ Cayland'
who assisted at the autopsy, corroboraed Dr. Freei
and declared the Injuries could have been self
inflicted
Mrs. Martha Clarke. Mrs. AGairs daughter, testi
Aed that she 10 The asylum on Wednesday ana
pAcked out from forty-eght women dressed alike the
vouno woman Charlotte Stutsberg whom her mother
had accused OF cruelty treating her at different times
This woman as soon as she saw the witness, threw
up her hands and said: 81 didn't hurt her;
didn't do IT. When the witness asked other
patients about the affair they put their hands over
p their mouths and did not dare to speak. short
time before her mothers death, Mrs. Clarke said,
the Stutsberg listened 10 their conversation,
and when her mother said that this woman had
iumped on her she left the At her next visit
Mrs. Clarke vas told by her mother that as soon as
she had gone the previous time the SutsberS woman
had abused her. Mrs Clarke also heard this woman
threaten her mother, and the latter SAID that the
nurses got this TO jump on her. The Wit
ness said that when she went TO the asylum on
Wednesday she found the Stutsberg womans hair
had been clipped short, and she believed 1t had been
After she had ended her evidence Mrs. Clarke
turned 10 Commissioner Nolan and said "You have
been quite prominent in bringing about this inquiry,
Mr. Nolan and from what learned al the asylum
Yesterday the boys all down on you, ana You
are not going 10 succeed yourself Mr. Nolan ,
term OF ONCE will expire this year.
The commissioners will not report until the evidence
Is written out. They have instructed Medical
Superintendent sylvester 10 investigate the story OF
cruelty 10 Mrs. Adair by the stutsberg woman The
latter Is twenty-three years old, and was German
servant girl when admitted to the asylum IN 1851
She has grown worse while there and Is now often
noisy ana profane II is said that the nurses give
her much freedom in the halls and rooms as she
assists them in their work.