Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-01
A Coroner's Jury Charges Him
With a Serious Crime.
WAS IT 4 CRIMINAL OPERATION?
The Girl Says It Was, and the
Jury Agrees With Her.
THE TESTIMONY TODAY.

At the fourth precinct police station IN
South Washington at 10 O'Clock this morn
ing Coroner Woodward held an inquest
over the remains OF a six hours old female
infant. The death certificate OF the child
gave the information that the child was
the infant Of Edward Tincher and Estells
Beach, and premature birth due to criminal
abortion was given as the cause of death.
DIR. r. T. Holden. who attended the mother
OF the child, returned the certificate to the
health officer yesterday after the child's
death. This certificate was transmitted to
the coroner, who at once went out to make
an investigation. Estelle Beach is eighteen
years old. and lives with her father at ll1
9Th street southwest. Her character In the
vicinity where she resides has neved been
questioned.and yesterdays occurrence could
hardly be believed by friends OF the family
AS the investigation progressed. Detec-
tives Weldon and Lacey learned Of the
girls statement to the effect that she had
visited DR.. Edward Leon of 45e c street on
Sunday, and prescription. said to have
been given her by DIR. Leon. was given to
them. She said she had been told to have
1t compounded at Hicklings drug storeand
Detective Lacey went TO have that druggist
fill Ii. The prescription bore the signature,
him." but when the detective mentioned
Or. Icons name the clerk put up the
medicine.
Coroner Woodward made complaint on
which DIR. Leon was arrested and locked
up. The officers found the doctor at his
home, but before leaving he swallowed a
large glass OF liquor, and last night In the
police station II was necessary to give him
stimulants.
The Inquest.
The prisoner was present at the Inquest
this morning, and was represented by Law.
yers c. Maurice Smith, Chas. A Walter
and ]. b. O'Neill.
None OF the members of the Beach family
were present.
DIR. Holden was the first witness exam
med. He testified that he was called to
attend Miss Beach about u O'Clock Monday
night at her home. No. 1lSs 6th street south
west. When witness reached the house
he met Mr.. Beach. who told him that his
daughter was about to give birth to q
child and that an abortion had been per-
found her in intense agony. She had been
suffering since O'Clock in the afternoon.
so she told witness. Witness sent for q
midwife in the neighborhood and had her
attend the sick girl The child. he said,
was born about 4 o'clock yesterday MORN
ing and six hours later death ensued Wit
ness made out birth certificate and later
in the day he sent the death certificate TO
the health office.
In conversation with the patient witness
was told that DIR. Leon had performed an
operation on her Sunday afternoon. The
operation, she said, was performed uptown,
but she did not state the exact location.
The operation. she said, made with
an instrument and the doctor Qeon) gave
to have filed until after the birth Of the
child.
Counsel objected to the testimony as be-
ing hearsay and the coroner said it was
frr.r, 20 hax xrrfsn
ent.
Witness in answer to questions by the
coroner said that the mother OF the child
was Ill and she would not be able to ap-
pear for some days.
The child. he said. was apparently strong
and hearty. There were no marks Of vio-
lence on the child Witness explained the
condition of the patient and told OF the
manner in which he had treated her. Nor
phine administered before the child
was born and he afterward administered
Quinne to reduce the fever. Witness told
of what evidences he found Of an abor-
tion having been performed.
The Druggist.
W. ID. Lynham, druggist at I21s IL
street southwest, was called and asked n
he knew Estelle E. Beach.
II never saw her but once" was his re-
ply. "She came in the store about ten days
ago and asked for some medicine, telling
me for what she wanted it."
What was her condition at that timer
asked the coroner.
Il know nothing about It." replied wit
ness. II asked her no questions"
What did you do when she asked for
the medicine?'
Nothing at ALL told her that I ala
not do business Of that kind and refused
to give her the medicine"
Ibid you refer her to any one who would
do II for herr"
81 referred her to no one particularly. I
told her had heard of DIR. Leon. but did
not know whether he would do IL or not"
How did you know the girl was Estelis
Because she gave me her name"
did you ever know Dr. LeonT"
''No. sir"
Other Testimony.
Mrs Annie V. Kahn. the midwife who at
tended Miss Beach. was next examined
She first met Miss Beach when she called
at her house to get the keys Of the house
where she (diss Beach, now resides About
2 O'Clock yesterday morning Miss Beach's
brother called at her house and when she
went to see her she found the young girl
In labor. She was having spasms and az
soon witness examined her she found
that there was something wrong. The girls
father had told her of an abortion having
the patient and delivered her of a SIX
months infant. On the baby's stomach
there was a mark OF violence in the form
OF a Dlue spot Wntre lne DiDOu ndO tttttsuL
The child was a healthy looking one for
its age and died because IL was too young.
She had never known a six-months baby
to live.
Mr. Smith said he thought the evidence
was not competent, as he thought the wit
ness was not an expert.
But" said the coroner. "she is speaking
from her own knowledge and not as an
expert
'I have been in the business for twenty
seven years" said Mrs. Kahn
Witness said that the patient told her OF
DR.. Leon's having performed an operation
on her Sunday afternoon. She got home
from the Doctors Office about 2 O'Clock and
on the way home in car she taken
sick.
He Knew Her.
Ambrose Tincher, who gave his occupa-
ton as a conductor and his residence N
Ills 9Th street southwest was next called
He was about thirty years old.
DO you know Estelle z. Beach?" asked
the coroner
Yes, sir" was his response
How long have you known herr"
about a year, I guess"
when did you see her lasty'
zone day last week"
Did you pay her any money at that
timer
har 70