The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-22

ShiiN AZ tbS dIlSlLubuf OisN thUN ohg bN'N -
the paregoric about an hour before its
death, but not more than two drops.
DR.. Laphame expressed herself as being
highly INDIGNANT at the outrage heaped
upon her and kept asking her inquisltors
how they could suppose she could have the
heart TO poison an innocent baby.
DR.. Darlington was next called to the
stand. He testified that upon opening the
stomach he detected an odor peculiar to
tiucture of opium. He then anaiyZed the
fluid contents, and found iaudanum con-
tanning at least five grains Of opium.
DR.. A. p. O'Brien then testified that upon
examination of the body he had found no
other cause Of death.
Mrs. Mary Ann Manning. rather elderly
woman, and the mother of Mrs. Williams,
testified substantially as had DR.. Laphame.
Size appeared very deaf and almost hysteTi-
cal. She said her daughters name was
Wilson and then Manning Her own
maiden name, she said, was Irwin. She
forgot. however, where her daughter was
born or what her sQn-in-law's name is, or
whether her daughter was married at all,
although she believed that she was. Was
present al the delivery and saw the in-
FAINT each day until ii died. Saw it in The
morning of Tuesday and it was all right.
Saw it again in tile afternoon and it was
dead. Admitted that she was old and
stupid. Was very reticent about her move
ments before coming to the hospital.
Couldn't say where she had stopped just
previously II must have been somewhere
other than where she was staying at present.
Witness identified the bottle of tincture,
which still contained a few drops; said
that she had seen it on a table near her
daughters bed. Her daughter had taken
some of it to relieve her pain. The bottle
was then more than half full
After some further but unimportant testi-
mOny the case was submitted to the jury,
who brought in verdict THAT the infant
had come to lis death by poison admins
tered by unknown parties"
DR.. Hughes nearly fell down when the
verdict was announced, but as tie police
no particular delay in the prosecution was
caused by the stupidity of the jury
The fallen specialist was given room in
the hospital department of the jul where
she was joined by her neighbOr, Mrs. Bur-
mister. The woman was inclined to be
reticent on the subject of her antecedents
and history, but eagerly discussed the crime
of baby poisoning considered in the ab-
stract.
What would be doing. poisoning a poor
little harmless baby" she repeated over
and over again, with other similar phrases.
When asked if she had not said to De-
tective Rogers, "They wanted me to put il
out Of the way" she SAID Yes; but l only
meant that they wanted me to take it TO a
founding asylum"
w ltu dSktu lUI DSE ONu LutOEY Rl lUH
administration of the poison she looked
blank and had no views on the subject to
advance. She stubbOTny adhered, how
ever, 10 her statement before the Coroner's
Jury that no one had anything to do with
the child except herself. She made no at
tempt to contradict the evidence of DR..
harrington concerning the presence of
large quantities Of the drug in the child 5
body.
Mrs. Lucy Williams. the young mother of
the poisoned baby, WAS seen at 525 Geary
street, where she is lying sick and helpless.
The arrest of the doctor following so soon
upon the death Of The child has not had the
effect Of assisting her convalescence. She
is about q years of age, decidedly pretty.
She has a sweet voice and an ingenious
manner of speaking. Being too weak h les We
her bed, she had given her deposition the
evening before to the Coroner.
MY troubles come all at once" said the
poor girl with a weak ATTEMPT at a smile.
My mother is hardly able TO do any thing
at all, she is so excited. She is very deaf
and don't understand things. Now the
doctor is gone and there is no one to take
care OF me-"
Ia response to questions she told the fol-
lowing story:
Mother and I and my husband, James
Williams, left Ireland about TWO or three
months ago. We came from an interior
county. | had been married then about ten
stopped at different places in Canada and
the United States. travelling leisurely. The
last place before coming 10 California was
st. Louis. We stayed there a few days
and then came 10 San Jose.
Our money was getting very low. and
my husband tried 10 get work. At san
Jose we stopped at house where there
were rooms TO let and soon became ac-
QuaInted with the people there. just before
coming 10 the city one lady told me OF this
place, saying it was reasonable and that
there was mOtherly Irish lady who would
take good care of me and my baby.
I'VE came here Saturday week. Later in
the day my husband, who had been attend
ing to some business downtown, came also
and stayed a little while. Then we ar
ranged that he should 90 in the country
round about the city and find work and Il
place for US and should write TO US and We
would join him when | was well enough to
travel. DR.. Laphame took me for $50 be-
cause we told her we had but little money.
Last Saturday ! took to bed and suffered
great pain. The baby was born the follow
ing night
''At home l have seen many newborn
babies and know that mine was weak and
sick. Several weeks ago l hurt myself in
stepping from buggy, and | was afraid l
should lose the baby. It didn't cry much.
The doctor said il was very weak. 1t would
not nurse. so the doctor fed it from bottle
but 1t only took little.
Il had it with me, but 1t got cold. and so
she took 1t downstairs near the stove.
bad 1t with me some of the tme-not
half though. don't Think liked TO
have II; but she said it was better down
stairs. Besides l was awfully weak, and
suffered pain all the time
'On Monday she brought me In n bottle
Of that stuff they say the baby died Of She
said IL had been bought for the other lady.
She gave me doses of it for while When
cha brpn q tn nptt Eo
bottom Of the label up.
Il saw my poor little baby about two
hours before il died on Tuesday, After she
told me 1t was dead | ked her to bring II
up, but she said had better not see 1t.
''She cried some herself. She was always
gentle and kind to it, aud to me. too. | am
awfuly sorry for her"
Did you tell DR.. Laphame that You
wanted the baby put in a founding
asylum"
The girl smiled family. "Oh, no, was
for taklu' 1t away with Us. | wanted tie
baby. It's my first baby" She smiled
again.
In the reighborhood the house bears an
unsayory reputation; several persons in us
vicinity stated that they have always
known, or at least believed, it to be MAN.
tanned chiefly for unlawful purposes.
There was one patient 10 the house be-
sides the two women who are now con
yaescent She was found preparing some
food for her helpless sisters. She will be
obliged to go elsewhere on account of the
detention Of DR.. Laphame.
The case viii be called today in the
Police Court but will go over until sufficient
testimony IS procured. Detective Rogers is
working on the case.
The woman has retained Robert Ferral to
defend her.
SPORTING EVENTS.