The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-10
BAD FOR BELINDA.
Evidence Against Her in
the Staley Inquest.
One Witness Heard Her Agree to
Treat the Deceased-She Changed
Her Bloody Dress.

The inquest IN the case OF Mrs. Lizzie Staley,
the variety actress who died on the 9th inst.
from the effects of criminal operation, and
for the performance of which Belinda Laphame,
alias DR.. Goodwin, is held by the police, was
begun yesterday at the Coroner's Office. In tie
absence OF Coroner Hughes, who is at Sacra-
mentO with his regiment, Justice OF the Peace
Cook conducted the examination of witnesses.
The accused woman was present in company
with Detectives Egan and Gibson, who have
been investigating the case, and listened to the
testimony in a composed manner, although
some OF it was OF character tending to fasten
the crime of which she is accused upon her.
Two witnesses, friends of the dead woman.
testified that Mrs. Laphame had treated Mrs.
Staley.
One of these was Charles johnson, a waiter,
who had been acquainted with Mrs. Staley for
a long while. He testified that Mrs. Staley had
told him that she was going TO Mrs. Laphame
for The purpose of having an operation per-
formed.
Il went with her," said the witness. "aud
heard the conversation between the two women,
Everything was arranged between them for DR..
Laphame 10 perform the work, and the price
agreed upon was SO. Mrs. Staley was 10
meet the doctress on the 4th of July. DR..
Lapbame said the operation would take about
five minutes"
johnson further testified that he tried to dis
suade Mrs. Staey from going on the 4th OF
July, and succeeded in keeping her away Cd
that day. On the 9th. though. Mrs. Staley left
the house without his knowledge and went to
DIR. Laphame's house. He also said that Mrs.
Staley had visited the docTress before and got
medicine from her.
"Is that the woman who talked with Mrs.
Staley about the operaton?" asked the JUS
tlce, pointing to DR.. Laphame.
at is" replied johnson.
j. f. Kugler, another waiter, had also been
on intimate terms with Mrs. Staley, and testi-
fed that he knew OF Mrs. Staley's visits to the
dOctreSs at Seventh street. he had also gone
TO the docress several times and got medicine
for Mrs. Staley He identified the note written
by Mrs. Staley 10 the doctress which asked
the dead woman. 1t was found among DIR.
Laphame's papers in her room.
Mrs. Birdie Morse, the occupant of a fiat
above DR.. Laphame'S office, was The next wit
ness, and told OF Mrs. Staley's visit on the 9th.
Soon after she arrived the witness was called
down by DR.. Laphame. She found that Mrs.
Stdley had tainted. DR.. Lapname she said,
ments which she had used In her business, and
begged that they be hidden where they could
not be found.
The witness also stated that after Mrs.
Staley's death DR.. Laphame changed her dress.
She was shown The dress with blood on II,
which was found in the doctress' house, and
Identified 1t as the one which the doctress had
worn previous to Mrs Staley's arrival that day.
Police Surgeon SOmerS when called gave teS-
timony regarding the implements found In the
Laphame Office, and described their uses in per-
forming operations of a criminal kind.
Alfred kirkpatrick OF 726 Mission street,
where Mrs. Staley lived, and Drs. Pugh and Ag-
new were also witnesses, but testified TO moth
ing new besides what has already been pub
li<hed.
The inquest will be resumed tomorrow at