Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-04-22
A REMARKABLE STORY.

L -
remarkable story of crime, in which
two countries are interested, has final
ly developed out of the identity of the
unknown woman who died in Mrs. II
B. Lanes lying-in hospital, February G.
Even the way 10 which public atten'
ton was first called to the crime is re-
markable. A nespaper man happened
in the undertaking establishment Of
Frank Gibbs one day and kicked q cof
fin that was lying in one corner of the
room. The undertaken was indignant,
and said, "Here, don't kick that coffin
there's body in it, and I've got 800
for keeping it."
The newspaper man reported the
matter to the health Office and an in
vestigation was started. It was learn
ed that the body in the coffin had been
embalmed two months before, and kept
in the undertaking shop all the time,
being moved on three different occa-
sions when Mr.. Gibbs shifted his quar-
ters.
The death certificate showed that
the girl had died just two months be-
fore. The name on the death certifi-
cate was Myrtle Cook, the cause of the
death was set down as pneumonia and
the doctors name was J. D. Seaman.
When Gibbs found the case had been
reported he hurried to bury the body
in Potter's Field. The Health Board
ordered it dug up, and it was laid on a
slab in another undertaking establish
ment, where a post mortem was held
and sufficient evidence secured to show
that the girl had died Of an operation,
and not from pneumonia as stated in
the certificate.
The body of the poor girl lay for five
days on slab, subjected to public gaze,
in hope some one might identify ber.
Out OF the thousand or more who view
ed the body, not one could furnish
clew 10 her identity, and it was finally
buried. 1t was more than n nine days
sensation, owing to the peculiar circum-
stances which surrounded the case.
Prosecutor Fraser was afterward Wis
tied by woman, who told him o re-
markable story. She said that she had
been an inmate of the Lano Lying-in
Hospital in January and there met a
girl who answered the description Civ
en- of Myrtle Cook, but that she knew
no such person.
She said the girl she knew was Emily
Hall, and that she was an English girl,
and there was something very peculiar
about her coming to Detroit. Prose
cutor Fraser was interested, and imme-
diately devoted his entire attention to
the case. He hunted up corroboration
in every field, aud has finally establish
ed case which leaves no room for
doubt, and which will call the attention
of two countries to the case.
One of the first things that Fraser
learned, and he early called to his as
sistauce the aid of Chief of Detectives
Baker, was that the girl arrived in
Detroit January 90 and went direct to
Mrs. Lanes hospital. He also learned
that all arrangements had been made
for her coming there; that she arrived
in the night, was driven direct to Mrs.
Lanes and four days later an operation
was performed, from which she never
rallied.
The doctor who performed the opera.
ton is known. Then Fraser Saturday
had the body re .exhumed and when his
strange informant gazed upon the
features she said:-"Tbatis Emily Hall,
but these are not her Clothes" His
further investigation developed the fact
that Emily Hall had frequently talked
to his informant about Birmingham, had
said that her parents were worried to
death about her, and that she was go.
ing back home as soon as she was well
With this much of clew, the pro.
secutor and chief of detectives went to
work. They established the fact that
she had received letter which was
headed "Primrsse Villa, Station
road, Dudley, England" and was
signed "Jon.n He also estab
lisbed the fact that on February
6 registered letter was received in
Detroit addressed to Mrs. 81. D. Lane
No. $50 Lincoln avenue, which con
tanned $50, the price for the work.
The detective and prosecutor have
secured the evidence of two persons
one of whom swears that Emily Hall
told her that she had been wronged by
man who sent her to this country
and was clergyman, and the other O
whom makes affidavit that Emily, be-
fore her death, said she had been lee
astray by Church of England clergy
man, who resided in Birmingham. II
addition to this the prosecutor and de
tective have unearthed other evidence
which makes their case perfect, and es
tablishes beyond doubt the identity o
the poor girl who was on Saturday
buried for the third time in the Potter:
Field.
They also know that less than fv'
months ago she was the loved daughte
of Birmingham family, and was un
duly loved by this Church of England
clergyman.
| A cable message was sent to Bir
mingham Saturday night asking tht
officers there to watch closely the higf
church clergyman of Birmingham. 81
sure is Prosecutor Fraser of the story
and truth that he boldly affirms tha
he has evidence enough to convict the
doctor of the charge of murder and viii
send the clergyman to prison for life il
he can be brought to Michigan.
|