The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-03
MRS. DR.. Vail HAS CONE
Police Mere Unable to Locate Her
Whereabouts This Morning.
VERDICT OF CORONER'S JURY
1t Says That Mrs. Watkins Death Was
Due to Criminal Operation Performed
by Mrs. vail-Warrant Issued
for Her Arrest.

conducted IN Alderman NlliidliiS oi-
| flee in the North End last night.
| The guilty person, according to an
affidavit made by Mrs. Watkins few
| hours previous to her death, is Mrs. DR..
King Vail, of Mulberry street. After
less than an hours deliberation the
jury found a verdict which was de-
livered in sealed envelope to the cor
oner at late hour last night
The verdict was to the effect that
| Mrs Watkins died from criminal op-
Grafton performed by Mrs. DR.. King
Vail. At midnight Tribune reporter
called at Mrs Vars home on Mulberry
street and was informed by her hus-
band that she was not at home nor was
she likely to be during the night.
| At / o'clock this morning Alderman
| FitZsimmons was taken to his office,
where Coroner Kelley and Lieutenant
of Police John Davis appeared, and on
the information of the latter war
rant was issued for the arrest of Mrs.
Vail.
Lieutenant Davis and Patrolman
Coleman proceeded to her home and
made a thorough search Of the prem
ises From what they saw the officers
We're satisfied that Mrs. Vail had not
been at her residence last night. Her
husband refused to throw any light on
| the whereabouts OF his better half. The
| matter will be taken up with Vigor to-
| day, and a determined effort made to
find where Mrs. Vail is at present To-
Gated. 1t has been currently reported
| since Mrs. Wallis name has been con-
| nected with this unfortunate affair that
many cases Of malpractice could be laid
at her door.
Spectators who listened to the grue-
some testimony in the dingy office OF
the alderman did not hesitate to be-
lieve that verdict would be rendered
duplicating DR.. Vail. The evidence Of
the doctors and the dead woman's hus-
band seemed to prove beyond doubt
that a criminal abortion had been COM
mitted. while the ante-mortem state
ment charges DR.. Vail with the guilt.
Ante Morton Statement.
Following is the statement which
Mrs. Watkins made and affixed her
signature to several hours preceding
her death:
| Lackawanna County, ss.:
The statement of Jennie Watkins:
The above named admitted or confessed
before me. an alderman in and for the
said county, that Mrs. DIR. King Vail, Of
Mulberry street, Scranton, performed n
criminal abortion upon me Dec. 3, 1891,
with an instrument and did so at divers
times unknown to my husband.
(SigneD Jennie Watkins.
Witnesses-John ]. Sullivan, NJ. D.;
Charles Thompson, NJ. ID.
The above names or persons sworn and
subscribed before me this 2sth day OF
December, 1894.
ID. NJ Williams, Alderman.
The statement was not offered in evil
dence until nearly the close of the in
quest, nor was Mrs. DR.. Vail's name
mentioned in connection with the case
| until it was read from the paper to
which Mrs. Watkins name was signed.
The signature was made in an even
hand and did not indicate that the
writer was laborlng under unusual eX-
| element.
Thomas ]. Watkins, the husband of
the dead woman, was present at the
hearing, and was examined by the cor
oner. He is apparently 80 years of age
and appeared well-to-do and above the
intelligence Of the average mechanic
or laboring man. Some time ago he
made an application for an appoint
ment to the police force.
Mr.. Watkins was the first witness
called He said: ION Dec. Is my wife
told me she had been operated upon
by a person In the central city Dec. 8.
| don't know that she was treated by
that person afterward. My wife was
not very i'll until Dec. 90, and on that
day l summoned DR.. Charles Thomp-
son. She died Just before midnight,
Friday, Dec 2S. Her conditions was so
much improved on Christmas Day that
Dr. Thompson discontinued his visits
until the day she died.
Her Condition Critical.
He pronounced her condition critical
and advised consultation. DR.. Sull-
van was called by my consent, and he
told me that my wife had better make
sworn statement as she couldn't live.
| was present when she made such a
statement; she was perfectly rational
and did not die for eight hours after
ward She was conscious up to an
hour before dying.
After Dec. 8 my wife made Several
visits to the central city. don't know
the number of times she visited the
central city, nor whether or not she
was operated upon more than once"
DR.. Thompson was then called. His
testimony revealed the condition of
Mrs Watkins, her death and the cir
cumstances which led up to the taking
of the ante-mOrtem statement. He
said:
.I was first summoned to attend Mrs
Watkins on Dec. 90 She called my at
| which tot /,
foetus and placenta. She was I'm no
worse condition than Is usual in such
cases. i treated her to expel blood
clots and relieve pain.
The next day she was better and had
further improved by Dec. 22. visited
her Dec. 90 and Dec. 25. On the last
day she was so much better that dis
continued calling.
She had told me an abortion had been
performed upon her with an instrument
and cotton. l had treated her with
antiseptic douches to prevent bloot
poisonng. On the day she died., Dec
2s, l consulted with DR.. Sullivan with
the consent Of Mr.. Watkins.
DIR. Thomption Refused.
Several weeks previous to Dec. 20
Mrs. Watkins asked me to perform al
abortion upon her and | refused.
DR.. John j. Sullivan, who consulted
with DR.. Thompson THE day of Mrs
Watkins death, testified as follows:
DR.. Thompson called me to consult
upon the case Dec. 2S. He told me thai
q criminal abortion had been performed
; upon Mrs watkins. who, in DR.. Thomp
sons opinion, could not live. / agreed
to consult on the case provided that 9
notary or justice of the peace shoult
accompany us to take an ante-morten
statement. He had told me the crcum
stances of the case.