The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-07-22
CINcINNATTS SENSATION
The Remarkable Story Told by a
Hospital PUtient.
HER BODY FILLED WITH NEEDLES.
She Had Forced them Into Her Logs and
Feet while an Occupant of a Convent,
as Punishment For unenses Committed.
Her Condition critical.

Her Condition CRITICAL
C~rNcrNNArt. July PA well dressed
lady applied at the Cincinnati Hospital
for admission Saturday afternoon. She
presented a letter from the mother supe-
rior of the convent where the young lady
rae resided. Vhe letter said the bearer,
Miss Nellie Thomas, had been employed
at the convent for some time, and was
suffering from swollen legs and feet.
Nothing cx,s1Dt the symptoms referred to
in the letter was found on the preliminary
examination. but later il was decided 20
lance the feet. when it was found the
limbs and feet were imbeded with pins
and needles. Forty-one needles We're ex-
tricnted from her body. and she was no
able till yesterday to endure further oper-
lions. when ten more were extricated, and
it is thought others will be found. The
physicians fear blood poisoning will set
in, and that the case in any event may
prove hopeless.
The girl protested till after the opera
tions that she could not tell how her feet
and limbs became imbedded with these
needles, but finally she said that she had
been at the Convent of the Good Shcp-
herd for several years. She was an orphan
aud alone in the world. During her stay
there she had dom wrong-nOt onoea alone,
but persistently. She had done that which
she knew was not right, and for every sin
she had committed she had done penance
by thrusting a needle into one of her legs.
She explained that each operation had
caused her agonizing puin, and that at
times was almost unbearable, but she felt
that she must bear the pain as q recon-
pense for the sin committed.
This nod of doing penance, she said,
had covered more than two years. Her
wrong doings had been of frequent occur
renee, and she was unable to estimate the
number Of needles she had placed in her
limbs. She said she and another girl in
the convent had become unnaturally in.
%fatuated with each other. They had acted
as lovers, and had together sinned against
God and nature. She said she had con
fessed to a priest at the convent, who was
greatly shocked at the confession she
made. The sisters were greatly surprised
at the statement made by the girl, and
could not understand how such condi-
tions could have existed in the institution
without their knowledge. They made no
attempt to deny the story, but were no
doubt in ignorance of such relations exist
ing between n persons.
Sister Superior Mary Malone stated that
the outcome of the examination of Miss
Thomas was a startling revelation TO her.
She had been aware of the condition of
the patients legs and feet for several
months, but had no idea of the cause. On
Saturday Miss Thomas limbs were SO
swollen and her condition so serious that
the mother superior insisted upon her go
ing to the hospital. AS to that portion OF
her story regarding Miss Thomas infatua-
tion and intimacy with another female in
the convent, Sister Malone declared she
knew nothing of it, and was surprised and
shocked beyond measure.
Miss Nellie is able TO talk, but is very
weak and suffering intense pain.