St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-12
TESTIMONY AT THE INQUEST
SHOWS THAT THE ALLEGED
HUSBAND WAS CRIMINALLY
NEGLIGENT.
DOCTORS URGED MORE CARE,
But in Vain-Dr. johnson Will Be
Called on to Testify
Today.

DOuy Oh MISS Clara berSn, VINO Qleu
under suspicious circumstances at
the Globe hotel, was begun yester-
day morning at the court house be-
hind closed doors. None were pres
ent except witnesses, officials and
reporters. The witnesses were only
admitted as their testimony was re-
quired. The jury is composed of
Henry HabighorSt, A. G. Floan,
Lawrence Hope, J. A. Jones, Jens
Peterson and E. H. Hope. Stan.
Donnelly, assistant county attorney,
appeared for the state.
The witnesses were DR.. Siegel, who
attended Miss Bergh during the
greater part of her illness; DR.. Rich
eson, who was called in once for
consultation with DR.. Siegel; DR..
Mcnamara, who, as assistant dep
uty coroner, made the autopsy OF
the body of the dead woman; DR..
Finnell, who assisted DR.. McNam-
ara; Emil Constans, the proprietor
of the Globe hotel; Mrs. Constans,
his wife; J. w. Smith, the drug clerk
through whom Dr. Siegel was called.
The important testimony was that
of DR.. Siegel, who Swore that septic
poisoning had set in, resulting in the
most dangerous conditions. This
state of the patient required that
medical treatment should be sup
plemented by very careful nursing,
yet, in spite of his repeated pro-
tests, the suffering woman received
no attention except the careless, I'M
skillful and intermittent care of her
pretended husband. AT last this
neglect became so gross that on the
2Sth of June the doctor abandoned
the case. From that time until the
I'd of July the patient, then in the
very height of violent fever from
septic peritonitis, received, during
four whole days, no medical or
surgical attendance whatever. At
one time the almost dying girl relat-
ed to the doctor, in the absence of
her husband" that the latter had
DESIRED HER TO GET UP
that day and walk to some lodging
outside OF the hotel. The doctor was
informed by the husband that the lat
ter was married man, that the sick
girl was not his wife, and that he felt
himself in a most awkward situation.
The doctor never received any money
for his services, but was given by the
man involved a diamond and two less
valuable pieces of jewelry, the whole
worth about $40 Dr. Sigler stated
that he was obliged, at times to act
as nurse himself, and, he added, lit
was the saddest case I ever saw"
| DR.. William Richeson called once on
Miss Bergh. This was June "a. He
| found her suffering from septic fever,
and in most serious condition. He
| advised that DR.. Sigler's treatment be
| continued, and also that nurse be
! provided at once. His call had been
merely one of consultation. He had
been paid, SO far, in promises only.
Emil Constans, who keeps the Globe
| hotel, had seen Miss Bergh but once,
and that on her arrival She looked
! fatigued. He knew of no one attend
| gin her except the physician and the
husband"
Mrs. Constans had tried to be of as
sistance to the sick woman, but her
offers were repulsed. She was never
able to even see Miss Bergh's face The
'husband' had covered up the pa
|
when Mrs. Constans was in the room.
The husband" Mr. Richards" as
| he called himself, had exhibited a
| great dread of being recognized when
| ever he took his meals in the dining
room. A certain servant girl had been
| allowed to attend to Miss Bergh dur
ing the afternoons when Richards was
| absent. At other times the haIf-un-
! conscious woman was often left alone
! This chambermaid left the hotel July
! on an extended
VISIT TO HER FOLKS"
Deputy Coroner Mcnamara, who had
charge of the autopsy, testified that
the body showed marked evidences of
neglect. Death was the result of blood
| poisoning, due to unknown causes.
DIR. Finnell who assisted at the au-
topsy, corroborated the deputy cor
oner.
DR.. Sigler, taking the stand again
! in defense of his own treatment, as
| serted that he had observed every pre-
caution that the patients physical
state would admit.
| More important testimony may be
| expected today. The jury will begin
| Its session at o'clock this morning
Among the witnesses who will prob
/ sNpiS NC A1CeiIt oil Oll LII. JOnnSOn, OF
! Martel, Wis, presumed to be the doc
! tor whose assistance she first sought
when she went over into Wisconsin
! the day before she arrived at the Globe
j hotel
DIR. JOHNSON'S ARREST.
! The reason that DR.. J. G. Johnson,
/ OF Martelle, Wis, was arrested by De-
! tective Tom Koran is that unfortunate
/ Clara Bergh had been seen at Dr. John
sons office in Martelle and again had
been seen walking with him along the
/ streets of the Wisconsin village.
When it first became known that DR..
Johnson was in some manner con-
! nected with the affair, DETECTIVES, Nc
Gu1ggan was sent to Martelle, Wis,
/ to arrest the doctor. McGuiggan made
/ thorough search OF Martelle but
could not find Johnson. He did. how
| ever, locate his whereabouts and teIe-
/ graphed that DR.. Johnson was at a
| certain address in this city The tele-
| gram further said that Dr. Johnson
| would leave the city on the sos train.
| Johnson was spotted half an hour be-
fore the time for the train to leave
and was served with a subpoena. He
was told that if he would 'be good''
and not attempt to steal away from
the city he would be allowed to move
around pretty much as he liked, but
that if he attempted to escape he would
be locked up on suspicion.
DR.. Johnson faithfully promised that
he would not try to escape, and he
was left to his own devices, but Detec-
tive Mike DAILY was detailed to keep an
eye on his movements. Now Johnson
was aware that Daily was watching
him, for no secret had been made of it,
and he wandered about the depot non
chalantly and with a studied air of
carelessneSs. While this was going on
Detective Koran was made acquainted
with the situation. Koran went to the
union depot and relieved Daily without
being seen by DR.. johnson. The ruse
was successful. DAILY walked out the
front door and on up the street with
out so much as turning around.