The herald., 1895-07-22
WAS A HUMAN P|NCUSH|ON
Fifty.One Needles Taken From
Her Feet
SHE HAD PUNISHED HERSELF
For Every Sin She Had Committed
There Was q Pin
Startling Revelations Of Miss Nellie Thomas.
Unnatural Conduct In q Cincip~
natl Convent
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire
CINCINNATI, July 2l.-A we'll dres,e
young lady applied at the Cincinnati
hospital for admission yesterday after
noon. She presented letter from the
Mother Superior of the convent where
she had resided. The letter said the
bearer Miss Nellie Thomas, had teen en-
ployed at the convent some time ahd was
suffering from swollen legs and feet.
Nothing except the symptoms referred to
IN the letter was found on the prelimin
ary examination, but later 1t was decided
to lance the feet, when it was found the
limbs and feet were imbedded with pins
ard needles. Fortyone needles were ex
tracted from her body and she was not
able till today to endure further opera
tions, when ten more were extracted and
it was thought others will be found. The
physicians fear blood poisoning will set
in and the case in any event may prove
hopeless
The girl proteste d till after the opera
ton that she could not tell how these
needles had become imbedded in her feet
and limbs. but finally she said she had
been at the convent of the Good Shepherd
for several years. She was an orphan and
alone in the word. During her stay there
she had done wrong, not only once but
persistently. She had done what WAS not
right, and for every sin she had commit
ted she mad done penance by thrusting
needle into one of her legs. She explain
ed that each operation had caused her
agonizing pain and at times the opera
tions were almost unbearable but she felt
she must bear the pain as penance for
tn sin committed.
This mode of doing penance, she said,
had covered a period of more than two
years. Her wrong dongs had been of fire.
quent occurrence and she was unable TO
estimate the numb ber of needles she had
placed in her limbs. She said she and
another girl in the convent had become
unnaturally infatuated with each other.
They had acted as lovers and had togeth-
er sinned against God and nature. She
said she had confessed to priest at the
convent, who was greatly shocked at the
confessions made.
The sisters were greatly surprised at the
statement made by the girl and could not
understand how such conditions 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 existing be-
tween any 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 tse condltlon
of the patients legs and feet for several
months ..but had no idea of the cause.
Yesterday her limbs were SO swollen
and her condition so serious that the
mother insisted upon her going to the
he spltal. As to that portion of the story
regarding Miss Thomas lnfatuation and
intimacy with another female in the con-
vent, Sister Malone declared she knew
nothing of it and was surprised and
shocked beyond measure.
Miss Nellie is able to talk tonight. but
is very weak and suffering intense pain.
Chancellor Moeller of the Cincinnati
diocese, when seer at the episcopal resi-
dence. said the case of the woman is be-
yond all comprehension. He stated that
it was case without a parallel in the his
tory of the Catholic church, and one for
which no explanation can be given.
"It goes without saying" said DR..
Moeller, "that such action on the part OF
this girl was voluntary, and | know had
the Sisters Of the convent knownfshe had
been thus furnishing herself they would
net have permitted it. i cannot under
stand how any person can pretend to be-
lieve that there is such way of doing
penance. Such thing is beyond my
co mprehensiOn -