The morning times., 1896-11-22
MRS. sTERNsll0T GUILTY
Coroners Jury Acquitted Her Of Mrs.
Meyers Death.
EVIDENCE NorEsuFFIc1ENT
Medical Testimony. showed That
the Woman Died From Mall
practice, But the Jury Could Not
Fix the Blame-An Operation Had
Been Performed.


Mrs. Helene Stern walked out of the
Fourth precinct police station at o'clock
last evening, free woman, SO far as the
coroner's jury was concerned.
Mrs. Stern is the midwife who had been
locked up for more than twcnty-four hours
on suspicion of having caused the death Of
Mrs. Kate Il. Myers, at her home, No.
1908 Delaware avenue southwest, by a
criminal operation.
Coroner Hanimett and his Jury met at the
South washington police station at 4
o'clock. The jurymen We're: j. A. Thrift,
]. Z. Cruinp, A. T. Monroe, George W.
Downes, John Lewis, and Burton Vernon.
After listening to the evidence and the
cross-examination by Attorney Shilling
ton, for the defendant, they rendered n
verdict that Mrs. Myers came to her
death, 1.-The jury believe, from the evil
dence adduced, as the result of an injury
caused by malpractice; but We believe
there Is not sufficient evidence before us
to prove whether this act of violence was
committed by herself or some other per
SON."
MEDICAL STUDENTS PRESENT.
The inquest was in one respect novelty.
1t served as a clinic for a delegation of
about twenty medical students from Co
lumbian University, who were shown the
practical workings of coroner's jury.
SOTOHcT myers ante.
mortem statement, made to Policeman C.
T. Peck, in the pres ence OF her husband and
sister-!n-law, a few hours before her death.
1t stated that Ms. Stern called on Mrs.
Myers Wednesday night, November l 4, a MI
said she need not take DR.. Prices medicine
as it was not the proper kind, and that he
did not know his business The mid
wife called again ON the 18th, but was
refused admission to the house, AS said
the dead woman, II blame her for my ex-
trcme Illness
DIR. John +. Price was the first witness
called. He had attended Mrs. Myers since
November l5. He found her suffering in
tense pain. on the following day he made
an examination and found inflammation and
laceration.
No NAME MENTIONED.
The sick woman told him there had been
an operation performed on her.
Ibid she say by whom?'' asked Dr..
Hammett.
Yes, SIR
'Who did she name?"
Lawyer Shillington objected to relating
the conversation as rot having tcen held
under oath 1t could rot lie evidence. He
was sustained.
When DIR. Price saw Mrs. Myers on last
Thursday evening her condition was cx-
tremely critical She died at O'Clock
Friday morning. Before death he found
evidences of pcrtonitis.
Dir. William J. Dilleifhach was the next
witness called To the stand. He was sent
for the evening before Mrs. Myers died.
His examination revealed that an opera
tion had been performed on her. She was
suffering from peritunitis and told DR.
Dillenbach she had allowed a woman 20
perform an operation.
Il then told her husband said the
physician, that she would not live ore
than ten or twelve hours. She was pulse
less, but her mind was absolutely clear
Mrs Myers also told DR.. Dillenbach the
name of the woman, buthe was Lot per-
mitted to repeat the name.
Deputy Coroner GlaZebI ook detailed the
result of his autopsy.
DEPUTY CoRoNER's OPINION.
He gave IL as his opinion that death re-
suited from rupture, pcritonitis, and heart
failure, the result of peritOnitis
Conrad Myers, the husband Of deceased,
was the next witness. lie told OF his
wife's sickness.
Shortly before her death" said Mr..
Myers. my wife told me Mrs. Sterns had
killed Ber. She said she performed an
operation on her"
He also said that his Wife had called
first to see Mrs. Sterns. After that the
midwife had called at his home three time.
at night. Before Mrs. Stcrns visited her
she was perfectly well.
After consultation with her counsel
Mrs. Stcrns decided TO make a voluntary
statement. She said Mrs Myers came
to her house and said she felt bad. She
said the lady next door to her had given
her a dose of medicine and confessed that
she had attempted to perform an operation
on herself.
Mrs. Sterns stated that she had been
pracucng here twelve years and never
had or would commit an abortion She
said Mrs. Myers death was due to her
own malpractice. and the jury evidently
agreed with her
One result of the arrest of Mrs Sterns
was to reunite her with her husband. They
had been separated for several months
but yesterday afternoon they sat side by
side at the inquest, aud ut its close LEFT
the police station arm in arm.