The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-04
He Is Held On a Serious
Charge.
Accused of Causing Death of
Kate Feeney.
Under 81 5000 Bonds to Appear Be-
fore Grand Jury

DIR. Francis Edwin Hale, i'm whose office
at 20 Aborn street, Kate Feeney, former
servant in Hopkins Hotel, died suddenly
and mysteriously early Saturday forenoon,
was arrested by Detective Parker iust be-
fore o'clock last evening" The warrant
was issued by Coroner Eugene II. Lin
coin and charges that "on Feb. 20. 1896,
with force and arms, Edwin Hale of
Providence did feloniously and with in
tent 10 procure the miscarriage of a cer-
tain pregnant woman, TO wit, one Kate
Feeney, did then ana there use certain
instrument, a more particular description
whereof is to your complainant un-
known, in consequence whereof said
Kate Feeney, pregnant woman aforesaid,
then and there died, the use of said in
strument not being then and there neces-
sary to preserve the life of said Kate
Feeney, pregnant woman aforesaid"
The warrant acc2yding TO Detective
Parker did not arrive at police headquart-
ers, so far as he knew, until between 4:30
and s:45 p. m.
Upon being arrested Dr. Hale called
Lawyer Jacob w. Mathewson to arrange
for bail and he succeeded in obtaining a !
promise OF go, 600 worth of backing, but
Judge Sweetland, before whom the doctor
was arraigned at o'clock at police head
the seriousness OF the case, which might
be called murder when the grand jury
gets it.
The doctor consequently had to remain
in custody all night.
This morning Lawyer Mathewson hustl-
ed and obtained another promise from
another man, but up TO IL 10 a. m. no as
| sistance was forthcoming SO he began to
| bestir himself to find out IL IL would no
| possible 10 retain he first mans offer, or,
| II not, to see II any arrangement could be
| made to prevent bis client going to How
ard. Warrant Officer Long suid that
DIR. Hale, who had been in the Gen.
tral Police Station all the time, must go
to jail If he couldn't get BAIL N the IL
O'Clock train, so the outlook was dubious.
Mr.. Mathewson, however, was in hopes to
connect until he discovered that Mr..
for S10, 900 last night, had gone to New
York this morning to attend the New
Englaud Baseball League schedule meet
ing. Then his spirits sank
They promise to give us time" he
and try to have the time extended. !"
DIR. HaIe's case is proving TO be a very
peculiar one, as most everybody believes
1t to be next TO an improb ba bility, if not
an impossibility, for death TO ensue SO
soon after an abortion, as charged. Even
the medical fraternity, 20 lar as seen,
with the exception of Or. George ID. VIII
cox, cannot conceive how the crush of
air to the heart" could have resulted in
this case more than in any similar one.
DIR. Wilcox explained IL as coming from a
rupture of the after birth which in this in
stance was attached to the womb very
low down. The air entering one OF the
ruptured veins he said, forced its way to
the heart and that organ, being unused
to operating under the effects of air di-
rectly introduced, kicked and the woman
died.
Lawyer Mathewson says that be never
for a moment believed DIR. Hale guilty,
for the reason that such thing never
happene before. He does think that the
teeney woman, whom he says Is known
to be bad woman, anyway, either per-
formed the operation alone, or with the
help of another, who may-turn out to be
the child's father, IL ne can be found.
This is DIR. Bales version OF IL and 1t IL q
version credited by all wh) know the
doctor.
A prominent member of the Knights of
PythIas said: "Dr. Hale told me things
which he would have revealed to nobody
else and i am satisfied that he is inno-
cent"
The police are not much in sympathy
with the Doctors arrest, either, declaring
that il is the coroner's case and they are
glad to wash their hands Of IL. Detective
Parker is attending grand jury and the
others disclaim all knowledge of the affair
DR.. Palmer and DIR. Wilcox do not care
TO be interviewed and have nothing TO
offer beyond that which was sufficiently
and accurately set forth in THE NEWS
The dead woman's sister, Mary, knew
little of Kate's later movements and
could not incriminate anyDody. Her only
part In recent Developments was TO ident-
~ her sisters remains.
One person, a woman, who would not
care to have her identity revealed, and
who is possessed of clairvoyant propensi-
ties, says: "Dr. Hale didn't do It.. The
woman did it with the help of tom
Johnson"
Who is "Tom" Johnson?
At / o'clock this afternoon Lawyer
Mathewson said: 81 have not succeeded
in getting bail and the doctor has gone
to Jail, all right. think will succeed,
however, and they'll take hail out there.
The amount is rather excessive"
DR.. Hale registered at the city clerks
office September 25, 1895, as required by
law. and the record shows that he Ia az
years old and was born In Troy, y. y,
and IL n regular graduate Of a recognized
school or system. He also holds certM.
cate from the State Board OF Health as q
practitioner in good standing.
A well-known physician said OF him
this afternoon: 81 am sorry for the doc
tor, but IL he keeps his mouta shut he
will get clear, for post mortem VIII
never stand scientifically. The only
trouble Is, has he money enough TO get
expert testimony?n