Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-23
RESULT OF inquest.
Jury Unable to Say Who Wns Re-
spOnsible for Mrs. Meyer'n Death.


aps,nsiiD bic for Mrs. Meyer'A Death.
The coroner's jury Saturday evening
did not hold Mrs. Helen Stern. a midwife.
who had been arrested on the charge OF
responsibility for the death Of Mrs. Kate f.:
Meyer The verdict set forth that in the
opinion of the jury Mrs. Meyer came to
her death about & Am. November 20, 1896
at 1913 Delaware avenue southwest, as the
result of an injury. 1t was added that suffi-
c,ent evidence had not been produced to
prove whether the act of violence had been
committed by the deceased or by some
other person.
The verdict was agreed upon after a
brief elaboration. and when reported to
Coroner Hammett. who conducted the in
quest, the release of Mrs. Stern was d.
rected.
The inquest, which began shortly after 4
p. m, was held a the fourth precinct police
station. The proceedings were opened by
Coroner Hammett, who read to the jury
the ante-mortem statement of Mrs. Meyer.
This statement was recorded at the bedside
Of the dying woman. about five hours be-
fore her DEATH by Policeman Charles T..
Peck Of the foarth precinct. with DR.. VIII
liam ]. Dillenbach. Mrs. Ella Meyer and
Conrad Meyer. the two last named being a
sister-fn-law and the husband, respectively,
of the deceased, as witnesses. The state
ment was somewhat rambling and am
biguous. 1t spoke of visits from DIR. John
F. Price and Mrs. Stern, but made no direct
accusations.
The first witness was Dr. John F. Price,
who was called to see Mrs. Meyer Novem-
Der Is. He testified as to her condition at
that time. describing it as serious. Mrs.
Meyer informed the witness that an abor-
ton had been attempted. When he first
visited her his treatment was for threaten
ed miscarriage.
DR.. William J. Dillenbach. who was call
ed into the case the evening prior to Mrs.
Meyers death. testified that he had been in
formed by the deceased that an abortion
had been performed upon her. The mind
of the dying woman was perfectly clear,
aid she seemed to have no idea of her ser
lous condition. Heart failure, due to gen.
eral peritonitis, was the direct cause OF
death, so said Dr. Dilenbach.
DR.. l.. w. G1aZebrook, the deputy coro-
ner, who performed the autopsy described
| in detail, and with much thoroughness, the
condition of the body as he found it, Ar
ante-mortem clot was found in the heart
| The most conclusive evidence was dis
closed that sharp instrument of some
sort had been used.
Conrad Meyer the husband, stated that
his wife was first taken sick Wednesday a
week ago. Before her death she stated to
| him that Mrs Stern had killed her, OF
would kill her, and that the latter had
made use of an instrument, very sharp
about six inches in length. Mrs Stern at
| tended Mrs. Meyer when her youngest child
was born in satisfactory manner When
| Mrs. Stern recently visited Mrs Never
| witness was refused admission to his wife,
room. In reply to question. Mr.. Meyer
] said that he was aware that his wife re-
Gently visited Mrs. Stern, and that his
wife told him she had taken certain pills
Policeman Charles T. Peck testified that
Mrs. Meyer made her ante-mortem state
ment to him in gasps. Her mind was clear
at the time, and she did not seem to realize
that she was dying.
After consulting with her attorney, Mr..
Shillington, Mrs. Stern concluded to make
a statement. She is married, she said.
and the mother of eight children. She
Is a registered midwife. of twelve
years practice. and holds a diploma
from a German institution. Mrs Stern
took occasion to state that she had never
before been placed under arrest and was
never accused of wrongdoing She re-
ferred for reference to a large number of
local PHYSICIANS. including Coroner Ham
NETT. The remainder Of Mrs. Stern's state
ment, in substance, was that Mrs. Never
Confessed 10 tie witness that she had oper-
ated upon herself. Every action of Wit
ness. so she declared, was entirely Iegitf-
mate
The jury then retired. and soon returned
the verdict as stated in the foregoing. The
jury consisted of F. A. Thrift, j. E. Crump.
A. T. Monroe, John Lewis and Burton Yer
nor.