The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-08-05
Mrs. Laws Leap From Third-StOry
Window.

After having been returned TO the AL
legheny Presbyterian hospital upon the
order of the District Attorney, Mrs. !
Frank Law, an account of whose dis
tressing case was given in these columns
last week, threw herself from the third |
story window of that institution, and is
at present in precarious physical con-
dition. She was taken to the hospital on
Saturday, and on Sunday Morning at 2
o'clock, eluding the watch Of her nurses,
sprang from the bed, and before she could
be caught had thrown herself out of the
window. From the Pittsburg DiSpatcHs
account the following is taken:
"The hospital physicians are unable
to say if she will recover. Her husband
and the attending physician, DR.. H. e.
Ramsey, say her leap from the window
was the result of her arrest and impris-
onment in Jail after she had killed her
child Mrs. Law fell 30 feet, lighting on
an asphalt pavement. Her pelvic bone
and left ankle are broken and her head
badly cut. In addition she is still suff-
ering from the same mania which caused
her TO murder her babe. DIR. Lysle
states that had she not been arrested her
mind would have been restored and she
would now be well on the way to recov-
cry. The knowledge that she was in
prison, the shock of her arrest and cell
with a hard couch and hard pillow in
creased her mental trouble.
"Mrs. Law was released from jail and
returned to the hospital at 4 OF clock Satur-
day afternoon. She was at once put to
bed in a room on the third floor over
looking an alley extending from Sher-
man avenue to Arch street. All the time
she had been in jail she had slept none.
Saturday evening she fell asleep. The
story of her accident is told by the attend
ing nurse, Miss Annie Mccarthy, who
had been engaged to wait on Mrs. Law,
and Miss Eta McClurg, the night nurse
in the hospital. About 2 a. m. Miss Nc
Carthy was seated in the open doorway
into Mrs. Laws room. Miss McClurg
was Just entering the room when they
saw Mrs. Law jump from her bed and
rush to the window. They tried to catch
| her, but before they could do so she
threw up the screen and leaped out head
first. 1t is supposed she turned over
and fell on her feet. She had on only a
night dress and was in her bare feet.
Policeman Dickson heard a cry and the
sound of the fall. He ran into the alley
and found her lying senseless. She was
carried into the hospital and put to bed.
| Some time afterward she recovered con-
sciousness, but did not know she had
fallen from a window.
To her husband, who arrived a few
hours later, she said she had imagined
the police were after her again to arrest
her. Then she thought she was in cell
and was climbing up the bars. After
that she remembered nothing until
brought to in the hospital after her fall
Mr.. Law was indignant at the authorities
because of his wife's mishap. He said
she should not have been arrested wher
so i'll as she was. He praised Warder
McAleese highly for his treatment of his
wife, saving he furnished her food from
his own table. But it was the thought
that she was in prison and the surround
ings that affected her. DIR. Ramsey also
said Mrs. Law should not have been re-
moved from the hospital in her condi
tion.
District Attorney Haymaker explained
how Mrs. Law came to be removed Il
Jail. He said he was out of the city wheI
Mrs. Law killed her child by cutting it
throat, and he did not hear of the affair
On his return Superintendent Mutt
called on him and asked him what they
should do about her case. Mr.. Haymak
err wanted to know what the case wa:
and Superintendent Muth told him o
the child killing He added that the cor
oner's jury had committed her to the hos
pital The District Attorney said a coro
ner's jury bad no right to send her to ;
hospital. They could only. commit t
iail for court. He asked what condition
she was in and Superintendent Muth sail
she was walking about the hospital. A
this Mr.. Haymaker said she was thel
well enough to be sent to Jail until thu
court decided her case and should b'
taken there. Some time later the phys
lclah Calleu MN up anu Saiu -"i9' i1''
was not fit to be removed to jail, and 70
the District Attorney to send any phys
ician he desired to examine her. Mr.
Haymaker then called up the hospital t.
inquire about her mental condition ant
to instruct the hospital authorities to re
} tain her if they thought her condition re
J quired it. He was told the police had jus
} taken her away. Mr.. Haymaker thel
} ascertained her condition, He could no
release her, but arranged for Attorne.
Robb to request the Court to release he
on her own bond. This was done a
| SOON as nossihle and She was retnrne