Evening journal., 1897-08-25
SHE KILLED HER BABE.
So Finds the Jury in the
Elizabeth J. Healing Case.
CONFESSION THE WORST EVIDENCE
INQUEST HELD THIS MORNING IN
THE PROIICIDE CASE WIT
NESsES TELL THEIR STORY.
COMMITTED TO JAIL.

little drama. which goes under The
head of "an inquest" but which should
be termed a state farce" was enacted
this morning at the Office OF Deputy
Coroner Chanliler, when Elizabeth J.
Healing. a beautiful young girl. aged
20 years, was arraigned on the charge
Of proliclde. Miss Healngs case OF
how she fell a victim to ,he lust of one,
JCseIh Luther Hoffecker. Of now she
gave birth to a child, OF how, through
shame ana sorrow, she killed Il. has
been described in the Evening Journal.
Miss Healing, accompanied by her
mC.hcr. Both were dressed in crash
suits, and to the uniformed they
looked pictures of comentment but to
the knowing ones. despair and iemo-se
filed every fibre of their bodies.
Miss Healing can be termed a beau
tiful young girl She has light golden
hair a peach-like complexion. with
pearly teeth, and large handsome blue
eyes, which told bhe very essence of
her soul Her hands We're as white as
alabastcr Miss Healing, before COM
ing TO The Trial, evidently neglected to
place a veil around her face. She was
unaware that a crowd of "curlOs"
would be present at the hearing, How
ever. this prcdicament was soon over
come Her mother went to a Market
street a,ore and retuGned With a heavy
black veil, which she put around her
| daughters face. During the hearing
she never looked mp, and no better pic
ture Of a repentant Magdalene, who
was more sinned against than SHINING
was ever portrayed than Miss Healing
She had the en.ire sympathy OF every
person at the trial.
Dr. Palmer said that he was called
abou; the 23d of July to attend Miss
Healing. He said that the call came foi
him about o'clock in the afternoon
After arriving at the house he fount
that Miss Healing had given birth TO ;
child. He asked the family where the
child was, but did not find out. lie foun,
some blood on the floor. He asked Mrs
Healing about that, but did not get ,
satisfactory reply.
The physician called a second tim
and found the child in the cellar
J had been maltreated and It's mouth wa
torn. Deputy Attorney-General Coope
asked DR., Palmer the age of the child
: lie said about one day. Or. Paine
then said that he was told by the mo
ther Of Miss Healing the details Of th
r crime. He then told of the post-moI
e TEN examination held on the child.
!. Deputy Coroner Chandler was mex
s examined. He said that he was notifie
1 by DR.. Palmer on July "A that a chill
{ had been born to one Elizabeth J. Hea
Y ing. and il had died under peculiar cir
cumstances. He said that he summOne
! Dr. Smith, the coroner's physician, an
Q together they went TO Mrs. Healing
p home. He then told OF the conicsslo
made by Miss Healing A carpet tao
I litter which was the instrument use
Q in killing the child. was then produced
"The woman said Deputy Coront
e Chandler, told me that she did nc
p know what she was doing when th
v blow that killed the child was strucl
p She was suffering from Mysteries.
;. Coroner's Physician Smith was tn
next witness. He said that he exam
ined the child and found a wound o
, the left temple from which the brai
oozed lie also found various othe
wounds. DR.. Smith said that Miss Hea
/. ing had told him how she killed Oh
z child.
THE HEARING ENDED.
The jury looked at each other an
. then gave this verdict: That the infaI
= Healing came to its death by morti
? wounds inflicted by its mother, Elizi
e beth j. Healing.
!, Coroner Wright who conducted Il
, inquest, after the verdict had been rel
y dered. committed Miss Healing wiahoI
(, bail to the custody Of Sherl
v Finn. She was led away weeping pi
eously.