Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-04
THE MIDWIFE RESPONSIBLE
Mrs. Compher's Death Attributed to a Grim
inal Operation.
Acting Coroner GlaxebroOk Inyes.
tfgates the Charges Against
Mildred Campbell.

| NestiSdteu the cause OF the death OF Mrs.
Abbie Compiler, aged wife of Mr.. George
w. Compiler living at No. $500 eth street
northwest, which occurred Monday night
last. The members of the Jury were H. A.
Dunn. I. A. Sherwood, D. Sweeny c. Butt
z. l.. Hibbs and Thomas Warren.
It was alleged that the death was due to
an operation performed by Mrs Mildred
Campbell, midwife living al No. 2237 Sth
street northwest and the inquiry resulted
| IN verdict holding her responsible The
accused was represented by Messrs. J. NJ
Langston and T. L. Jones, as counsel.
Or sterling Ruffin, acting deputy coroner
VINO was the first witness, and made the
| autopsy, by the direction of the actin.,
coroner. explained in detail the condition.
IN which he found the body of the decea sed.
| ara stated that, In his opinion death was
tne result of blood poisoning. DR.. Ruffin
| was crosS-eXamined at length by Professor
| Langston. He made an admission that II
was possible for Mrs. Compiler to have
herself inflicted the injuries which caused
| her DEATH ''e"
DR.. H. H. Barker, the consulting physi-
clan, who in part attended Mrs. Compiler
SAID he was called in for the first time in
me case thursday last, and that she was
| then suffering from blood poisoning He
| made an examination, he said and found
evidence that the patient had been operated
On win Instruments and an abortion per
| poisoning. He only saw the patient twice
| and was convinced the first time that her
| condition was critical.
Dr. John T. Winter said he was called
| IN 10 attend Mrs. Compiler on the morning
| OF July % He at that time made an in
| Vestsat1on, and found that an abortion
| had been performed.
Coroner Glazebrook asked DR. Winter
| what statement Mrs Compiler made to
| him explanatory of her condition Coun-
| selior jones objected to the question, but
the coroner overruled him, and Dr. Win
| reDIfad coi1 yha ba,l
| medicine. Mrs. Compiler refused he said
to answer his questions as to whether she
mad a. surgical operation performed upon
| her, or where she procured the medicine
| she said she had taken.
"A Juror asked If any one in Mrs. Com
| piers presence had told the witness that
instruments had been used upon her.
Dr. Winter answered yes. From the odor
IN the room also he inferred that there
| had been an operation.
A Possibility Suggested.
Mr.. Langston asked DR.. Winter If the
| condition in which he found Mrs. Compiler
| might not have been produced by herself
| and he answered in the affirmative
| MISS Bessie ChaZeen, a trained nurse,
| VINO was employed to attend Mrs. Compiler
| from Wednesday night last until her death,
| said she found the patient in a very sick
and serious condition on her arrival On
one occasion Mrs. Compiler told her that
she believed she was too i'll to recover and
| told her that she had taken medicine pivan
her by a colored midwife, Mrs Campbell,
| living en- Sth street near the Boundary
| The medicine was, she said, very offensive
but she mad swallowed it, she said be-
| cause the midwife told her it was harmless
| and mild and would not ipiure a snring
chicken Mrs. Compiler said that when
| the medicine did not accomplish the pur-
| pose 1or which it was given, she got word
| TO the midwife, who came and used instru-
ments upon her. Mrs. Compher's pain con-
| tlnued to become more and more severe
and she then informed her husband, who
| at once sent for physician.
| In reply TO question from Mr. Langston
| the witness stated that Mrs. Compiler in
| formed FER that she got the medicine from
Mrs. Campbell, ard that she at once re-
| ported the tact to the attending physician,
| DR.. Winter.
Miss Mary J. WEIGH sister of the de-
ceased, said she was called to nurse her
| sister on the day following that on which
| DR. Winter was summoned. Her sister was
| then sick, and had told her she was suf-
fering with heavy Geld, and expected to
be better the next day. A little later Mrs
Compiler told her that woman had given
her some medicine and had also used an
| instrument, and that she was very sorry
she had permitted the woman to treat her.
Mrs. Compiler left four children, the
youngeSt about two years old.
The Husbands Statement.
! Mr.. George w. Compiler husband of the
l
came i'll about three weeks ago She was
| then vomiting, and said she had been TAX
| ing medicine. He advised her to have
| physician, but she declined. A few days
| later she became much worse, and he sent
| for Dr. Winter, who afterward attended
| the deceased until her death About two
weeks ago Mrs. Campbell, he said, called at
| his store and asked to see Mrs. Compiler.
He told her that Mrs. Compiler was up
stairs, and to go up there. Mrs. Campbell
went up to Mrs. Comphers room and re-
| manned a while. When she came down Mr..
| Compiler asked Mrs. Campbell if she did
not think he ought to send for doctor.
| Mrs. Campbell replied that it was unneces-
sary; that Mrs. Compiler would be better
| in couple of days. Mrs. Compiler, few
days later, told him, he said, that she had
had Mrs. Campbell to perform an opera
| ton upon her.
In reply to a question from Mr.. Lang
ston, Mr.. Compiler said that Mrs. Com
phsr gave him the first information about
| the operation between two and three weeks
before she died. He also stated that Mrs.
| Campbeil was regarded as friend of the
| family, and had been visitor at his house
| for more than two years.
| Sergt. William ]. HARRISON testified thai
| he arrested Mrs. Campbell about 3:15
O'Clock yesterday afternoon, and later went
to her home. No. 2237 Sth street northwest,
| which he searched. and where he found a
case Of surgical Instruments which he
identified. He further stated that there
| was a sign upon the house occupied by
| Mrs. Campbell which gives her occupation
| as midwife.
| Has Nothing to Say.
This closed the list of witnesses for the
government Coroner Glazebrook explained
to Mrs Campbell that she had the privilege
OF making statement or not, as she felt
disposed and after consulting with her
counsel. the latter announced that thew
mad no statement to make at this time.
AFTER brief consultation, the jury rem
| dered verdict that Mrs Abbie Comnher
came to her death on the night of August
from the effects of the use Of Instruments
| by one Mildred Campbell
| Coroner Glazebrook committed the no.
cused to Jail to await the action of the
| grand jury. INC
THE COURTS.