The times., 1897-04-12
SOLD HER FINGER FOR CASH.
Pretty Miss Dinsmore Needs Money
More Than Digits.

New York, April 11.-Miss Grace Dins-
more, OF Binghamton, N. Y, who came
here several days ago to sell the middle
fin ger of her right hand for 5 900 to Mrs.
C. V. Barton, OF Houston, Tex, says or her
enterprise:
II have met Mrs. Barton and made con-
tract with her for more than 1000.
shall not be able to tell you how much.
Mythroat is sore from replying to questions
about this. The operation is to be per
formed tomorrow at O'Clock in the
afternoon. Yes, l am willing to lose
finger for $500
Mrs. Barton's address I do not know,
or I will not tell. ] have been told that
there is a statute in the code against
the mutilation OF which shall be the OBJ
1ect. but the physician says am not to be
mutilated. Ny fingeristo he grated on the
hand of a woman who needs it. need the
money more tnan the finger shall goto
the Conservatory of Music in Boston ImIne-
diately afterward.
Miss Dinsmore spoke only too earnestly
The physician whois to perform the opera
ton read section 200 of the penal code
aloud 1t is as follows:
A person who willful, withintent
To in iiIre, disfigure or disable, infllcts upon
another an injury which seriously dis
figures this person by any muthauon
thereof, or destroys or disables any ilttl-
ber or his body, is guilty OF maimtng, and
is punishable by Imprisonment Tor term
not exceeding fifteen years The inlhct-
ing of the injury is presunptive evidence
of the intent.
Then the physician commented: We'll,
l shall not be liable to imprisonment under
the code
He said little else. But he disclaiIned
any responsibility for the advertisement
which Miss Dinsmore's sacrifice makes
for her.
Five other women Of New York had re-
piled To the physician advertisement for
a woman willing to sacrifice the middle
finger. Two of them, at least, are disap-
pointed because their letters were not an
swered Mrs Allen, who lives at No / 22
East 9th street, says:
II wrote In curiosity. Your curiosity
will do YOU harm some day my husband
said. I have received no reply 20 my let
ter. and this makes me suspect the good
faith of the advertisement.
why should the physician have written
| would have sacrificed my finger. but how
could he know? My finger fulfils the re-
uuirement of the advertisement You see IL
is stiff 1t was burned in my attempt to
write with phosphorus on wall warning
words to a woman, an acquaintance OF
mine who drank too much"
Miss Jessie Taylor who lives at No l6I
Eighth avenue, said:
~ should like to see Mrs. Barton. /
should like to see Miss Dinsmore. should
ike TO see their hands Monday night.
Frankly, L am skeptical-''
Mrs Sophie Scott, who lives In Jersey
City. at No 134 1-2 Pacific avenue, said:
II was willing to sacrifice one OF my
fingers for money. My relatives thought
| it abcuinabIe, but I replied TO the physi
clans advertisement in good faith, ant
| would nave fulfilled the terms Of it if
| the chance had been offered To me
| Assistant District Attorney Welch said
"The district attorneys office deals will
| things that have happened. The mutila-
| ton Of Miss Dinsmore is something whict
| is to happen So | cannot answer your
| question about the application OF the
| penal code to her sale of her middle
| finger"