Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-27
VERDICT NOT GUILTY
Testimony in Favor of Mildred Campbell,
Charged With ManslaughteE
Physicians Say She Was III and
Could Not Have Attended Mrs.
Compiler, as Charged.


colored midwife. charged with manslaught-
er in having caused the death of Mrs Abby
E. Compiler, wife Of Geo. W. Compiler
white, a grocer on Brightwood avenue, by
performing criminal operation upon her,
was resumed before Judge Bradley in Grim
inal Court No. this morning.
The first witness, DR.. Comes. colored.
testified that he attended Mrs. Campbell
for some weeks prior to and until July l.
last. This evidence was offered by Lawyer
Jones, for the defense in order to prove
that Mrs Campbell was i'll during July.
and therefore could not have attended Mrs.
Compiler The witness was very positive
that the defendant was too ill to have lief.
the house before July II. He was certain
as to the date because he had later refresh
ed his memory by referring to his accounts
for the purpose Of rendering his bill
Frances Mitchell, young colored wo-
man. testified that at the time Mr.. Com
pher brought sealed note to Mrs. Camp
bell, from his wife. She, the witness, was
living in the house with Mrs. Campbell,
and attending the latter, who was i'll. She
said she had read the note after it had been
opened, and read to Mrs Campbell. 1t
stated that the writer had been taken ill
and wanted Mrs. Campbell to attend her.
The witness also declared that she had
overheard Mrs. Compiler at the time he
had brought the note, declare to Mrs,
Campbell that his wife had suffered an
operation and needed her.
This witness, well the others, for
the defense, fatty contradicted the teSti-
mony of Mr.. Compiler, who asserted that
when he carried the sealed note, it's con-
tents being unknown to him, to Mrs. Camp
bell, he made no mention that his wife was
ill, for the fact was that she was then in
health.
Sharp crcss-examination by Mr.. Laskey
for the government did not develop any
thing new.
Witness Was Positive.
The next witness, DR.. Warfield of Freed
mans Hospital staff testified positively to
having attended Mrs. Campbell during the
latter part of July last. He could not be
shaken in this. Scientific evidence was
given by him to the character and uses
OF a case of obstetrical instruments which
had been found in the defendants house
by Acting Coroner Glazebrook and Sergt
HARRISON after her arrest. August = last.
All the evidence SO far submitted by the
defense was solely to show that Mrs.
Campbell was ill during July at the time
the prosecution charges she performed the
criminal operation Upon Mrs. Compiler.
Mrs. Thomas. Rev. G. E. Wiseman Mrs
Kate N. Celia, VIM. Taylor, Louis Trum-
baugh end Samuel Willis, all colored.
Evidence as TO the good character of the
d=fendant was given by L. l.. Baker, Henry
Taylor and John Davis, the last two named
being colored
Mrs. Campbell was recalled by her lawyer
and testified that the Instruments in court
were not ner property, but ha0 been left in
her house by medical student who had
roomed there.
Mr.. Compiler Recalled.
Mr.. Compiler was again called to the
stand ny Mr.. Laskey and asked if he had
made any statement to Mrs. Campbell at
the time he carried the letter to the effect
that his wife had hacona ill from, ,co;
dental or unnatural cause. He emphaticaI-
ly denied 1t, but was prevented from saying
more by the objection of Lawyer Jones.
VINO contendei that Mr. Laskey had no
rlght to re-examine the witness upon this
point. lie judge ruled for the defense.
Inc Witness then went on to say, in re-
Spouse 10 questions by both lawyers, that
ne gave the note to a colored girl and did
not at any time see Mrs. Campbell
Mr. Laskey then announced that the gov
eminent had closed its case Mr.. Jones
also stated that he had no more evidence
10 offer.
Defendant Takes the Stand
After The Stars report closed yesterday
afternoon, the defendant took the stand
She was apparently calm, except for a ner-
vcus twisting Of a handkerchief between
her fingers. She declared she was confined
to her house during July and that she was
there at the time Mr.. Compiler brought her
the letter from his wife She was not able
to read 1t herself. 1t was read to her. The
letter said that Mrs. Compiler was ill and
desired Mrs. Campbell 10 come to her The
witness SAID that Mr.. Compiler also told
her that his wife had been taken i'll the
night before and needed the midwife She
ADVISED aim to send for d physician, as she
could not go. The rest of ner evidence was
to the effect that she had had no relations
with Mrs. Compiler prior to the latters
illness.
Verdict Not Guilty.
After arguments of counsel the jury re-
tired. and in a short time returned a YER
dict Of not guilty.