Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-18
Verdict of Jury in Case Of Eria
Spence's Death.
INVESTIGATION BY CORONER CARR
Testimony Of Witnesses Did Not
Designate Guilty Party.
FURTHER INQUIRY ORDERED

ham, No. 1913 Q street northwest as pub
iished in Saturdays Star, was identified
Saturday afternoon as that of Eria Spence,
whose home was N Portsmouth, Va. She
was a married woman. about thirty years
old. and before coming to this city had told
friends she was coming here to be treated
for spine trouble. After arriving ip the
city she wrote to a friend. telling that
she was stopping at Mrs. Buckingham's
house. Today an inquest was held at the
sixth precinct station, among the Witness
es examined being Mr.. and Mrs. Bucking-
ham. who had been released from custody
Saturday afternoon.
The jury returned a verdict that the wo-
mans death resulted from a criminal ope-
ration, performed Ivy some person or per-
sons unknown to The jury.
Coroner Carr called on Inspector Mat
tfrgly later in the day and reported the
finding of the jury. 1t is likely that a de-
tective will now investigate the case.
The evidence submitted to the jury was
given by the witnesses to the occurrences
attending the woman's death and the SUBJ
sequent investigation
Physicians Testify.
Dr. Frederick o. Roman, 1901 Sth street
r'orthp est. testified that Thursday he was
called to see the patient, whom he found
suffering from blood poisoning. She was
suffering intense pain and witness said he
prescribed the usual remedies.
According to the history of the case"
said witness, IAN abortion had been per-
formed ON Monday"
How did you learn that?"
From Mrs Buckingham"
Witness described the patients symp-
toms. which Coroner Carr said were good
evidences of the cause of her condition.
There was nothing said to witness about
the cause of the abortion.
who called you in?' the witness was
asked.
She sent for me herself" was his OH
swer.
THE woman?"
Yes, sir
Questioned by a juror, witness repeated
what Mrs. Buckingham had told him. He
asked her for no particulars. Witness lid
not make a thorough examination of the
patient Mrs. Buckingham did not use the
word abortion.
DIR. Henry w. Haskins. 1922 Vermont
Avenue, testified that Friday night be-
tween 10 aid IL o'clock a message was
received by him to go to 1913 . stree.
When he reached the house he was told
that his services were not needed: that
another doctor had been called. About
o'clock Saturday morning another call was
made for him. A young white man and
oo.ored driver called and witness went 10
the house. He found the patient suffering
from peritonitis and did not prescribe FOR
me reason that he knew she had but
short time to live. Witness made no ex-
teEsive examination of the patient
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified that
he performed an autopsy ON the body OF
the young woman several hours after her
death, and the temperature of the body at
that time was about 1G3. The autopsy
showed that there was marked general
peritontis. He found that condition was
the result of pregnancy. An abortion he
said. iS not rlv criminal
ton. There was nothing about the body
to show whether this particular case was
criminal or accidental. From the condi-
ticn of the woman's remains he said, the
blood poisoning had been going on for five
or six days probably longer.
DR.. Norman X. Jenner. 1881 18th street
testified that Friday night between IL and
II o'clock he was called to the house He
was told that DR.. Roman had attended the
patient, and he declined TO take it out of
the latter's hands. The pulse of the patient
was so RAPID that witness could not count
1t. Witness saw that blood poisoning had
developed The patient was not in a con-
clifton &c make any statement.
Mrs. buckingham n Witness.
Mrs. Elizabeth A. buckingham was
next examine She told the jury that the
colored woman called at her house Good
Friday looking for work. Witness had no
servant at that time and she employed her
her house very long before she was taken
sick, and she (witr ess) put her to bed In
a room. en- the second floor. Mrs. Buck
ingham said she sent for doctor and told
the patient to tell him all about her trouble.
Witness said she had given the girl soups
and delicacies and had given her nitre for
her fever.
I'm innocen. of anything wrong in the
case" she said.
Witness said that when the girl came to
her house she said he name was Erie"
and that she had come from Portsmouth.
She said she had no family. Mrs. Buck
ingham said she had herself been a nurse
but she had diploma.
Coroner Carr asked about the other per-
sons found I'm her house by the police and
she said one OF them. called Rosa, is work
ing at her house now. She came there
looking for service place and witness
gave her home. Another one, whom she
called Katie, the witness said, was there
on a visit. The third one she named as
Mrs. Geary, who is stopping at the Cham
berlain Hotel. Mrs. Geary she said. had
been visiting her only two days before this
unfortunate occurrence
There was nothing about the appearance
of the girl to indicate that she was in a
delicate condition. The patient was sick
about week before she died. She denied
having made certain statements 10 the doc
ter. AMI said If any criminal operation had
been performed it had been done before the
woman came to witness house.
When Drugs Were Taken.
Witness said the patient told DIR. Roman
that she had taken two bottles of medi-
cine and half pint of camphor before
she came to her house. The medicine, the
patient said she got from a colored man in
Portsmouth.
John w. Buckingham. husband of the
preceding witness. gave similar testimony.
The colored girl told witness she was sick
for two weeks before she came to his house.
She said she had come away from home
be cause she thought the change would do
her good. The colored woman. he said,
was kept at the house as an act OF charity.
Sarah Z. Terrell, 1907 10th street, test,-
fed that she was acquainted with the de-
ceased. She had correspondent with her
until the time of the latter's marriage. 1t
vas witness intention to have visited her
il, Portsmouth Easter but had been I'M
able to go. Witness learned that her Ports