The San Francisco call., 1898-12-05
DEATH OPENS
 OLD SCANDALS { AT AGNEWS Bessie Bailey's Case Proves Annoying. MAY NOT BE INVESTIGATED OFFICIALS DECLARE SHE DIED A
 NATURAL DEATH. Seem Loth to Believe That the Girls Sudden Demise Should Put Them
 to the Trouble of an Inquiry.
 
MAY NOT BE INVESTIGATED
OFFICIALS DECLARE SHE DIED A
 NATURAL DEATH.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Dec. 4-The cause of Bessie Bailey's death is still mystery. While the people on the outside are inclined to hint at foul play the phy- sicians and managers of the asylum believe death resulted from natural causes. Dr. Hood of Elko, New, and Dr. Ware of Colfax, who are reported as having said that a criminal opera tion was performed on the girl, are coming in for no small share of criu- cism by those interested in the asylum. So confident are Managers Curnow, Gould and Hale that these two physi- clans are mistaken that the case may never be investigated.
 There are many peculiar features about Bessie Bailey's death, but during her confinement in the asylum she was always very mysterious. The girl was continually getting into trouble. Eddie Herbert, an attendant, was caught in the vicinity of her room in his stock ing feet and he fled from the place on & bicycle She was always mixed in scandals with employees of the institu- ton. The story that she told pr. Ware of the operation being performed is a sample of her taleS-So the asylum off cials declare.
 The statement by Dr. Hood of Elko, Ivho held the autopsy on the girls body Y hat an operation had been performed, Is discredited by pr. Curnow, chair man of the board of managers. No such testimony was given at the Coro- ner's inquest, as far as can be learned, and Coroner Morgan, in a letter to Dr. SponOgle, says:
 All the organs of the body were in normal condition"
 Evidence of an operation, Dr. Curnow says, could hardly be discovered three days after death, where the body had been embalmed
 At the asylum all sorts of stories are afl0at among the attendants. They throw no light upon the case, except perhaps to prove the indiScretion of Dr. Leonard Stocking, first physician , of the asylum. The stories are that the doctor took unusual interest in the young lady, watched her case care fully and spent considerable time in her company, remaining in her room on some occasions as late as 10 o'clock at night. When Bessie Bailey wanted some money for delicacies the doctor gave it to her, and on several occa- sions he ordered chicken dinners for her. pr. Stocking denies all this. Dr. Sponogle supports Dr. Stocking and says that nothing of the kind ever took place that he knows of. The medical director admits he had heard Dr. Stock
 
 Grant and Bessie Bailey.
 It is believed at the asylum that mistake was made when the press dis patches stated that Cyrus Timmons, the girls uncle, said he did. not know she was coming to him. Letters at the asylum prove differently. But there is some mystery as to M. c. Berry of lilo, Ia. Some time ago he wrote to Bessie Bailey and asked her to come to him and he would take care of her. He in- closed a check for $50, which he said he owed her for work she had done in his family at Santa Cruz. No such person is known at Santa Cruz.
 Dr. Sponogle says the girl was troubled with a weak heart and death probably resulted from natural causes. The high altitude would affect her heart, and this, with the large dose of bromide of potassium, may have caused death from failure of the heart. This is pr. Curnow's opinion, also.
 While the board of managers is in clined to pass the affair over without an investigation it is thought public opinion will demand that it be looked into. It is even asserted that last sum- mer's investigation will be only a side show compared with the circus that will result from the investigation. Affairs are being conducted in a lax manner at the institution and it is said employees and patients are allowed con- Sidera h1a freedom