Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-19


Robert Purvis, of Bridgeport, who
was arrested Saturday afternoon,
charged with inflicting injuries upon
his wife which caused her death, was
given his liberty yesterday, as
soon as Coroner Beetham rem
dered his decision upon the inquest
he held at that place yesterday after
noon. The evidence given by the two
physicians who attended her, and of
the other two witnesses examined, full
ly showed that alcoholism and not the
injuries inflicted by her husband, were
the main causes of her death.
The injury which was at firIt sup
posed to have resulted in the death of
Mrs. Purvis, was a bruise on The left
side of the ABDOMEN WALL but from the
testimony given in regard to her con-
dition afterward, it appears as though
II was complication of paralysis and
commissions produced by the habitual
use of strong drink.
The first witness examined was Miss
Ella Cooey, who resides near the Pur-
Wis house. She stated that Mrs. Pur-
Wis and her husband, according to the
formers story, had Quarreled on Mon
day evening, June 9Th, and on the
following Wednesday morning she,
Mrs. Purvis, came to the home of the
witness and showed her the bruises,
saying Bob" her husband, struck her
with chair Witness said she saw
her several times after that until she
was taken belfast. Purvis did not re-
main at home very much Of the time.
She also stated that she had known
the dead woman but two months, but
saw her intoxicated several times.
DR.. M. D. Vosburg, who attended her
once before her death, was called next.
He stated that he was called on Friday
afternoon, June 10th. Mrs. Purvis
suffered commissions about every five
minutes, which would last two minutes.
There was excessive contraction of the
muscles of the left arm and leg; also
a stiffness and tremor in these muscles
which would raise from the bed in
violent jerking. The muscles of the
left side of the face were drawn down
ward and the tongue drawn to the left
side of the mouth. On asking her how
she received the injury to her side,
she stated that Bob kicked her,"
meaning her husband. He thought
that her condition might have been
caused by alcoholism and her general
state of health, but did not know
whether the injury would cause it. He
was present at the post norton exam
ination, but did not notice any of the
organs located under the injury being
out of normal condition. He
thought that alcohol in sufficient
quantities would produce results sim
liar to hers.
DR.. w. e. Hepler, who was first
called to attend the woman. said he
found her in a CONFUSION which lasted
about two months. The pupils of her
eyes were contracted and she was
bleeding slightly at the month. He
gave her some medicine, and left, call
ing on the Wednesday before her
DEATH when he found her in the same
condition. The other testimony Civ
en- by him in regard to how she re-
ceiyed the injury to her side, as to the
use of alcohol and the probable cause
of her death, corroborated that of Dr.
Vosburg.
The last witness examined was
daughter of the deceased Mrs. Jennie
Scott, of Wheeling, who was summon
ed to r mothers bedside on last
Thursda>... She was unable to under
stand what she said, owing to her
muttering so much in her talk, but said
she seemed to suffer terrible pain AS
to the commissions, she corroborated
the testimony of the physicians and
added that her mother had been US
ing alcoholic drinks for a number Of
years: also that she had told her Pur
Wis was good to her when sober, but
abused her terribly when drunk.
This concluded the taking of evid-
ence.
The verdict of the coroner was that
death was due to appoplexy. Purvis
has been released from custody.