The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-16
STORY or SHAME.
Awful State Of Morals in
Hoboken Disclosed at
an Inquest.
ANNIE SCAWISSHEIM HELD
Mrs. Negley's Tragic Fate In
solves Many Women in
a Shocking Scandal.

The examination of Mrs. Annie Schwiss-
helm, the Hoboken midwife, who is ale
legged to have performed fatal criminal
operation on Mrs. Mabel Negley, a hand
some young married woman, of No. 104
Fourteenth street, Hoboken, was held
before Recorder Stanton in Hoboken yes
terday afternon. and developed several
sensations.
The court room was crowded when the
case was called. The prisoner, a middle
aged woman, neatly attired and wearing
eye glasses, sat beside her counsel, Con-
gressman William d. Daily.
Burt Negley, the dead woman's hus-
band, was the first witness called. He
testified that one night about ten days
ago. his wife, accompanied by another
young married woman, Mrs Metzger,
visited the midwife's house on Willow
avenue When they did not return at a
late hour, he went after them, and wait
ed for them on the street. When his wife
finally came out, she appeared to be in
great pain, and he had to assist her TO
her home. Negley testified that his wife
again visited the prisoner and told of two
visits the prisoner had made to his
home.
Last Saturday his wife became so Ill
that he had to call in DR.. Fischer. DR..
Fischer said that she was dying, and she
was removed to st. Mary's Hospital. In
answer to questions, Negley said that
Mrs. Sehwissheim had been recommended
to his wife by another young married
woman, Mrs. Traven.
Mrs. Traven was called, and without
blush submitted to rigid cross-exami-
nation by Congressman DAILY. She adj
mitted that Mrs. Schwissheim had treated
her. Congressman Daily scored the wit
ness numerically. Mrs. Traven said that
she had been recommended to the mid
wife by Mrs. Metzger, another young
married woman.
Mrs. Metzger, the next witness called.
was a girl scarcely out of her teens. Shs
testified that she went to the midwife
with Mrs. Negley. Mrs. Negley went in
to an adjoining room, and she did not
know what happened. When the young
woman was cross-examined, she became
| hysterical and fell out of the witness
chair Her cries could be heard all over
the building She was carried. limp and
faint into the Recorders private room,
where two physicians partially revived
her She still suffered from hysterial
n
the stand. She told the court that she
became acquainted with the midwifs
through Mrs. Phoebe Gilbeck, another
married woman. of No. 1892 Willow ave-
| nue..
Mrs. Gilbert was next called. She testi-
| fed that the midwife had treated her,
| She had heard of the midwife from Mrs.
Hobson, another married woman, OF NO.
1914 Willow avenue. The Recorder finally
decided that the examination in this line
had proceeded far enough. He did not
| care to drag the names of any other mar-
ried women into the case.
DR.. Wolff and DR.. Fischer were then
called. Both testified that they had treat
ed the dead woman at st. Mary's Hos
pital and that her death was due to blood
| poisoning, produced by criminal mall
practice. Coroner HOFFMAN, produced ths
woman's ante-mortem statement, detail-
| ing her visits to the midwife.
The Recorder decided to hold the mid
wife without bail to await the action OF
| the Grand Jury. Nesley, Mrs. Traven,
| Mrs. Gilbert and Mrs. Metzger were each
required to furnish $500 bail to appear as
witnesses in the case.
Congressman DAILY said he would apply
| to the upper courts today for bail in
| Mrs. Schwissheim's case.