The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-04

Without Being Registered-other
Practitioners Liable to Arrest and
Prosecution for Similar offenses.
The unlawful practice of midwifery
in this city received a singing blow
from Coroner Roberts and his jury at
an inquest in West Scranton last
evening, when Mrs. Lena q. Geble was
arraigned to answer the charge of
criminal negligence in the death of a
child of Mrs. William Harmon, of 10
Fillmore avenue, and for granting a
burial permit without authority for the
child's interment.
On Thursday, July %. Mrs. Han
non gave birth to a female child,
which died thirteen hours after birth,
and the burial was made by relatives
without the necessary permit. The
sexton of the cemetery notified the
coroner and the latter in turn informed
the relatives that it was necessary for
him to see the child before the re-
quired death certificate could be grant
ed.
The body was eXhumed and returned
to the house. where the mother was
confined and placed in the same bed
with the mother, but owing to the de-
composed state of the body it was nee
essary to remove it. The midwife was
sent for and, having secured a certiii-
cate from an undertaken, filled it out
as follows:
RETURN OF A DEATH.
To the Board of Health of the City Of
Scranton.
PHYSICIANS CERTIFICATE.
Name of deceased ..........Maly Hanah
SeX-Girl. Color-Wieth.
Age--13 houers
Date of death-27 July 1899
Cause of death-Convuligan.
Nationality-Irish.
Mrs. Lima G. Geble, NJ. d.
gradueitet midwife.
Res. 122 star Fillmore ave.
INTERMENT MADE.
The certificate having been present.
ed, the interment was again made, but
before the rough box was covered with
earth, Coroner Roberts visited the
cemetery ard removed the body from
the grave and made an investigation.
He discovered that the child was born
in what is known in medicine terms
We're congested and the body was
black.
Believing it to be his duty to fur
ther investigate the case, he empan-
elled the following jury: owen d.
John, DIR. d. j. jenkins, DIR. w. a.
Paine, Lewis Smith, DR.. L. II. Gibbs
and J. II. Gray, and the case was
heard in Alderman Johns office last
-
James Reel, sexton of the Cathedral
cemetery.
His testimony was TO the effect that
the grandmother of the child first
brought the body to the cemetery and
not having the proper burial certifi-
cate, was refused permission to enter
the remains. The woman buried Tho
child without the permit, and when
Mr. Reel learned of her action he no.
| titled the corner. The body was re-
moved from the cemetery when DR.
| Roberts ordered its disinterment and
| returned to the house.
When the woman again presented
| herself at the seXtCn's house. she pre-
| sented the certificate signed by Mrs.
| Geble. The board of health would
not recognize the paper, and the coroner
| CduSeu inc Dpuy To ne removed. MI
| Reel testified to having witnessed the
examination made by DR.. Roberts and
| corroborated the doctors statement
| regarding the condition of the child.
Joseph Corini, who is employed as a
| grave digger at the cemetery was next
called. and his testimony was sub
stantially the same as given by Sex
| ton Reel.
MRS. GEBLE ON THE STAND.
Mrs. Geble was then called. She
| testified that she was a graduate of
| the New York college of Midwifery, and
! had taken a six months course of study
at that institution. When she came
to Scranton six months ago with a
certificate from the college Mrs. Geble
claims that DR.. Gates informed her
that United States laws did not re-
quire her to have a certificate and she
never applied for one in this county.
She said that she was first called to
attend Mrs. Harmon on the Sunday
night previous to the childs birth. The
following Wednesday she was again
called In her testimony she admitted
that the child was discolored and that
she had considerable trouble in its
hGllN cry
Shortly after the birth of the child
! Mrs. Geble said she returned to her
home and during the night a member
Of the family called again and told her
the mother was dying. When she
went to the house the baby was dead.
She further testified that she informed
the relatives Of the necessity Of an in
quest. but they were anxious to bury
it and she filled out the burial certih-
cate, which she procured from Under
taker Wymbs.
When questioned by DIR, Roberts Mrs
Gebe admitted that during her ex-
perience she had attended between 20C
and 800 cases and never used any in
struments and never signed a death
certificate but once before. She also
an - N