Evening star., 1899-03-25
MRS. SCOTT HELD
Is Believed to Have Caused Alice
Vaughan's Death.
VERDICT OF THE CORONER'S JURY
Committed to District Jail in De.
fault of Bond.
EVID ENCE MITT ED

An inquest to determine the cause of the
death of Alice Vaughan, colored, at the
Freedmens Hospital, February 25, was held
today at the sixth precinct station. 1t was
charged that the woman had died from the
effects Of a criminal operation at the hands
of Mrs. Charlotte Scott, and yesterday the
coroner had the body exhumed, so as to
finally set the matter at rest.
DIR. L. W. GIazebrook, who made a second
autopsy, one previously having been made
by some one not authorized to do 30,
said he found that the woman had died of
peritonitis. Some of the most important
organs had been removed. he said, and II
was Impossible for him to give more par
ticuiar Information. -
Dr. A. NJ Curtis of the .Freedmen's Hos
pital said the deceased was admitted to the
institution two days before her death. An
autopsy was performed February % The
patient when admitted. appeared to be SUI
fering with acute peitonitis. The case did
not yield to treatment, and she died, as
stated.
The post-mortem developed, he said. that
the cause of death was acute peritOnttis,
complicated with some pneumonia, due to
an abortion He saw no evidences to make
him believe that there had been a criminal
operation performed. There was no evil
dence OF violence.
DR.. D. s. Lamb told of having made the
post-mOrtem examination on the body Of
a woman aged eighteen years NOW known
to be Alice Vaughan). From his investi-
CATION he reached the conclusion that the
cause of death was acute septic peritonitis,
caused by an abortion, but could not say
whether 1t had been crinlinally procured.
DR.. Glazebrook was recalled to the stand.
He testified in reply to questions from the
coroner that he could not say that the
death was caused by criminal operation.
DR.. Williston Testiaes.
DR.. E. D. Williston said he was called
February % last to attend the woman, now
deceased at No. 1907 Cedar street. He
found her very Ill. and advised that she be
removed to Freedmen's Hospital. He was
summoned to see the girl by Mrs. Scott.
who told him Alice came there sick few
days before. From cursOry examination,
which lasted not more than three minutes,
he reached the conclusion that the patient
was suffering with acute peritonitis.
Anna Lawson, also colored, sister of Alice
Vaughan the deceased, said she heard
Alice was sick at the house of Mrs. Char
lotte Scott. and that she died at Freed
mems Hospital. Her sister she said, had
child a little more than year old. Wit
ness said she knew nothing about Mrs
Scotts business, except that she was
midwife. Mrs. Scott was arrested at the
home of the witness
Anna Evans, colored, testified that Alice
Vaughan came to her house shortly before
then went to service place. During her
stay at the house She told witness should
certain surmises prove to be correct she
did not know what she would do with her
self She got angry with witness and left
the house. Witness knew nothing about
any criminal operations being performed.
Asks for an Ambulance.
Policeman Mcdonald said Mrs Scott
came 10 him while on duty at 14th and w
streets the afternoon of February %
and asked that an ambulance be sent to
her house to carry Alice Vaughan to the
hospital. He heard nothing further about
the case until Martha Page, colored wo-
man living on Cedar street, asked him why
he had done nothing about the case of Alice
Vaughan. who died at Freedmsn's Hospital
February %. He detailed what he called
suspicious circumstances connected with
the arrest of Mrs. Scott.
Dr. Carr exhibited to the jury lot of
papers and bottles of medicine taken from
Mrs. SCOTS house.
Officer Mcdonald was recalled and said
that Hannah Turner told him she saw Alice
Vaughan at Mrs. Scott's house for a week
or more before February %.
Officer w. H. Fugitt corrObOrated Officer
evidence as to what took place
at Mrs. Scott's house at the time of the
arrest, and identified lot of things car
ried from there by the officers, as above
stated. He was informed by several per-
sons that Mrs. Scott was a midwife, and,
in fact, knew of three or four cases which
she had attended.
Acting Sergeant Kenny explained his con-
nection with the case, that 1t was upon a
report made to him by Officer Mcdonald.
Mrs Scott Lizzie Brent and Hannah Tur-
ner Were arrested and sent to the eighth
precinct station, where the women We're
locked up.
This cosed the evidence, and after some
the jury rendered verdict
that Alice Vaughan came to her death, Feb
ruary rs. 1899, from the effects of acute
peritontis, the cause of which was, they
believe, a criminal abortion performed by
Mrs. Charlotte Scott. The accused woman
was held for the action of the grand jury
and In default of bail she was committed
to jail by Coroner Carr.