New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-02
IN A TRANCE OR DEAD.
A PECULIAR CASE AT THE PRESBY
TERRAIN HOSPITAL.

DEPUTY CORONER WESTON ABOUT TO PERFORM.
WHEN HE is INFORMED THAT THE
PATIENT WAS SUBJECT TO
CATALEPTIC FITS.
+ Margaret McCabc dead or alive? The physi-
clans at the Presbyterian Hospital say she is dead
Mrs Shannon. OF No. l26 East Eighty-fourth-st,
with whom the woman lived for weeks. says she
is alive Deputy Coroner Weston says he Is uncer-
tain tha, the woman may be either alive or dead.
Three weeks ago Mrs shannon who IL the jan
itress at No 10 East Eighty fourth-st.. met
strang. woman in the hallway The stranger was
hungry III aud penniess. and Mrs shannon TOOK
her iH
several DAYS later the woman acted queery. She
was IN bed at the time. Suddenl: she sai up
waved her hands wildly and. with eyes fixed on
vacant space fell back II dead. Her body was
a. rigid as "a corpse but. re nained strangely warm
Ms shannon concluded that she was dead. ana
went ont 10 arrange for her funeral Nheh she
came home she found her strange boarder sitting
In a chair She much alive. ana tod q
strange story Of having spirits and of visiting
with the dead She explained that she was sub
jet 10 cstal"puc fits
Yesterday afternoon the woman was seized WIN
a violent attack There was no doubt or ~ gen
uineness Unlike tina, had preceded H. ms
WAS accompanied by violent hemorrhase' anu
Yrs shannon. thoroughly alarmed. called police
was taken 10 the Presbyterian Hospital She was
p,sced In one % the wards. and two hours later
when one Of the physicians had occasion 10 treat
her he declared her dead
The body vas taken TO the hospital m1rgue ana
Deiuty Coroner Weston was called lie was SHOWN
into the morgue and arranging his instruments
he waited for the attendants 10 bring the BODY
- the men wheeled the supposed corpse Tor
ward there wa. a commotiOn in the hallway ana
the next minute a woman rushed into the room
Where is She? Where is She? she yelled.
she. no, dead She IS In q trance" II WAS Mr..
FOR Gods sake" she yelled clutchine DR.. IVES,
ION by me arm you rr ro hTsterIcally explain
ing about the catAlcptc attacks 10 when MISS NJ
Cabe had been subject. Mrs shannon wh0 o. YES
Il ook look look she cried. She's moving. !
saw her move her arm.
The attendants smiled saying that such move
ments were not uncommon In corpses. but pre-
cediug rigor norris were almost certain sign o.
death bu' Mr. sa.,'o ,haT she had seen Miss
MeCabe in such state several times.
Dr Wes,or mad ciose esana nn ana shs
slowly put them I'm MS cas-. and closing II with a
snap. remarked quietly ~ wont rS hold an autopsy
lie then ordered the attendants 10 take the sup
posed corpse into the hospital and wrap It In warm
blankets. He further suggested that nurse be
placed on guard. 10 watch the body constantly 10
detect any sign OF returning consciousness.
His orders We're ob"yed ana the body OF "oman
whichever f. isl placed on cot In the acct
dent ward and wrapped I'm heavy wooller blankets
few minutes the blankets were turned down and
/ the body examined. Al ~ a m there "as
10 change The body still remained as when taken
All of III physicians in the hospital laughed
when they heard what Dr. Weston had ordered.
There could be no doubt whatever OF the woman =
death hey said. I, was absurd 10 say she was
The McCahe womans age abou, twenty -four