The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-01
BRIGHAM CITY GIRLS DEATH
EVIDENCE OF A CRIMINAL oP-
GRAFTON.
Miss Mamie Erdman Died at Ogden
and the Inquest Developed Some
Sensational Facts.


Ogden, Jan. characterization into
the circumstances surrounding the
death Of Miss Mamie Erdman Of Brig
ham City has brought to light some
most sensational facts
The post norton examination Of the
body showed that the girl was soon to
become a mother and that a criminal
operation had probably been performed.
As yet no persons have been absolute
~ connected by the officers with the
criminal phases Of the affair, but ar
rests are liable to occur at any time
The young lady, accompanied by her
mother and Norman Hansen Of Brig
ham, her betrOthed, came to ogden
Jan IS, and the two ladies took rooms
at the Ogden house. It Waa under
stood that The young lady was i'll, and
had come to ogden for treatment She
died yesterday morning.
The attending physician, DR.. H ].
Powers. pronounced the case peritonl-
tbs in the death certificate. DR.. II. b.
Forbes had at one time been called in
consultation by DR.. Powers, and he
agreed with the 1atter's diagnosis of
the case. Just prior TO her death, two
Mormon elders, George Shorten and z.
A. ShFeeve, were called in to admin
lister to the girl. They found her IN
great agony, and her condition, to-
gether with remarks made by those
about her convinced them that some
thing was wrong. They requested an
inquest, and the same was held today,
Justice Breeder impanelling the jury
and conducting the inquest.
Norman Hansen, the girl S be-
trothed. said that he was engaged to
her and came down with her simply
to be near her. He understood that
she was suffering from Inflammation OF
the stomach and bowels and Mrs.
Lucas, proprietor of the Ogden house,
told about the three people coming
there and engaging rooms. The young
iran had occupied d room for one night,
tat that was the only night that ne
entered the room She said that the
mother, Mrs. Erdman. had intended to
employ DR.. Rich, but somehow had
failed to find him. and mad called IN
DR.. Powers.
Post Mortem Examination.
A post mortem examination was held
at Richey's undertaking parlOrs. DR.. Dri-
yer and DIT. George W. Baker, the ply
sicians and RI. Rich, being present 10
represent Mr.. Erdman. The physicians
refused to diVulge the result OF their md
ings. 1t was learned, however, that they
found unQuestiOnable evidence that the
girl had recently been pregnant and that
q criminal operation had evidently been
performed, or attempted. 1t is understood
that this may have been a considerable
time ago, possibly before she came to Og-
den.
The grief Of Mr.. Erdman. who was pres
ent when these facts were disclosed, was
Ditiful in the extreme. The body Of the
unfortunate girl was sent to Brigham city
tonight and. ii is understood, VIII be bur-
led today at 2 O'Clock The inquest Will
be resumed tomorrow morning at 10
~ mo "a 4
detained by the sheriff, at the suggestion
of the county attorney. but was not piac-
ed under arrest DR.. Taylor of Brigham
City was the girls physician before she
came 10 OgCen.
George Shorten told about the visit of
himself and Nj. ShTeeve and described
tins condition of the girl as they found
her when they went to perform the rites
of tia church. Mr. Shorten said his sus-
piciOns were aroused by the symptoms OF
the girl and from the fact that they had
chosen to locate in that quarter OF the
city. He said that the young man, HAN
son, told him the girl had been sick for
a long time. and that her doctor had
given her a large dose of medicine, which
had brought on her sickness.
DR.. Powers testified that he was called
to the case Jan. q by the mother of the
girl. He was informed that she mad been
troubled with her bowels and with a
structure of the rectum- He gave her the
usual remedy for constipation, Wnach
acted very severely. He found. no cyl
dences Of any criminal operation. He
stated that the cause Of death was in
termination of the bowels.
G. NJ Erdman the father Of the girl,
testified that she had been troubled with
continual i'll health. He was very GER
tain that there had been no criminal OPP
Grafton and was very anxious that a post
mOTtem examination be held.
This closed the examination for the day,
the county attorney desiring further time
to look up the case Mr.. Erdman was
gsa-n
at once with the body of his daughter,
on account of his wife, who, he said, was
frantic with grief. and, to certain ex-
tent. that her reason was threatened