Evening star., 1900-09-20
DIED A NATURAL Deaf H
VERDICT OF JURY IN CASE OF AL
IEGED INFANTICIDE.
investigation Into Circum-
The Evidence Submitted.

An inquest was held under the direction
Of Coroner hewitt this morning at 10 o'clock
at the sixth precinct police station to de-
termtne what criminal responsibility. If any,
was incurred in the death of a newly born
infant left at the Georgetown station house
last Thursday. The dead babe was brought
to the station by Mrs. Susan Bryan of 1918
31st street. who said she had found 1t in
her back yard. Sergeant Schneider and
Policeman Connor began an investigation
of the case which resulted In the arrest OF
Mrs. Bryan, her daughter, Mrs. Kate Gross;
boarder at the house, Mrs. Mary Col
myer and Clara Crockett of Martinsburg.
". Va, the latter proving to be the mother
Of the infant. The four women were held
as witnesses in the investigation, but with
out specific charges against them.
After hearing all of the evidence adduced
the jury returned verdict that the child
death was due to natural causes, and no
one was held.
Sergeant Schneider was the first witness
this morning. He told the jury of Mrs
Bryan having brought the dead child to
the station house and of her story about
finding it in the back yard The sergeant
also told of the investigation he had con-
Quoted. the results of whic:l, he stated
would be developed by the witnesses to fol-
low.
Deputy COrOner's Statement.
Deputy Coroner Gazebrook testified to
having performed autopsy on the in
fant He said there every evidence 1t
had lived. The lungs were filled with air
and were greatly distended, showing that
breathing had been difficult. Under ordi
nary circumstances, he thought. the child
should have lived, and concluded from his
examination that death had resulted from
other than natural causes-from Suffoca-
tiou. most likalV he declared
Miss Clara Crockett of Martinsburg w.
Va, the young mother of the dead child,
said the infant was born Wednesday of last
week at the home of Mrs. Gross, wither
she had gone upon the invitation of the
latter She had known Mrs. Gross all Of
her life. She didn't know personally
whether the child was born dead or alive
She was told. however, five minutes after
its birth it was alive.
''They didn't let me see 1t. and told me
next morning it could not live" the wit
ness continued. She explained her depar-
ture from Washington for Sterling Va
last Sunday by saying she had been ad-
vised by the other women involved in the
case to go away for the present. or she
would get them in trouble; that the police
had already been to the house.
They gave me the money to go away
on she declared. "and also told me to tell
the police nothing; not TO tell them when j
came. When the child was born Mrs. Bry-
an and Mrs. Colmyer We're in the room.
Mrs: Gross coming in a few minutes later.
Half an hour after the child was born they
told me II was dead
Had Been Refused License
Mrs. Bryan, when called, stated that she
had formerly been midwife, but a license
was refused her about two years ago, and
she had not practiced the profession since
that time. She had known Miss Crockett
for long time but did not expect to at
tend her in her confinement. The latter
sent for her. however. just few minutes
before the child was born. Mrs. Bryan said
she tried her best to the childs life,
but it was strangling and dying when born.
Mrs Bryan contradicted Miss Crocketts
statement about seeing the child, saying
she showed it to the mother soon after It
was born.
Il took the case" said the witness, be
cause there was no one else there, and a
doctor could not have arrived in time had
one been sent for"
The witness admitted having told the po-
lice she found the child in a basket in her
yard. and explained this by saying she was
afraid the authorities would otherwise not
bury it.
Mrs. Colmyer told Of the "gurglng SEN
sation" the child was making when born,
and of the efforts of Mrs. Bryan to save it's
life. She heard Mrs. Bryan say: IF It's
child and either keep 1t myself or send it
to an asylum
Mrs. Gross told of having met Clara
Crockett IN Cumberland recently. The girl
told the witness at that time Of her trou-
BILE, and as a friend Mrs. Gross invited the
girl TO come on to Washington when she
was unable to work any longer.
The jury was but short while in fixing
its verdict. There was a question raised as
to the advisability of holding Mrs. Bryan
on q charge of unlicensed midwifery, but
as ii appeared she was acting merely as a
friend in an emergency. without compensa-
ton previous arrangement this