The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-24
PRETTY
DELLA !.
GAINES.
a Coroner's Jury Endeavoring to Fix
the Responsibility for Her
y Recent Death. FL.
NO DIRECT EVIDENCE ADDUCED
Yet That the Suspected Abortion
Was the causs-Inquest Ad-
journed Until Tonight.

tl1c& hS ,oAiSioi ihNeSkl6dliOu llltO glue
death OF Della Gaines, the twenty-year-
old. Warrington girl, who passed away
a few days ago at the home of''AIadam"
Smaller under circumstances that led
to the belief that an abortion had been
performed, was begun last night before
County Coroner Schultze. For the state
Prosecuting Attorney w. c.. Meyer at
tended the inquest and conducted the
examination OF the several witnesses.
The inquest began at S.o'clock, and was
adjourned at II p. m. until 1880 o'clock
this evening. There are several wit
nesses yet to be examined, but the case
viii likely go to the cornore's jury to-
night.
The first witness was Aloyseus smalt-.
ger, husband of Madam" Smaltzer, at
whose home the girls death occurred.
He testified that they had lived on Main
street, above the Peoples bank, until
this summer. when they had moved out
into the country. The girl. Della
Gaines, had boarded with them on Main
street, and had accompanied them to
the country. He denied knowing any
thing as to any suspicious circum-
stances attending the death OF the girl,
Mrs. Brown, of Warrington, mother
of the dead girl, testified briefly, and
told very little that bore on the ease.
Her daughter and Lowry Tor Wilson,
had lett Huntington for Wheeling, and
the man had promised that he would
put her In a boarding house here, and
that MS soon as he could get divorce
from his wife he would marry Della.
Mrs. Maggie Loeffler, who lives near
the Smaller place In the country, tes-
titled at considerable length. She had
been called In to assist In caring for
Della Gaines on July 20, and the date
Of the delivery of the child was about
six days previous. She said that Lowry
ana the Smaltzers had neglected to give
the girl her medicine, and she had sent
10 the postoliice for 1t. Lowry was at
the house most OF the time, but was
so drunk that he neglected Della,
While drunk, she had heard him say
to the girl: Della, you've cost me
SiVO, but wouldn't lose you for 1000,
not for $4,000" Della, she said, DIDN'T
tell her who committed the criminal OPP
GRAFTON. A juror asked her II Mr..
Smaltzer knew Of such an operation be-
ing performed, and the witness.answcr-
ed that he must have known OF 1t.
Mrs. Maggie Bong. mother of Mrs.
Loeliier. testified. She Is a ncighbor of
the SmaltZers and knew of Della Gaines
boarding there with man who was
said to be her husband. They were
called Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson. At first
she was seen much about the house,
but later she stayed in the house, and
Mrs. Smaltzer told the witness thar the
girl had bad headache The witness
was present when the girl died. Be-
fore this case became known, said the
witness, many men and women visited
the Smaltzer place; now there are no
visitors.
DR.. D. B. Best testified that he was
called up by telephone at 4 a. m. on July
70 by man from Elm Grove, who
asked him to come out and treat his
wife. who was said to be seriously Ill
from miscarriage. The witness went
out on the first Cur and met the man,
VINO said his name was Lowry. He
went to the house, which he supposed
was Lowry's, and was surprised to see
Madame SmlatZer there, and felt wor-
ried. knowing her reputation. but could
not see his way clear to retire from the
case. He went SO far US to advise that
physician from the neighborhoodi be
called In. adding that 1t would be more
expensive TO have physician from the
city. The girl, however, answered that
she was very sick and wanted the Wit
ness to attend to her. The girls tenn
peraturc was 1859. and her pulse LOG.
She begged the witness to do what{he
could for her. and finally he removed
the. cause OF her trouble. The witness
went into details at this stage. The
witness learned that the girl had been
taken sick week before, when she had
given birth to child. Lowry, the man
who said he was the girls husband,
stated 1t was miscarriage. The wit
ness inquired how 1t had happened. and
n plausible explanation was given him.
The reason they had not had a physl-
clan before. Miss Gaines had told the
witness. was that Mrs. Smaltzer had
said she knew more than any physician,
and that there was no need for alarm.
do you believe an abortion was per-
formed?" inquired n juror.
II believe her trouble was forclbly
brought on" responded the witness.
What do you know OF Mrs. Smalt-
zer's reputation" asked another Juror.
II understand 1t is not good, said
DR.. Best In reply.
After the girls death, said the wit
ness, he reported the case to Coroner
Schultze. and told that official his sus-
picions. Fs
II had my suspicious, but there was
no direct evidence that she did 1t" cons
Guided the doctor. 5ig5
why do you think she did it,"
From the reputation she bore. un-
derstand she Is in that business"
Didn't they ask. you to give a GER
tiflcate that the girl had died from
typhoid tever?" inquired Coroner
Schultze.
No, they did not; told them would
put the case In the hands OF the coro-
ncr."
DO you believe nm abortion was per-
forined?" inquired Juror.
II believe premature birth had heen
produced upon that young womna," re-
piled the physician.
The next witness was DR.. w. p. Me-
grail, one OF the county physicians, who
took part In the post-mortem examina-
tion OF the remains OF the dead girl.
lie went Into minute details, and said
he had never seen n person who WIS
SO devoid OF blood. There had evident
ly been n miscarriage. but from the cx-
animation he could not tell whether It
was an abortion or not.
The Inquest Mt II o'clock was adjourn
cd over until this evening ut 1880
O'Clock. To-day the coroner Will visit
the SmaltZcr home east of the Clty