The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-08
TAKEN
BACK
TO JAIL
Miss Tsppan, Accused Of Poi
soning Mrs. Gibbs, Will
Have a Hearing Noy Is.


Bsrnstable. Mass, Nov. S-With drawn
| face and trembling lips which showed
plainly her agitation, Miss Jane Toppan
stood before the court today In what
was the second step In the prosecution
OF the charge against her the salieged
murder OF Mrs Mary L. Gibbs OF Ca
tsument by poisoning. and was Informed
by Judge Hopkins, who presided, that
she must be ready on Nov. IS to defend
herself from the accusation.
IL WAS Just as ths town clock was
| striking the hour OF when Miss Toppan
arose 10 answer To her name as called
by the clerk OF the court. She had
| been brought from the jail, not more
| than . feet away. by State Ofticrr Let
! teneN. and was accompanies 10y her coun-
I sci James : Murphy of Lowell
She walked with steady step ana
| seemed 10 hold herself under control.
| Her dress OF black cneviot ntted her
! nicely. and the white lace bow about her
throat together with the fashionable
| black hat which she wore were attrsc-
I tive and neat
| A peculiar thing. however, about her
/ apparel was noticeable. She wore
wide opening at the throat, and This
| with her bearing and manner, which WAS
! that typical of nurse we're noted with
| interest.
| The little cramped court room was
| crowded and District Attorney Holmes
| was at hand early. The proceedings,
| however. did not occupy more than four
| minutes and were devoid OF anything OF
| a sensational character. Judge smith
| X Hopkins. who presided in the absence
4 ~ Va hl1 "A
! short discussion with Lawyer Murphy,
! counsel for Miss Toppsn. with reference
! to the date to which the hearing should
| be pos tponed.
/ Mr. Murphy declared that the date OF
| December should be assigned, but he
| was told by Judge Hopkins that II was
| the desire OF Judge Swift that the case
| should not he postponed longer than one
week Mr.. Murphy announced that he
| had secured the agreement or the gov
| ernment's representatives TO postpone
| ment until December 4, but the instruc-
tions OF Judge Swift to Judge Hopkins.
| the latter said. were mandatory and the
| date OF Nov. IL was then assigned.
| AS Miss Toppsn arose In response to
tho demand of the clerk her agitation
was very noticeable. but she did not lose
her control over her emotions, and was
taken back TO her cell at the jail by
OFFICER Letteney at once. She was held
| without bail.
A PRIVATE INQUEST.
Buzzards Bay, Mass, Nov. s.-From
| Barnstabe the machinery OF the govern
ment employed in the case now being
built mp against the Lowell nurse Miss
Jane Toppan, the alleged posoner OF a
Number her former patients was
| transferred To this town this forenoon.
At 1880 o'clock the inquest ordered by
the authorities into the deaths OF Mrs.
| Mary T. Gibbs and Mrs. Annie &. Gordon
was begun. before Judge Frederick {.
Swift OF the first district court of Barn
stable county.
| The inquest was conducted behind
closed doors and no one except the oni-
| cialS and the witness under examination
was permitted To hear any OF the pro-
| ceedings Only one witness was admitted
| to the court room at time and each was
strictly enjoined TO maintain secrecy as
to the nature OF the evidence disclosed
The state officers handling the case adj
mitted. however that practically every
thing Is being brought out at the hearins
| upon which the state will place It's de-
| pcndence for a successful prosecution ol
the trial OF Miss Toppan.
District Attorney Holmes or New Bed
ford who of late has not had much tim'
4 ! TO devote to the case, chiefly because 81
the necessity for his presence at Taunton
whore the Bristol county grand jury hat
p. been in session, assumed fun cnarge to
2 day, and as soon as the brief hearing a
e Bsrnstahle this morning had been dis
= posed of. state Detectives Whitney AM
I.etteney together came here.
Z The witnesses called by the prosecu
!, ton. and ho were prescrt today. wer
: Prof Whitney. of the MassachuSett
I. | General hospital. Boston who assisted a
I the autopsy held on the bodies OF the tw
women az Natumet. Dr. r.. W. Faunce
- of Sandwich. medical examiner for thi
e district who performed the autopsy
- | state Officer i. H. whitney. -. A Brig
ham. OF Lowell, Mrs Reulah Jacobs. a
SomerVille. who WAS staying at the cot
tage when Mrs. Gibbs died, and Cap
Paul Gibbs of pOCasset father-n-law q
Mrs Gibbs Prof. Mood. OF liarNarh uni
vcrsity. who chemically analyzed the ste
machs Of the deceased women. WAS Gale,
but had not arrived AZ the beginning q
the iuoieSt.
\ The interests of the state were locke
| after by District Attorney Holmes. IN
| Inquest WAS called bN the district attol
neg. who hiIt for the grand jury wor
I I'm Taunton would have arranged FOR q
inquest last week
state Officers Whitney sud Lettene
have been busy since the result of Oh
autopsy was announced. ana their move
q ments since the arrest of Miss Toppa
u have been directed hN the district attol
p" me-, who early m the proceedings recoi
T. uigpd the necessity uf getting togetls
A., every scrap Of evidence Ohtsiuablc. whiC
J. had amy bearing on the specific case Wit
which the prosecution is now direct
81 concerned.
!: !: : \ GO FROM HERE.