Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-09
CAUSE OF DEATH UNKNOWN
VERDICT OF JURY IN CASE OF HAT
TIE CoxEN.
Mrs. Campbell Exonerated and Dis
mony Heard Today.

The colored woman, who gave her
name as Mary Smith, who died at
2237 Sth street northwest, was Hat
tie Coxen, a school teacher at Laytonsville,
Montgomery county, Md, according to the
statement of Fannie Riggs, colored. who
saw the body at the morgue this morning.
1t is stated that Miss Coxen left her home
the 2tst of February and came here telling
her friends she was going to have her
eyes treated.
Coroner hewitt held an inquest this
morning in the case, Mrs. Campbell, who
was under arrest, was represented by At
torney Thomas L. Jones Two years ago
she was held by the coroners jury In a
case similar to this one, but a jury In the
criminal court acquitted her.
Several witnesses were examined today,
and the jury returned verdict stating the
cause of the woman's death was unknown,
and Mrs. Campbell was released.
Mildred Campbell, colored, at whose
house Miss Coxen died Thursday morning,
testified that the woman, who gave her
name as Mary Smith and said she was
from New York, came to her house one
week before she died.
The witness stated that the visitor asked
permission to remain at her house until
after the inauguration. The woman was a
stranger to her, witness said, and she
was unable to tell how she happened to
come to her house. When she arrived
tHeTe she SAID Sne naQ called at several
other houses, but could not get room.
The strange woman paid her 81 for her
lodgings and retired. Witness put her In a
room with another guest, Frances Evans.
During the night Miss Evans called her,
telling her Mary Smith was sick. DR..
Gaines was sent for, and he stated that the
woman was suffering from peritonitis, fol-
lowing a birth. Mrs. Campbell said she
was a registered midwife and she had been
before the coroner's jury on a previous
similar case. At that time, she stated, she
was exonerated from blame.
Ella Frances Evans. colored, No. Win
she was recommended to the house OF Mrs.
Campbell by friends In New Jersey. She
reached here Thursday before the Inaugural
ton, and was given bed In the room with
the woman who afterward died. Late
Thursday night her room mate was taken
sick, and her loud groans attracted the
attention OF witness. Between 8 and 4
o'clock in the morning the doctor came.
Fannie Riggs, colored, 1888 10th street
northwest. whose parents live at Laytons-
Vile, Montgomery county, Nd, testified to
the identity Of the body. Hattie Coxen,
she said. boarded at the home of her par
teacher. Hattie Coxen, the witness stated,
came here the 21st of last month. She told
witness she was coming here to have her
eyes treated.
at Laytonsville three years. After the
death Of her parents Hattie lived at the
home Of her uncle, Greenberry Howard.
An aunt Of the deceased, Mrs. John Muir
ply, lives In Baltimore.
Detective Parham testified to the in
vestigation he made Of the case, and told
Of the arrest of the two colored women.
Witness repeated the statements made to
him by the women, and said 81 cents was
all the money found among her effects.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook stated that
he performed the autopsy on the body at
the morgue yesterday. Death was due to
that the child had been delivered more than
q week before her death.