The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-08-01

was not taken the dying man, she
thought Mrs. Birchett did not know
that the he was dying. She stated
that when her child was born NO one
was in attendance and that no hot
water. towels or anything Of that
kind was brought her until after the
birth but she thought that Mrs. Bir-
chett was preparing the same.
The prosecution here announced
that il had closed its testimony.
The defense called in its witnesses,
who were sworn in body after Mrs.
Birchett's counsel's motion to quash
the testimony and proceedings on the
grounds that Alderman Boone was
absent and that the law required all
the aldermen-elect to be present at
such proceedings, had been overruled.
Mrs. Birchett, the defendant, was
first heard. She gave City Physician
Coyle hot shots between questions and
made things generally hot when she
warmed up on her talk. The follow
ing is her statement in substance as
asked BY the defendants attorney:
She had been resident of Paducah
81 years; been matron of the hospital
eight years; here Attorney Campbell
asked as to here experience in hospital in
order to bring out his point of compe-
tency on the grounds of long exper-
fence, but the attorney for the prose-
cution objected, and the president Of
the board sustained the objections on
the grounds that the case cannot be
carried farther back than the term for
which she was last elected, from
December 2, 1902. Attorney Camp
bell then asked to be excused as her
attorney, but finally agreed to con-
tinue, and Mrs Birchett's testimony
was resumed. She further stated
that she had known DR.. Coyle about
three years, and during the time he
was acting over her as city physician
had always obeyed his orders; that he
had at times refused her admittance
to rooms in the building; that in re-
gard to the man who fell down the
stairs and who died short time after
ward, that he was brought there near
IL dead and had been carefully
watched all the time. she having sat
up half tine Eight with him and her
hired nurse the other half; that the
night he fell down the stairs her male
nurse had resigned, leaving her with
little help, and that she accepted the
offer of q discharged patient, a Mr..
MCGEE, to watch the patient. Mr..
McGee left him for a short time and
when he left the room the patient got
up, walked out into the hall and fell
down the stairs. AL possible was
done for his comfort and Coyle was
Immediately summoned, but that the
man died before he reached the hospi-
tai; that MCGEE took all the blame
and told Coyle not to blame Mrs. Bir-
chett in the least for the accident, rs
she could not help it; that Coyle ad-
mitted such things happen in all hos.
pitfalls and for her, Mrs. Birohett, to
keep her mouth shut" as sne Twas
too easily excited" that in regard to
the man who had the sore side and
whom Coyle said was suffering from
erysipelas, that she was busy with .
woman in confinement, and, also, was
her nurse, and had no one to send
water by when the man upstairs called
for it; that she had been instructed
not to go near him, the man with the
erysipelas, as it was dangerous to the
child Just born that woman in con-
finement, contrary to the woman's
statement, was well taken care Of
and given the best of attention per-
sonally; that the chinches were in the
walls Of the house and impossible to
rid the building Of them; that the
man who was found in the yard In an
unconscious condition had formerly
been strapped to the bed and had brok-
en- loose, 30 bad was his case; that she
procured the best nurses and treatment
she could afford TO secure with the
money paid her, and the reason she
held on to the Office was because she
formerly made money, but under the
present administration could not, and
As she had all that she possessed in the
hospital, that she could not give 1t up;
and that the vermin reported 60 be on
49,, tod. 20 any exiafed and IL thew