The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-14
DIR, c. e. HAoxER ARRESTED.
Serious Accusation Against . Prom'nent
NashiuEtO n Phlaician.

WASHINGTON, March 13.-Dr. Charles
Z. Hagner. one Of washington's most
prominent physicians, was arrested last
evening on q serious charge connected
with an effort to dispose OF the newly born
child OF Mrs. Peter Blair, whose husband
Is employed In the photographic ONCE OF
the Navy Department. DIR. Hagner Is
not only prominent In his profession. but
his family Is one Of the oldest and most
respected OF this city. His father was a
prominent physician and his uncle is one
| Of the Justices Of the District OF Columbia
Supreme Court. DR.. Hsgner is the father
| Of Miss Belle Hagper, well-known In Wash
ington society ar ! private secretary 10
Mrs. Roosevelt.
Early yesterday afternoon a negro woman
saw an elderly man enter Goat Alley in
the northwestern part Of the city. He
had a small bundle under his arm which
he dropped in a garbage can. When he
left the alley she looked in the can and
found a small shoebox. which held the
form Of a live male child only a few
hours old. Assistance was summoned and
the infant was sent to the hospital.
where IL died last night. A description Of
the man led 10 the arrest of DR.. Hagner,
who explained that he supposed the child to
be dead and that he tried TO dispose OF the
body as an accommodation to the mother,
who was In a precarious condition.
When DIR. Hagner was first taken into
custody he was merely held pending an
investigation. Later in the evening, how
ever, the physicians report OF the death OF
the infant was received and a charge
of granddaughter was Immediately made
against DR.. Hagner. He succeeded in OBJ
talning his release on s. 1000 bail and made
this statement to the reporters:
Il went 70 Mrs. Blair's home yesterday
to pay a professional visit to her sister
and wal called in TO attend Mrs. Blair be-
fore the visit was concluded. The child,
which was bornwas apparently In the fourth
or fifth month Of development. / am sure
the child wa dead. l have been present
at the births Of at least 1000 children dur
ing the course Of my practice in this city,
and I have never before been mistaken.
The members of the family present
yesterday did not know what TO do with
the body, and / told them TO take II to the
cemetery and have the sexton bury II.
They said they had no lot In the spirit
Of chivalry that any Southern man feels
give IL to mo / intended to take It TO a
medical college and give II to a student,
but ] had another visit TO pay and did not
wish TO carry IL with me. As l passed the
alley the idea suggested itself to me TO drop
the bundle into the garbage can, n l
did So
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified this
morning before the Coroner's Jury en-
panelied in the case that the infant had
died from natural causes and would not
have lived had IL received the best Of care.
Peter Blair. the woman's husband, testi-
fed that he was not present at the birth
of the child and that he did not remember
making any inquiries as TO the disposition
that had been made Of the body Of the
infant.
Mrs. Ella S. Kieso. Mrs. Blair's sister.
said IL was her impression that the infant
had been born dead, but that she did not
remember that any one had given her In
formation 10 that effect.
The Coroner's Jury this afternoon held
DR.. Hagner for the Grand Jury. charging
him with neglect.