The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-29
COME TO LIFE IN HER
COFFIN.
CoIored Woman Shipped to
Virginia Groaned at Rail-
way Station.
Especial to News and Observer

Durham N. c., Aug. 28.-A story, very
| sensational in nature, has reached here
from (Denniston Junction, Virginia, near
the Person county line, to the effect that
negro woman. Julia Stanfield, supposed
to have been dead when she was shipped
from here, came to life in the coffin,
groaned SO that the attention of the peo-
pie around the waiting room was attract
ed to her and that when the coffin was
opened it was found that she had placed
both hands to her throat as if in a
struggle
1t is strange story and when first re-
ceiyed here the truth of the story was
doubted. Today however, | have been en-
abled to verify the story and there is no
doubt but that the Stanfield woman liveo
after she was placed in the coffin but
that she later died, soon after the groans
were heard and has now been buried.
The Stanfield woman had been at work
here and three days ago was taken to the
Lincoln Hospital, for the coIored race,
for the purpose of undergoing an opera
ton to remove two fatty tumors on the
back OF her neck The operation was
attempted day before yesterday morning
cIu ~ ScSulS IIldl With CUIOFOIOfQcQ JnG
woman apparently died. Yesterday morn
ing the body was taken to her old home
at Cunningham Person county, being
transferred at Denniston Junction. 1t was
here that 1t was found that she had
lived and breathed after being placed in
the coffin.
The woman was attended here by Dr.
Shepherd, DR.. Moore and DR.. Warren, ali
colored. The nurse at the hospital told
me that when the drug was administered
to the woman that her neart ceased to
beat and she failed to respond to the
usual efforts to resuscitate. DR.. Shep-
herd bears out this statement but insists
that he knew she was dead when placed
III the coffin. He said that she died of
heart failure. 1t is learned today, how
ever, that the relatives of the dead wo-
man and probably some of the nurses
were not certain about her being dead
as late as four O'Clock in the afternoon
Of the day she died; tnat she was warm
and at least two white physicians were
asked to go to the hospital and see if
there were any signs OF life and if she
could then be resuscitated. This they
Pagreed to do If accompanied by DR.. Shep-
| herd. The colored physician did not ask
them about the matter and it was dropped
The body was then shipped from here
| yesterday morning at 1880 o'clock, reach
ing Denniston between and 10 o'clock
The first story of there having been ap-
pearance Of the womans living was
brought here by railroad men and today
| by prominent citizen of Durham who
had a talk with Captain John Duff, agent
! tor the Norfolk and Western road at
Denniston. He repeats the story told him
| by Captain Duff as follows: Captain Duff
| told HIM that when the casket was be-
ing taken from one station to another
the negro porter heard something
like groan but was not certain After
the casket had been placed in the bag
gage room, at 1:05 o'clock, so the gentle
man was told, Captain Duff was sitting
on the case and in the room was another
white railroad man, the colored porter.
the negro who went with the body from
here and colored preacher. There were
heard several groans in succession the
noise being such as to frighten those in
the room. Immediately after that time
the casket was opened and then the evI-
dences of her having lived were discov-
ered When placed in the coffin her hands
were folded across her breast but when
the casket was opened she had both
hands to her throaee her face and hands
were both covered with perspiration, and
her clothing near the belt were wet with
persplratlon. Then a small mirror was
secured and placed over her face and
there were shown signs of breath over
her mouth and nostrils.
The casket was left open for two or
three hours but later there were no signs
OF hfe, she having apparently Gied after
reVlvlng In the casket. 1t is supposed
that her body was inferred late yesterday
afternoon or this morning.
The Durham county branch of the
State Medical Society was organized here
tcGay at noon by DR.. Hubert A. Royster,
of Raleigh chancellor for the Fifth dis
trct Of the State. The society started
OFF with eleven charter members The
officers elected today were as follows:
President, DR.. A. G. Carr; Vice-presi-
dent, DR.. N. M. Johnson; Secretary and
Treasurer, DR.. George Ross. DR.. Royster
made a talk to the physicians and the
constitution and bylaws OF the American
Medical Society, which has already been
adopted by the State society, were adopt
ed. This makes five organization of the |
kind that Dr. Royster has brought about |
1t \is the intention of the physicians of |
the State that in the future membership |
to the State society shall be obtained
through the county organization, the two |
working together.