Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-03-16
REPUTATION IS NOTORIOUS.
Her Name Is Mrs. Lizzy Gesler and
Her Victim Is Mrs, Margaret
Graham
WHO DIED THIS MORNING.
Life Went Out al the Holy Cross Hos.
pltal Where She Had Been Taken
With View to Saving It.

Mrs. Lizzie Gelsler a midwife resid-
ing at 1876 west Third North street, was
arrested last night by Deputy sheriffs
sharp and steele and is now IN the
county jail with a charge Of murder
IN the first degree against her. Mrs.
Gelsler is charged with having per-
formed a criminal operation upon Mrs.
Margaret Graham a young woman %
years Of age, residing at 2i2 west First
South street, from the effects OF which
she died this morning at 0;l5 o'clock
at the Holy Cross hospital
WOMAN's DYING STATEMENT.
Mrs. Graham made a dying state
ment yesterday afternoon TO County
Atty, Christensen and Deputy Sheriff
Farley White IN which she said that
Mrs. Gelsler performed the operation
upon her on Sunday, March g. Mrs.
Geser made statement to several
deputy sherlffs at the jail last night
to the effect that she had performed
the operation as charged.
From the statement made by Mrs.
Graham a few hours before her death,
II was learned that she called upon
Mrs. Geisler at her home and asked
her 10 perform the operation. Mrs.
Gelser did so. and the young woman
became very III afterwards and was
taken to the hospital. where she was
being treated by Dr. Mayo at the time
OF her death.
MURDER IN FIRST DEGREE.
A complaint was issued against tho
midwife today by the county attorney
II was signed by Deputy Sheriff White
and charges the woman with murder IN
the first degree. She will probably he
arralgned before Judge Diehl tomorrow
some time
VICTIM or CRIME
Mrs. Gesler has been a midwife Cor
a number OF years. She has two chill
dren, and her husband. Louis A. Gels
Ter, Is a carpenter. The victim OF her
criminal operation has one child about
a year and a half old She had had
trouble with her husband and, OH Feb.
o. 1905, was granted a decree OF sep
arate maintenance by Judge ARM
strong, In which she was awarded SS5
per month for the support OF herself
and child and $50 as attorneys fees.
A CRUEL HUSBAND.
The complaint filed by the dead wo-
man against her husband, James n,
Graham. charged him with cruelty and
failure to support. He was at the time
the action was filed an employe OF the
Salt Lake Engineering company, and
It was charged by her that he frequent
~ beat and choked her, and at one time
threatened 10 Kill her, On Nov 81,
1904. II was alleged that he chased her
about the house with a large knife. and
Threatened 10 take her lise. The OIL
GERS say there is no doubt that Mrs.
Grnham's trouble with her husband Is
responsible for her being 30 anxious 20
have the operation performed which
finally resulted IN her death.
GEIsLER ESTABLISHMENT.
The establishment operated by Mrs
Geisler az 1886 west Third North, has
been the subject for considerable scan
dal IN the neigborhood for long time
past Some two years ago her bus
band, who ~ a carpenter. built roomy
two-story brick house and when It was
completed a sign appeared on the porch
which set forth in English and Ger
man that lying In patients were taken.
Mrs. Geisler also advertised in the per-
sonal columns OF the daily papers, her
occupation. She apparently did good
business mostly with young women.
While the neighbors do not care TO
make specific charges, they openly state
that Il has been a subject OF gossip
and unpleasant notorlety,
Troubles OF a domestic nature which
have threatened police interference, al
so have marked the qeisler home, so
that Il has been the subject Of unfavor-
able comment since the family took up
residence on Third North street,