Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-08
IN CRIMINAL COURT
TWO PERSONS ON TRIAL FOR Sc
RIOUS CRIME.
Testimony Of Witnesses in the Case
Of Kate Maxcy and Paul
Meagher.

Every available seat was occupied in
Criminal Court No. today when the
trial Of Mrs. Kate Maxcy, alias Kate Ellis,
and Paul Meagher. indicted in connection
with an alleged criminal operation on Miss
Claudia Parrish in June last. was resumed.
Many persons stood throughout the days
session.
DR.. Henry d. Fry was the first witness
examined this morning. DR.. Fry testified
that he assisted in performing an operation
on Miss Parrish at Columbia Hospital, June
26 last, following miscarriage. The doc
tor gave 1t as his opinion that an abortion
naturally occurring is seldom followed by
blood poisoning. but in cases where criminal
operations are performed blood poisoning
is a common result. 1t was testified that
Miss Parrish died of blood poisoning.
On cross-exanination Dr. Fry stated that
the taking of drugs could not produce the
condition that the young girl was in when
he first saw her at the hospital.
Dr. Guy S. Saffold, resident physician at
Columbia Hospital, testified that Miss
Parrish applied for treatment at the hospi-
tai June 81, and about two days after had a
miscarriage. She died Of blood poisoning
following an abortion. The defense at
tempted to prove that the young girl was
not properly treated after being received
in the hospital. Dr. Saffold testified that
she was given due care and attention by
the hospital authorities, the condition of
the patient precluding an extensive opera
ton.
At the conclusion of Dr. Saffold's testi-
mony the government offered in evidence
the records of Columbia Hospital. The de-
Tense objected to its Introduction on the
ground that it is the record of private
institution and not official record Justice
Stafford sustained the objection, but allow
ed the government to submit authorities, If
possible, to sustain the admissibility of the
proffered record.
DR.. Stones Testimony.
DR.. Isaac S. Stone visiting surgeon at
Columbia Hospital, testified to having per-
formed the operation described by DR.. Fry.
He said the proper treatment was accorded
the patient at the hospital.
Mrs. Mae Parrish Brooke of SO 1 street
northeast, sister of the dead girl, testified
that Claudia Parrish was sixteen years old
at the time of her death at Columbia Hos
known Paul Meagher about a year, she
said, having met him at dance February
Il last with her sister. She saw Meagher
and Claudia together on no other occasion
until June Is, when she and her sister met
Meagher at 7th street and Pennsylvania
avenue.
Mrs. Brooke here broke down and wept
and 1t was several minutes before she was
abe to proceed. After she recovered her
composure she gave the remainder of the
testimony in a clear and positive manner
Returning to the meeting at 7th street
and Pennsylvania avenue, Mrs. Brooke de-
clared that Meagher laughed at her sister
and made joke of the sisters condition
The three/boarded a car, she said and went
to G street southwest. Meagher, after CIV
ing her sister $40 to pay for the operation,
left them, and the two girls visited the
home of Mrs Maxcy, or Mrs. Ellis, at No.
Il G street southwest. Mrs Maxcy, she
declared, took her sister after learning her
condition, upstairs, where they remained
for twenty minutes. On their return the
defendant Maxcy, she said, told her sister
to come again in two days. She proceeded
to narrate the story of her sisters subse
quent illness and death.
Almost the entire afternoon session of
the court was occupied with the cross-ex-
animation Of Mrs. Brooke by Attorney
John c. Cuttings for the defense. Her tes-
CHER and Of visiting the home of Mrs.
Maxey for the purpose of having a criminal
operation performed on her sister was I'M
shaken. She admitted writing to Meagher
asking him to "get her sister out Of her
trouble" but explained that she meant she
wanted to persuade Meagher to marry
Claudia.
Inspector Peck of the police department
testified to a conversation with Mrs. Maxcy
June % last which he reduced to writing
After reading the alleged confession to Mrs
Maxcy the witness said she signed 1t. On
cross-examinatlon Inspector Peck said Mrs
present when the alleged confession was
signed. The government offered the alleged
confession in evidence, but the defense OBJ
jected, and the argument to the admissi-
bility of the paper was in progress when
this report closed.