Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-31
SUGGESTS An INQUIRY
CORONER'S JURY REPORTS ON
DEATH OF MRS. HOWELL.
Right of Person Not a Physician to
Treat Diseases-Evidence Sub
mitted at Inquest.


morning in the case of Mrs. Matte ].
Howell, forty-three years of age. who
was found dead in bed at her late home
800 18th street northeast, about O'Clock
yesterday morning.
Mrs. Howell was a widow. having one
child a daughter seventeen years of age.
She had not been In good health during
the past two years. it is stated. and her
ailment was diagnosed as diabetes.
In July she dispensed with the services
of her physician and consulted William !.
Truitt who lives and has his business
place at 1895 1lth street northwest II
was in evidence at the inquest that Mrs.
Howell purchased an instrument called
the oxygenor. used salve he prepared I'D
took mineral water he sold her. The evil
dence showed that early this week the
patient got worse. Mr.. Truitt called to
see her Monday and Tuesday. administer
ing his treatment, which consisted of the
application of poultices made of that
Saiye.
Several witnesses were examined and
the jury returned verdict follows:
That Mrs. Matte J Howell died October
%. 1907, at her residence. 800 18th street
northeast, as a result Of p2numonta; that
she had no regular physician, but de
pended upon some special treatment car
ri-d out by an agent, William J. Truitt.
jury inquire into the rights Of the said
people to dispose of such treatment"
Evidence Submitted.
Mrs. Martha J. Bowie mother of the
deceased was the first witness exam
ined She told the jury that her daughter
had been sick about eighteen months. be
ing confined to her bed about six weeks
during July and August. Last Saturday
she again went to bed and remained there
until she died.
When did you first get Mr.. Truitt?" DR.
GiaZebrook asked.
The last day OF July" she answered
Witness said Mir. Truitt was recon-
mended to the family by a friend who
had been under his treatment. A tele
phone message. she stated. was sent for
Mr.. Trutt, and he responded
What did ne say when he cal!ed?'
He looked at my daughter and said
she had kidney trouble"
Had he examined her before he stated
what her allment was?
He had not" answered witness, but
he looked at her
Mrs. Bowie stated that Mr. Trutt said
he was not doctor. His treatment Mrs.
Bowie sad, consisted of the use of an
instrument called the oxygenor. the appli-
cation of salve and the use of mineral
water. The instrument she said, cost
SIS, and the saive was 81 a jar. She was
mineral water.
When MIR. Truitt would call at the
house. witness explained, ne would ask the
sick woman how she felt and would
examine her. Last week when her daugh-
ter became worse she sent for MIR Trultt
and he said she had contracted a severe
cold. Monday when he called he made
plasters of the salve and applied them
to Mrs. Howell. He called again Tues
day and was also at the house yesterday
after death occurred.
What did he saw when he called yes
terday?'
He said he was sorry it happened"
Sorry what happened?''
Her death.
Physician TeStifies.
DIR. c. W. Warren. 1912 H street north
east, testified that he had been Mrs.
HoWells physician for several months
prior to last July. She had been under
his observation several months, but he
did not know why his professional treat
ment had been discontinued.
William II. Yost. 1902 Pennsylvania
avenue southeast. was next examined He
had known Mr.. Truitt some time, he said.
but he had never heard him called doctor
Witness said Mr.. Truitt had been sent for
because of his wife's sickness and he
helped Mrs Yost much that he wit
ness) used the salve for Iumbago. de-
T.
ter of reducing pain.
Mrs. Ada Rogerson, 225 7th street north
east. declared she had been benefited by
Mr.. Truths treatment
DR.. Baker acting deputy coroner testi-
ned that he performed autopsy upon
the body this morning and found that
death had resulted from pneumonia
Pneumonia. the witness stated, is an acute
disease which usually runs about a week
or ten days. He found the woman's body
was very much emaciated
Statement by Mr.. Truitt.
Mr.. Truitt told the acting coroner and
jury that he had lived here during the
past ten years. When he came here, he
stated. he was member Of the firm of
Jones & Truitt. They introduced a min
eral water In this city. Later. he said.
he accepted a position as agent for the
oxygena and Salve. He said he had been
selling the Instruments, SaIve and mineral
water. but had never diagnosed cases
He explaine- to his patrons how to use
the instrument to treat the different dis
eases.
When I went to Mrs. Howells." said
Mr.. Truitt. Il did not want to sell her
a machine"
Why not?" asked DR.. Glazebrook.
Because l didn't want to take her
money"
He said he thought Mrs. Howell could
not afford to purchase one. and he first
leased her the machine. Questioned
about the salve. witness stated that
he made the salve himself
Did you receive message Monday
that Mrs. Howell was worse?'
Il did"
And did you go there?"
Il did"
Regarded Her as Very Ill.
He said he thought Mrs. Howell was