Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-04
Or. Cosby Gives Mixed Version #
Connection Nth Affair.
sUca CRIMINAL DEATHS COMMON
Or. Garcin Admits That Deaths Of
Mothers and Infants by Unlawful
Operations, With Suppression Of
Facts Frequent In Richmond.

death OF Mary Murphy, the unlOrttu-
nate Irish girl in a cab was recon-
vened by DR.. William II. Taylor. city
coroner. this morning, developments
in the preceding twtniy-four hours
had given the tragedy a new phase.
A triple crime, murder. infanticide
and the extortion OF hush money by
a practic'mg physician. wa under the
searchlight.
Disclosures and arrests made it ap-
pear that Archie Vaughan. the sup
posed father of Mary Murphy's child,
had disposed Of the infant after its
birth by casting the little body into
the river. A friend of Vaughan, found
by Detective-Sergcant Tom Mcmahon.
had told the police that Vaughan con-
f. ssed to him while the two were on
a hunting expedition the day before
he fled the city. fearing the conse-
qucnces of his act
With this additional information
before them the inquiSitors resumed
probing the depths of the crime from
which the veil of mystery had been
partly lifted.
At the opening of the session today
Coroner Taylor called for DR.. r. ID.
Garcin.
Or. Ramon Garcin.
Dr. Garcin was called and stated
that he had met Or. Cosby in the
street Friday and DR. Cosby had told
him a patient of his had died of sep
sis following an operation. He said
positively that no information what
ever was given him to indicate that
the operation was Il criminal one II"
said he had told DR. Cosby that if
the circumstances were as he relat-
ed them there was no necessity tor
him 10 notify the coroner. The fact
that Dr. Charles r. Robins had bee n
consulted by DR.. Cosby for expert adj
vice, and was connected with the
case. moved DR.. Garcin in his assent
to burial withou, an inquest. II he
had known the full facts, he said, he
should certainly have advised notify
ing the coroner
Many Such Crimes.
Speaking along general lines. he
agreed with Coroner Taylor that
there had been many deaths from
criminal operations in Richmond
which had never been reported. DIR.
Cosby thought stricter supervision
should be had over midwives. Cor
oner Taylor asked the witness if he
did not believe that reputable ply
sicians had given not altogether cor
rect death cert; ficateS in order 10 pro-
tsct patients. but DR.. Garcin said.
after moments thought that he
could not say of his own knowledge.
Answering a jurors question. he in
formed the body that sepsis. septice-
mia and similar terms meant in plain
English blood poison.
Or. A. q. Cosby.
DR. Arthur b. Costly was recalled
and went on the stand at halfpast
twelve. Replying to the coroner. DR..
Cosby testified that Vaughan had told
him that the operation upon Mary
Murphy was criminal one. He had
no idea until he saw it in the papers
that the girl was missing" and was
being searched for.
He put on the death certificate.
which had not been called for. that
the woman had died Of pUerperal sep
tiSemia. caused by criminal opera
ton ty a person unknown 10 him.
That would have made II a coron-
er's case. wouldn't it,
DrA Cosby told again of his CONVEX
sation on that subject with DR.. Gar
Gin. He asked that DR.. Garcin be
summoned. and was told that DR.. Gar
Gin had already testified.
DR.. TAYLOR called Commonwealth
Attorney Folkrs' attention to DR.. Cos
by's elaborate certificate, and r. mark ;
ed that i seemed to him it was
coroner's case and also one Subject 20
Investigation by the board Of health.
Coroner Taylor asked the witness
10 explain his relations with Fannie
Pope.
DR. Cosby asked that he be sworn.
asain saying he would tell the
whole thing"
He remarked thai he believed he
didn't thi"k he had a friend on the
police fore" They have been hound
ing h!E,. nc said. and he thought they !
were pers~"utinE him in this case.
He said he drove r. W V'ck. a
dealer in The First market. to Fannie
Pops IN" DAY after Mary Murphy's
death. Wick Eoirg ti:erc 20 collect
tho price OF some chickens He him
self got ou: ri tho buggy and went
in and 60; drink II wafer.
Corrects Statement
Pressed nv the coroner. he correct
Cd his sta'"m"a; Nv saying that he
took Captain Wick with MIN 10 Wit
moss his conversation with Fannie
Pope whom h" accused Fannie of irsv-
ing performed the fatal op"rai on.
She vas frightened. he said. hut do
ni"d having done u. He had heard
limo and again that Fannie was a
woman who did thst sort Of thing
and she admitted that women Visited
her for that purpose.
He denied thu. apv money had