The San Francisco call., 1909-07-09
NURSES STORY
/. RECEIVED WITH
|. SCANT CRED[NCE
Charges of Mrs. Burke Against
Fresno Banker and Wife
Are Doubted
Physician of the Opinion That
Woman Did Not Take
Dose of Poison

Although discredited by her attorney.
by physicians who have attended her.
by court records, and by the man whom
she charges with being partly respon-
sible for her act, Mrs Kathleen. Burke
the trained nurse who claims to have
attempted suicide at the Hotel Argo-
naut Wednesday because of being de-
frauded by Thomas Patterson, the
Fresno banker, still maintained yester-
day that she was telling the truth and
that she regretted her attempt had not
been successful Many strange fea-
lures characterize the woman's story
and her actions. it being extremely
doubtful whether she really ATTEMPTED
suicide or merely planned a sensation
to gain notoriety
WITHDREW FROM CASE
Il drew a complaint for r. E.
Fletcher. who was acting as this
womans attorney several years ago
but when 1 first interviewed her re-
garding the details on which she based
her suit I withdrew at once, telling
her I did not care to have anything tC
do with her case. AS a reputable at
torney l felt bound to take this
course" This was the statement made
by Attorney Henry H. Davis yesterday
when asked to explain his connection
with Mrs. Burkes suit against Pat
terson.
Further doubt was thrown on Mrs
Burkes story yesterday when she
stated that she only claimed $3.40(
from the Fresno banker. whereas
Wednesday she claimed that he oveC
her $4,000, and the complaint which was
filed in her suit against Patterson was
for $4,700 for services when nursing
his wife. Mrs Burke was also unable
to assign any reason for her action ir
dismissing her suit against Patterson
in February. 1905, six months after il
was filed.
BANKER MADE AFFIDAVIT
Although Patterson. when asked fol
a statement in reply to that of Mrs
Burke, said explicitly that he did no
know her and had never heard of her
the records of the suit show that III
and his wife each made an affidavit il
support of a motion Tor a change o.
venue TO Fresno
The additional complica ton as t.
whether Mrs. Burke really attempted
suicide or planned sensation arise!
from the fact that DR.. ]. C. Egeberg
who attended her at the central emer
gency hospital, is strongly of th'
opinion that the woman did not tak'
the overdose of morphine which sh'
claimed to have taken.
This woman displayed none of thu
symptoms of morphine poisoning
when brought to the hospital six hour!
after she claims 20 have taken a dos
that would be fatal to any but tn,
most inveterate fiend, and 1 do no
think she is in that class" said the
physician. "She has since told me tina
she was addicted to the use of alb
sinthe. However, she is now not in any
danger whatever"
OF MOODY DISPOSITION
DIR. T. B. w Leland. who hired Mrs
Burke as nurse on a great many
cases until two years ago, says thai
she has had great deal of sickness
and seems to have brooded over rea
or fancied wrong done her by the Pat
tersons.
Mrs Burke told me some time age
that she would commit suicide to ex
pose Patterson unless he paid her.
said DR.. Leland.
: Cheerful and apparently in no pair
whatever Mrs. Burke reiterated hel
story yesterday, displaying particular
animosity against Mrs. Patterson.
Patterson owes me that money,
she said. and when l get out of here
will make successful attempt at sui
eide the next time and expose him anC
her..