Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-18
GRAND JURY REPORTS
Or. Lawrence, DR.. Howard
and Horton Simpson Indicted.
ACTION IN COULTRY CASE
Defendants Held in Connection With
Death of Teacher.
BENCH WARRANT FOR ARREST
whereabouts of Former Principal of
Takoma Public School Not
Known to Authorities.
BENCH WARRANT FOR ARREST

The grand jury today indicted Dr Al
lhcrt l. Lawrence. DR.. stanton Wren
Howard AMI Horton Simpson. former
principal Of the Takoma Public School, in
connection with an alleged criminal opera
ton on Miss Abbic NJ. Coultry. school
teacher, January ~ last. The operation
il said To- have been performed at the
sanitarium Of DIR. Lawrence. 1l". y street
northwest. and to have caused the death
OF the young woman.
Th. indictment is in two counts and
charges the three men named as prin-
cipas in tho alleged crime. The first
count charges that by the use Of certain
instruments assault was made on Miss
toultry in the performance of opera
ton. well known to the defendants not
10 he necessary to preserve the health
or life Of the patient. rs result of
the operation. L is alleged. the woman
was rendered mortaliy sick and from the
sickness died. In the second count the
grand jurors have omitted the use of an
instrument and charge hat the defend
ants used certain means TO effect the re-
suit of the operation, in a manner TO
the grand jurors unknown
DR.. Lawrence since the inquest has
been at liberty on 5000 bail.
DIR. Howard, up TO this time. has been
looked on as "A witness only. Ii being teS
tilted at the inquest that he administered
the anesthetic. Detective Helan of the
United States attorneys office this after
noon arrested DR.. Howard. He was then
released on bail, John FitZSimmons quail
flying as surety in the sum of $1,000.
Horton Simpson has not been located
since his disappearance following the
death of Miss Coultry. United States At
forney Rakar will ask for n bench war
rant for his arrest.
The penalty provided by the code for a
criminal operation resulting I'm death is
Imprisonment for not less than three
years nor more than twenty years.
DIR. Howard appeared voluntarily before
the grand jury during its inquiry and
gave his testimony concerning the occur
renee. is name, however. placed
by the grand jurors in the body of the in
dictment as an alleged principal instead
of on the back among the list of wit
neSSeS.
Died Following an Operation.
Miss Coultry was teacher in the Hub
bard School, where Horton Simpson had
been principal before he was transferred
to Takoma Park. Her death occurred
the afternoon of January 70, short while
after DIR. Lawrence had performed an
operation on her at his office 11o2 l. street
northwest. Testimony at the inquest was
her to his establishment three days be-
fore the operation. and that he knew her
as Mrs. Alice NJ. Clark. Monday morn
ing, the day before her DEATH the young
woman. who had been away from home
and school. and who was supposed to
have been visiting friend at Reisters-
town. Nd. returned to her home. 3515
Holmead place, for some wearing APP
parel
Before leaving home that morning. the
last time her father. Lavelle p. Coultry,
saw her alive, she kissed him goodbye.
saying she was going to return to the
country and nurse her sick friend. She
returned to DR.. Lawrence's office and
remained there. 1t was in evidence that
Horton Simpson accompanied her to the
office of the physician. the latter believ-
ing him to be the husband of the patient,
but arrangements for treatment and pay
woman.
Obtained Leave of Absence.
Miss Coultry had obtained indefinite
leave of absence before undergoing treat
ment. Simpson departed from his school
the day she died, leaving a written re-
quest for leave. The body OF the young
woman was removed to an undertaking
establishment and would probably have
been buried under the name of Mrs. Alice
Clark had it not been for the holding up
of the permit and a letter sent by Horton
Simpson to Mr.. Coultry. He informed
the father of Miss Coultry that he was
the husband of her daughter. the secret
marriage having been performed last
year during the school vacation.
The inquest was conducted February 4
and DR. Lawrence was held to await the
action of the grand jury.
Detective Evans had charge of the
ease. Since the inquest he has continued
the investigation. and recently the wit
nesses were summoned TO appear before