Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-26
NURSE CONFESSES,
ACCUSING DOCTOR
-
Marie MessersChmidt Explains to
San Francisco Police How
Eva Swan Died
FAINTS BEFORE HER RECITAL
Physician Dashes from Office at
Sight of Former EmpIoye
with Officers
FAINTs BEFORE HER RECITAL
Associated Press1

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 25.-After
two days and nights of silence, Marie
Messerschmidt. the nurse held in
detinue since last Friday in connection
with the death of Evan Swan, the girl
whose body was found beneath the ce-
ment flooring of a deserted house here,
confessed to the police today that she
had knowledge of the operation per-
formed on Miss Swan by DR.. James
Grant and that she had later attended
the girl.
The confession states that Robert
Thompson, known as DR.. Grant"
packed the girls body in trunk, first
cutting off the legs at the ankles; that
Grant discussed the burial of the body
with her, and spent two nights at the
house where it was found.
Dr. Grant was arrested with the
nurse and late today Paul Parker, a
former stanford athlete, who had lived
in the house where Miss Swan roomed,
was arrested
NURSE MAKES CONFESSION
The nurse was induced to tell the
story by her brother-in-law, August
Borman of Oakland, who visited her at
the city prison this afternoon. When
she refused to confess he showed her
picture of her dead mother, pleading
with her to tell the police everything,
as that would be her mothers wish.
The young woman tainted and on her
recovery became hystericaL When she
was quieted she agreed to tell the en-
tire story to detectives.
Following the confession DR., Grant
was led from his cell and brought into
the desk sergeant's office, where Miss
Messerschmidt was seated. At the
sight of the nurse Dr. Grant broke
away from the jailers and ran along
the prison corridors. He was chased
by policemen and forcibly returned to
the office. He staggered and almost
sank to the floor when he learned or
the nurses collapse.
In her story Miss Messerschmidt told
that Paul P. Parker, the young man
who had known MISS swan tor elgne @
years, mad visited the hospital on three
occasions to see the dying girl after
the operation.
FORMER ATHLETE ARRESTED
The police Immediately took Parker
into custody. He admitted the visits
to the hospital to see Mis- Swan, but
strongly denied any responsibility In
the affair. Later he gave the police a
detailed account of his connection with
the case.
Miss Messerschmidt was not present
at the operation, which she asserted
was performed on Miss Swan April 10
of this year at the office of DR.. Grant.
Following the operation Miss Swan re-
turned to the Office where she was
employed, but was forced to leave her
work April 20, because OF illness She
went again to DR.. Grant and was
placed in bed in the small hospital
ward maintained by the doctor. There
she remained ten days, her condition
gradually becoming worse until her
death. According to Miss Messer-
schmidt the girl died during the night
while alone. She was found dead in
bed in the morning.
NURSES FULL confession
Following is the full text of the
nurses confession:
ssNTv name is Marie Messerschmidt,
and I live at 1898 Golden Gate avenue.
On Saturday evening, April 16, 1910,
Miss Eva Swan of 2040 Scott street
was operated on by DR.. Robert Thomp-
son. known as DR.. Grant, and came
back the next day Sunday, the 18th,
for further treatment. She then lett
and came back on April 20, and COM
planned of pains and was put TO ped
by me, and I waited on her as nurse
Miss Swan died about ten days later
and was put into DR.. Grants trunk. he
(Dr. Grant, first saving the legs off at
the ankles so that he might crush the
body into the trunk.
about p. m. that evening the trunk
was moved to 327 Eureka street by an
expressman and Willie Saack, the doc
tor going out to 327 Eureka street on a
car and stayed there all night, return
ing about II the next morning, saying
to me: 4 could not bury the body be-
cause people were watching me-
HE CDR. Grant, went to the Eureka
street house that night again and
stayed all that night, returning about
II o'clock next morning, stating to me
that he could not bury the body in the
yard. as it was a very bright moonlight
night, and he had to bury the body in
the basement under the cement floor.
"Dr. Grant said it would never be
found, as it was an old house and
would never be rented, and when
asked him what he had done with the
trunk he said he had left it in the
basement,
willie Sack stated to me that it
was terrible deal and had worked on
his mind and he would never help in
another deal like that again."