Omaha daily bee., 1910-09-27
NURSE ADMITS OPERATION
ASSERTS DR., Grant Was Indirect Cause
Of Eva Swans Death.
BODY WAS PLACED IN A TRUNK
Police show Girl Picture of Dead
Mother 20 Inducs Her 60 RE-
late story of the
! .tt Crime.

SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. Sept 26.-After
Two days and nights Of silence Marie Mes
serschmldt the nurse held since Friday
night, in connection with the death OF
Eva swan. following the finding OF the
girls body beneath the cement flooring of
the basement OF "a vacant house confessed
to the police today that she had knowledge
OF the operation performed by Dr. James
Giant upon Miss Swan and that she at
tended the girl after the operation.
The confession states that Robert
Thompson" known as DR.. Grant packed
the girls body into trunk. first cutting
off the legs at the ankles: that Grant dis
cussed the burial OF the body with the
nurse and spent two nights at the house
where the7body was found
Or. Grant was taken into custody with
the nurse and later today Paul Parker.
former Leland Stanford athlete. who lived
In the house where Miss Swan roomed,
was taken 70 the police station and placed
in deunue.
The nurse was Induced TO tell the story
by her brother-n-law, August Borman Of
Oakland who visited her at the city prison
this afternoon He showed her picture
of her dead mother, pleading with her to
tell the police everything, impressing upon
her that this would be her mothers wish.
The young woman tainted and upon her
recovery BECAME hystericai When she
was quoted she agreed TO tell the entire
story to detectives.
Grant BREAKS from, JaiIcrs.
Following the confession DR. Grant was
led from his cell and brought into the desk
sergeants office where Miss Messerschmidt
vas seated At sight OF his nurse, DR..
Iirant broke away from the jailers and
Grau along the prison corridors. He was
Ichased by policemen and forcibly returned
e. the office, lie staggered and almost
sank to the floor when he learned of the
nurses confession.
In her story Miss Messerschmidt said that
Paul z. Parker. a young man who had
known Miss Swan for eight years, had
visited the hogTital on three occasions to
see the dying girl after the operation. The
police Immediately took Parker into Gus
toby
lie admitted the visits TO the hospital &c
a,See Miss Swan but strongly denied thai
was in any way implicated. Later he
Ave the police a detailed account of his
Acquaintance with Miss Swan.
Miss Messerschm.dt said she was mo-
present at the operation. which was per
formed she said, on April 16 at the offic,
OF DR.. Grant Following the operation Mis-
swan returned to work at the office wher,
her work on April % because of illness ant
went to DR. Grant. She was placed in be-
In the small hospital ward maintained b,
the doctor. There she remained for tel
days her condition gradually becoming
worse until death brought relief.
According to Miss Messerschmidt, the cir
died during the night while alone. She wa
found dead In bed in the morning.
Following is the confession of the nurs
in part:
MY name is Marie Messerschmidt an
] live at 1928 Golden Gate Avenue. On Sat
.urday evening. April le, 1910. Miss Ev
Swan OF 900 Scott street, was operates
on by Or. Robert Thompson. known a
Or. Grant, and came back the next day
Sunday, the nth for further treatment.
she then left and came back on Apr
30 and complained, of pains and was pu
to bed by me and l waited on her a
Miss Swan died about ten days later an
WAS put into DR.. Grants trunk. he Cd
Grant, first saving the legs off at tn
"a fnlles so that he might. crush the bod
y into the trunk. 81
About p. m that evening the trun
was moved to 3f7 Eureka street by an eS
pressman, named while Dack, the doctc
going out to A7 Eureka street and stay
~ all night and returning about II a. n
Next morning, saying to me- I could M
bury the body because people were watcl
ing me
HE CDR, Grant, went to the Eurek
street house that night and stayed a
night, returning shout II O'Clock ne,
morning stating to me that he could n,
bury the body in the yard Nas It was
q very bright moonlight night and he hs
TO bury the body in the basement under II
concrete floor"