The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-18
Young Woman, Out of Hos
pital, Awaits Word From
Norway.
GUARDIAN DISPUTES
VIEWS OF DOCTORS
Latter Say Patient Is Cured, But
Former Fears a
Relapse.

Hidden and closely guarded, Miss
Gertrude Monsen, the young Norwegian
woman who. after lying in Georgetown
Hospital for nearly three months suf-
fering from pellagra, was discharged
as cured several days ago. is anxious
~ awaiting word from her parents il
far off Norway. word that will bring
her once more into the family circle
that has missed her since she wandered
to America and fen into the clutches
of the negro. Bishop" Sturdevant, the
Moses Of the Holy Ghosters, who is
now languishing in the Baltimore city
jail.
Where Miss Monsen is today, and
why she is so carefully screened from
the public gaze, Mrs. NJ B. Graves. OF
"A Grant place northwest, refused TO
say. Mrs Graves has interested her
self in the Monsen woman since it was
first discovered that she was residing in
a negro hut on Twentieth street. al
most starved. ant penniess. and af-
ficted with the loathsome disease that
all but claimed her life.
Triumph for Medicine.
She was taken 70 the hospital under
the supervision of Mrs. Graves and the
best medical attention in the citv given
her. At first it looked 20 the doctors as
if her case was hopeless; she was in
an advanced stage of the disease When
Saturday afternoon she got up from
her little bed and walked from the in
stitution. assisted by Mrs. Graves. the
whole medical fraternity of Washing
ton felt gratihed. and that IT was
fri, o.
But Mrs. Graves felt differently. She
said that Miss Monsen had been dis
charged half cured, and was in no fit
condition to be at large.
Miss Monsen Is not we'll oy any
means" Mrs. Graves said to Times
reporter, and / am afraid she viii
suffer a relapse unless something fur
Their Is done for her. / have given her
funds and treated her to the best OF ny
ability, but I get no credit for it. The
newspapers came out with a statement
10 the effect that three well-known So
ciety women had contributed TO Miss
Monsens support, when, in fact, not
a soul but myself went near her the
whole time she was suffering. TO give
her aid
Refused Information.
Mrs. Graves seemed TO be hurt that
she hadn't been accredited more fully
with her deeds. and when she was
asked where Miss AIOnsen was she re-
fused to say.
After Miss Monsen came 70 Washing
ton. accompanied by three other wO-
men who were under the spell OF
Moses" her parents. through the New
York and Washington police. located
her and begged that she come back
home and receive their forgiveness and
blessing. Il was at this time she was
stricken. For The past two months her
father and mother have awaited the
dav when she would be discharged, TO
have her returned 20 them
Whether Mrs. Graves intends 10 keep
Miss MOnsen in this country or send
her back TO Norway Is not known.
- Liable to Relapse.
Physicians at Geo rgetOwn. Hospital
say that unless the woman lives in a
sanitary manner she IS liable TO suffer
a relapse, which would be fatal. Ac-
cording to the doctors, the disease was
constructed through neglect and scOUrg-
ing Of the body, a rite declared by
Bishop Sturdevant to be the only
means TO get to heaven.
II was learned this morning that Miss
MoAsen's parents had been in cOmmuni-
cation with the police here for some
time. and are willing TO send money
for her passage home.