The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-10
INQUIRE INTO
WOMAN s DEATH
Coroner's Jury investigates
Case of Sophia johnson
of Bingham.
HOLD MRS. GEISLER FOR
COUNTY ATTORNEYS ACTION
Will Decide Today Whether or
Not Complaint VIII BE
Filed Against Her.

coroner's Jury brought in verdict
late Yesterday afternoon that MISS ooP'l''
Johnson of Bingham, who died at judge
Mercy hospital last Saturday mornins'
came TO her death as a result ot an OPP
Grafton performed by person or persons
unknown 10 the jury.
Mrs, Lizzie Geser. the midwife VINO
was taken into custody Immediately after
the facts surrounding the death OF inc
girl became known 10 Detective captain
Riley NJ. Beckstead ana "'hel
stili held by the police. County Attorney
/ T. Wiley will determine TO-DAY
whether or not a complaint will be ISSUED
charging Mrs Geisler with having per
formed the operation which the Jury oe-
clares caused the girls death.
The members OF the jury We're a. VOL
C p. Patterson and Frank Ilnges. me
witnesses were DIR. II. Il. Snrasue. as as,
slstant city physician. and Dr., X. w
Ashley. city bacteriologist who performed
The autopsy: Dr. Theodore n: IA 5o,opp,
who attended the girl, and Dr. T. moor =
meistcr. upon whom the girl FIRST called
for treatment and who turned the case
over To DR.. Hotopp
Doctors Give Testimony.
Drs. Spraeuc and Ashley teSthed that
they had been ordered by Acting Coroner
Harry s. Harper TO perform the autopsy.
which they did. They found evidences OF
incipient tuberculosis and small cavity
about the size OF a marble in the lelt
lung; and pneumonia patch IN ,he ,,s.pI risn}
lung Neither OF these could have caused
death, nor could either have contributed
materially TO death.
Dr Sprague said that there were evi-
dcnces OF Instrumentation and that perl
t0nitis was the primary cause OF death
the contributing cause being innamnla-
1ion. He expressed the opinion tDat an
operation had been performed. Dr.. ASH
ley corroborated in detail the testimony
given by Dr.. Sprague.
DR.. Theodore y. II Hotopp told of the
circumstances under which he was called
10 attend Miss Johnson, and gave a his
tory of the case. Dr. Mocrmeister mad
called him in on the ease al @Ot East
Second South street. Miss johnson said
that her name was Lizzie Nelson. but
told her true name later. DIR. Iolopp
said that he had performed a compara-
lively simple operation 10 avoid the pos
arise from other causes: lie was as
sisted by Mrs. Geisler, who administered
the anestheHc. a septic condition en-
listed at that time. he said. He used
various Instruments.
Death Due to Blood Poisoning.
Miss Johnson began To cough and spit
blood the following day. and on Friday,
May 3. he ordered her taken TO Judge
Mercy hospital. lie described the case
as of septic pneumonia In order to
protect the girls reputation The girl
named John +. Greenwood of Bingham
as a friend who would assist her. but
pleaded that Greenwood be kept in isnoro
ance of the true cause OF her illness.
This the physician agreed TO do. and tcle-
phoned TO Greenwood who came 10 this
city and paid him the money necessary
To secure hospital treatment The ply
sician said lie believed that blood poison
ing caused the girls death.
Dr.. Moormcister was called to the
stand and testified that the glY had come
TO him for treatment, but he referred her
to DR.. Hotopp. as he was too busy
10 care for her.
Mrs. Jane Benson, proprietor of the
apartment house where Miss Johnson
stayed before she was taken to the hos
pital testified that the sirl had been in
her house about three weeks. She con-
Hdcd in Mrs. Benson and told OF her
condition. She went away and when she
returned Miss Johnson did not explain
how by whom she had been treated.
said Mrs. Benson. Mrs Benson urged
her TO send for a physician, but Miss
Johnson demurred and asked that Mrs.
Geisler be sent for. This was done and
Mrs. Gesler took charge OF the case.
who in turn sent for DR.. Hotopp.
Mrs. Geisler Held.
John F. Greenwood. Miss Johnson s
friend. who had been held by the police
pending the investigation, was discharged
from custody. nothing was shown that
would in any manner implicate him. Miss
johnson. before her death told Mrs. Ben
son that Greenwood was not In any man =
ner responsible for her condition, but
that he had been Il loyal friend through
all her trouble.
Following the inquest Mrs. Geisler was
taken back TO the city Jail, where she will
be held pending the decision OF the county
attorney with regard to the issuance OF a
complaint