The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-11-21


ton TO prove-re2ardlcss of what
they-ma believe TO be true-that
the child found I'm the coal house
was the Child born 20 Mrs. Nerri-
man. They are diligently work
ing on the case, however. and hope
TO uncover more facts upon which
they may base felony charge
AZ a felony has been committed.
MerriInan VIII appear I'm Police
Court tomorrow morning, how
ever, and unless the police are
ready VIII probably demand his re-
lease.
Even while raving in deliriurn, Mrs.
Charles Merriman, whose twelv
old baby was found Tuesday after
noon buried in coal house in the
rear OF 1918 West Main Street, was
in constant dread lest her husband be
electrocuted. according to the testi-
mony of pupil nurse from the Viz
ginia Hospital given before the coro-
ner's inquest this morning.
Merriman WIS not present at the IN
guest He is being held in Jail, sus-
pected of haYing killed the child, pre-
sumably with gas.
IL was also declared by DIR. Marvin
Nuckois, another witness. that the day
after the child's birth NIerrifIlan told
him the child had been sent TO Bruins
wick.
The doctor did not think that Mr.
Merriman was prepared for the birth
OF a son. Two months before the
child's birth Merriman told the doc
tor who had examined Mrs. Merriman.
so Dr.. Nuckols declared. that Mrs.
Merriman was not soon to be a moth
err; that II was impossible. .-
In order that = statement might be
gotten from Mrs. Merriman-if DOS
sibie-Coroner Taylor. after examin-
ing seNeraf witnesses. Adjourned che
inquest until $500 o'cfock this after
noon. =.
The pupil. nurse. Miss Virginia. Null
Inns, assigned TO Mrs. -Merriman's
room in the Virginia Hospital was the
nrst witness TO take the stand this
morning.
Mrs. Merriman was brought TO the
hospital on October 30th," the nurse
said. When went on the case she
Was Mas unconscious, AS she. grew better
talk incoheFently of gas, and spoke
or Charlie and said he had nut n
in the, coal house.
She talked rather at random" the
by Coroner Taylor she seemed to
Imagine that gas was escaping IN The
room. She said she wondered If the
baby would be reported alive. Ibid
not know what she meant: She
asked me if 1 thought .Charlie'
would be electrocuted. She repeated
over and over again, Charlie out AZ
In the coal house understood that
she referred to her husband when she
said Charlie, for she called him Char
lie when he came TO see her.
AIRS. Merriman- spoke of gas a
'HHInDer OF times, but did not say how
II had been applied to the child
+. When Mrs Merriman was talking
the coroner asked.
piled. re-
Did. she seem to know what she
was talking about?"
II don't know. regarded bar
statements as those of a delicious per.
SON" PC
Did she speak nationally at times %
What did she. say?.
She asked for water and milk"
While she was talking about Char
he and the gas did she ever COM
pletely recover her rational senses?"
don't think so, though she could
recognize her mother and distinguish
me from the other nurses"
= Did Mrs. Merriman say that gas
'ha d., been given to the child?G.
:. .'pia she say that the child had
Did she give any reason why she
or her husband might have wanted to
make away with the chld?"
LIZ sic say dl WndL Lllnc the child
was killed or died %
- No
You are certain that she never
saiI bow the gas was used?" al
es~ She never even said specifi- |
cally that gas was used, though she |
spoke Of gas many times"
When she. was talking or raving
did she impress you as relating the |
truth or merely dream ?"
i was enough impressed to report !
the matter to the hospital superin- |
tendent.r.
"What IS Mrs. Merriman's present /
condition.? 2"
She was rational when / left her.
"tfas. she repeated any OF her state /
ments since becoming rationat?"' =
NO. not to my knowledge"
The puTse was then excused. and
DR.. Marp3n r. Nuokols called
DR., NlIckolst said he was sent for
on October 18th TO attend Mrs Mer-.
rimap re found that she had al
ready = YEN 4lrth to weH~deVeloped
baby III 80 Re said he had not ex- |
5sllif1ft tpc ess I'd critically He resi-
7affe4 -: ne ever, re. said, IS a fully
Mrs 3ferrsnan needed some atten-