The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-06
OPERATION WAS
CAUSE OF DEATH

Grand Forks, n. D., Nov. 6.-The
verdict Of the coroner's jury which
has been investigating into the causes
of the death Of Miss Mary Ryan. who
died in a local hospital last Friday
night, follows:
From the evidence submitted we
find that the said Mary Ryan died on
the 31st day of October at Grand
Forks, N. D., from septic peritinitis,
which was the result Of a criminal
abortion performed upon her"
The verdict was rendered by Jury
men Smith, Hart and Ellestad, who
had been in session for two days. I'M
der Coroner Murphy. Assistant Pros
ecuting Attorney Erland Lind of Hen
nepin county, Mimi, arrived yetser-
day and questioned the witnesses con-
corning the facts of the case, as did
States Attorney O. B. Bartness of
this county.
Miss Josephine Brown, matron of
the Y. w. c. A., DR.. G.. f. Ruediger,
Miss Martha Stafford, special nurse,
M. Norman, undertaken, and DR.. Hea-
ly, attending physician, were called as
witnesses yesterday afternoon.
Told of Condition.
Miss Spafford, the special nurse,
stated that deceased had told her that
her Miss Ryan's) condition was due
to an Illegal operation performed upon
her.
M. Norman, the local undertaken.
who had charge of the body, stated
that Norman Watson of Bathgate
came to his place of business last Sat-
urday and asked to see the girls body.
He stated that Watson was overcome
upon gazing at the remains and asked
him what burial and embalming ar
| "a II pnn1nntG had ho1, -aDIS M ATax
man said that he told him that he
had correspondent with relatives and
they had arranged to have her body
prepared for shipment to eastern Can
ada.
Funeral Arrangements.
Watson then, according to MI. Nor
man, stated that he would pay for the
funeral expenses, but that he wished
to see the doctor first. He returned
later, picked u a casket and gave or
ders for the preparing Of the remains,
stating that he would see that the ex-
penses were paid. This arrangement
was not satisfactory to Mr.. Norman,
he said, and a cash settlement was
later arranged.
DR.. Ruediger stated that he believed
that her condition was caused by a
criminal operation, though he could
make no positive statement to that
effect. '... "# ...
DR.. Healy stated that when he took
Miss Ryan to the hospital, he felt Ger
tain that she could not recover and
told her that her condition was very
serious though he did not tell her that
she could not recover, until about 2
o'clock of the afternoon (Friday) on
which she died. He stated that her
signed statement was not made at the
time when she knew that she was not
going to % She confessed to
Miss Brown that Norman Watson of
Bathgate. was implicated and that he
had paid her expenses at the hospital.
She asked DR.. Healy, it is said, to keep
that mans name out Of the affair and
not to prosecute him.
Says He Denied Name. 81.
Mr.. Norman stated that while Wat
son was at his undertaking parlors
another Bathgate man., p. F. Farr, en-
tered the place and addressed him as
mfr. Watson" and that the latter
claimed that Watson was not his
name and that he was not from Bath
gate, thought, according to Mr.. Nor
man, he signed the name of Norman
] Watson to a check later the same
day, on a Bathgate bank.
John Eagleson, the girls uncle, who
is to accompany the remains to east.
ern Ontario, stated that the only con.
versation that he had had with Wat
son after the girl left Bathgate was
concerning the condition Of the girl
and when Mr.. Eagleson learned tina
Watson had been down to the hospi,
tai to see Miss Ryan, ne repeatedly
asked him why he did not tell hin
(Mr. Eagleson) of the girls illness
After many queries. according to MI
Eagleson, he replied that he (Watson,
had kept it from him and other friends
at Miss Ryan's request, ais she did no
want anyone to know of her condition
The name of sIor. Frazer of Mime,
apolis,n given BY the girl as that OF tn,
physician who operated upon her
could not be definitely learned an
could not be found In an old director.
of physicians of Minneapolis, hut tn,
girl stated that 1T was on the eight
floor Of a building, occupied .almos