Evening journal., 1913-08-30
NURSE HELD
!, BY CORONER
: AFTER PROBE
Charge That May Simmons
:CauSed GIRLS Death by Illegal
Operation Is Strengthened
BAIL IS REFUSED
i BY AUTHORITIES

PHILADELPHIA. Pa, Aug. 30.-May
Simmons trained nurse. accused of hav-
,pg performed the illegal operation that
'esnsed the death of Miss Meredith Ann
Dukes. OF Selbyville, Del, on August Is.
AsU No 1912 Arch street, was held for
court at a sensational inquest. conducted
by Assistant Coroner Sellers. yesterday
Ba was denied.
lr Robert c. Simmons. No. z6O6
North Twelfth street. involved in the
case, was held as accessory after the
fact, TOR n further hearing next Friday.
Ills hail was fixed at $500
Startling testimony was adduced in
the hearing. Doctor Sommers declared
under oath that he feared the nurse,
whom he had known for ten years. But.
he testified. he had been intimately ac.
quainted With her only since she had
engaged his services for personal treat
ment two years ago. Since then he had
treated 25 girls at her instieation More
thnn~ hall the number had come under
his eare since last January.
Doctor Has No Counsel.
Doctor Sommers appeared without
counsel throwing himself upon the
mercy of the court. He knew that he
was not obliged TO make any statement,
and he was warned that his testimony
would be used against him. He chose,
however 10 take the stand and informed
the prosccation beforehand that he
would tell everything.
lie testified that he had never per
formed an illegal operation lie had
tried onl, 70 save the live. of the women
brought him. He could not swear that
Mis-, simmons herself had performed
such operations. He said he supposed
she had
Assistant Coroner's Charges.
Assistant Coroner Sellers made two
statements that were as sensational as
the testimony He declared that he had
information that William james, the
young colored man employed until a
week ago IN the house IN which Miss
Dukes died. had been tampered with and
would withhold information regarding
the policemen who caroused in the room
next TO that OF Miss Dukes the night
She died
He declared also that great number
Of illegal operations were being per
formed in this city. and that il was vir-
tuallv impossible for the police 10 oh
tain evidence sufficiently incriminatinc
TO put stop TO the illicit business. He
said there were no establishments. as In
the past. where Htaffs of physicians and
trained nurses were employed in illegal
practicc. but that there were many
nractitioners who scattered their pa
tiontA in any number of houses in dit-
ferent sections of the city. where rooms
were to be rented at a dollar a day
He Inserted that yesterdays inquest
(which was brought ito an abrupt close
when only six of a possible fifteen wit.
ncsses had been examined would be fol.
lowed by startling developments. He
/ added that several arrests were very
likely TO take place
One reason for the abrupt closing
of the hearing was that Matthew
1 Fleetwood. Of Bishopville. Md, alleged
10 have been responsible for Miss
I Dukes condition. had not been ar
rested. Fleetwood had promised to
attend the inquest
Father A Pathetic Figure.
John L. Dukes. father OF the dead
girl, was a pathetic figure upon the
witness stand He could not control
his voice Tears stood in his eyes
His daughter. he said, had hold him
she was going TO Philadelphia 10 visii
"a lady friend" She had sent no last
word 10 him before her death The
sad news had come TO him over tbs
telephone and from a stranger whose
name he did not know.
Mr.. Dukes is we'll known in vii
mington. Miss Dukes also hac
friends here.
others who testified were c. H. Hud'
son. Of Selbyville, who had seen Miss