New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-27
Tortured by Hunger,
She Stays in Bed on
Fifth Day
READY TO DIE,
BUT WILL NOT EAT
Almost in Coma While
Doctor Keeps All-Night
Vigil at Side

Too weak TO see even her lawyer,
Mrs. Ethel Byrne lay on her cot in the
Blackwell's Island hospital yesterday
and shook her head when offered food.
"Am still on hunger strike and keep
ing a tiff upper lip" This was the
message she sent her sister, Mrs. Mar
garet Sanger, by an underground route
and il was confirmed by the two official
bulletins issued during the day by
Commissioner Burdette G. Lewis Of the
Department of Correction.
The afternoon Of the fifth day of her
hunger strike found her unable to leave
her bed. In the morning she had trav'
elled slowly to the bathroom to bathe
her face and arms with the water she
had forbidden herself to drink.
Temperature Has Dropped
BY night she complained of pains in
her back and her temperature had
fallen below normal. According to the
official bulletin, however, she was not
yet in a dangerous condition, and no
word Of forcible feeding has come from
the department. The official bulletin:
blood pressure - Within normal
limits.
Heart sound Within normal limits.
"Pulse-Accelerated moderately.
Respiration Normal.
Temperature -Sub-normsl
"Has not eaten. Has had no medicine.
Claims she has had nothing to drink.
Hospital cell was cleaned by other in
mates. No exercise during afternoon.
Washed her face, hands and tongue.
Complains Of pain in the small Of her
back. General condition still fair"
"If she has to be forcibly fed it will
be stated on the bulletin" declared
the Commissioner last night, "and un-
til am notified by the hospital ply
scians that it is necessary ! am not
going to worry about it,"
This calmness was not felt. how
ever. by Mrs. Sanger and Jonah j.
Goldstein, attorney for Mrs. Byrne.
The whole birth control camp, indeed,
was frightened when word went out
from the Goldstein Offices at noon that
Mrs. Byrne had collapsed and was in
a coma in the hospital. Her friends
got the impression that she was to be
strapped to a table and forcibly fed at
once. and that it was for that reason
that Mrs. Sanger and Mr.. Goldstein
had not been allowed to see her.
Lewis Gives New Version
When Commissioner Lewis heard
these stories he said:
az understand that Mr.. Goldstein
went over there and sent up a note TO
Mrs. Byrne asking to see her, and that
she wrote with her own hand on the
note that she did not wish TO see him"
Mr.. Goldsteins version of the incl
dent was that his assistant, Joseph
Ferris, had gone TO visit Mrs. Byrne
and was told by the doctor that she
was unable to see him.
"Yes." growled Commissioner Lewis,
when Ferris's name was mentioned
that's the fellow that has been hang
ing around the East Seventeen Street
pier these two days. Believe me. il
he shows up there tomorrow. some
thing will occur.
"He and Goldstein had two passes
to visit their client. on the ground
that, as her case was being appealed
it was necessary for her TO sign some
papers. All he has filed is two letters
Well, those two passes have expired,
and he won't get another until he
shows me a good reason why.
Mrs. Sanger's Plea Fails
"As for Mrs. Sanger. she came to
me this morning and said she wanted
10 visit her sister. ! asked her what
she wanted to talk about. and she
said: 'On matters in general told
her that was not sufficient reason, and
| would not give her the pass. She
took it very calmly. and we were per-
fectly polite to each other.
He'll let me over in day or two, all
right. when he finds my sister is dying
Mrs. Sanger said last night. 81 know
her determination of mind, and know
that if she says she has had no water
she is telling the truth. She isn't the
kind to try to deceive US. She would
not wish TO make us so unhappy. And
as for herself, she has enough knowl-
edge of medicine to realize that TO take
water would BE- but TO prolong the
agony. She intends to starve herself to
point where they will have to release