Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-09-16
cr<sATION IN MARTINSBURG.

p - ~
sensation of considerable magni-
Nd was caused in Nartinsburg Satur-
~ vhen DIR. NJ. Virginia McCune-Ros-
and her husband, DR.. Kismet Rosa,
ss-onrjetors of the Shenandoah Valley
sani,arium in that city, we're arrested
- ,he charge of abortion, resulting in
.hs death of Mrs Arian Bowers, daugh-
.s[ OF Geo. M Bowers, Jr. Mrs,
Rovers died from peritonitis month
=, % ago. There were rumorS at the
,;r,e that her death was the result Of a
.,;r,inal operation at the Sanitarium
onsrated by Mrs. McCune- Rosa and
Ssr husband, which has been talked
of for years in connection with this
sor, of practice. After Mrs. Bowers
death the comment wac so strong and
;nIipnation so great that the State
authorities began an investigation.
Mrs Maud Mason. of the Y. w. c. L.
oi Martinsburg, undertook to work
in the case, and il was not long un-
nj she had sufficient evidence to war
rant the arrest of the Mrs. Rossa and
her husband. They were taken into
custody on Saturday last, and we're
held in $1,000 each by Justice H. S.
Thompson. for a hearing to be held
thjs thursday John d. McCune went
m their bond. The case will be
presented to the Berkeley Circuit
Court this term, when indictments are
expected. Conviction would make
them liable to terms in the penitentiary
of from three to ten years.
The Martinsburg World says that
testimony secured by the State from
Mrs. F. !. Kenney, who lives in the
Bowerlegh Apartments, is to the effect
tina, Mrs McCune- Rosa. has treated
about 1900 cases during the sani-
tarium's history. Signed statements
secured bv Prosecuting Attorney Allen
B. Noll include one from DR.. G. !. E.
SponSelllr, who took Mrs. Bowers
] from her home to the Kings Daughters
i Hospital, where she took treatment af-
4 ter diSc0ntinuing visits to the Shenan-
dOah Valley Sanitarium. In this state
ment Mrs. Bowers is alleged to have
said that she made four visits to the
Sanitarium in as many days. Harry
Scott, cab driver, drove Mrs. Bowers
from the santarium to her home after
her final treatment, and a statement
from him says she was exceedingly
pale during the trip and he had fears
that she would not live until she reach
ed her home. 1t is said that Mrs.
Bowers a few hours before her death,
which occurred on August 10th, made
a statement to one of her friends that
indicated very clearly that the Rossas
were responsible for her illness.
lfere are those who say that the
case may never come to trial, as the
two doctors involved hold in their
hand too many terrible cecrete tho
mTGht oe. exposed and have in their
4 Keeping facts that would cause the
most awful scandals if they should be-
a come known.
Dr. NJ; Virginia McCune- Rosa has
aLWayS lived in America and is we'll
KNOWN having practiced her profess
son IN Martinsburg for many years.
4 one Is a graduate of a Pennsylvania
YellcaI institution. Her husbnd, l..
4 MsHlF' koSsa, often spoken Of as
1oS'or, IS not so well known, having
gone 10 Martinsburg unheralded. 1t
= Said that he is an Englishman and
hHat Hat ne came from Australia. Upon
8 MS MS arrival he went to work for DR..
."s''la NcCune at her sanitarium,
an. ana soon an attachment sprung up
'A' eliminated in their marriage.
,,. inc RoSsas yesterday through their
ITIo'heYS, H. II. Emmert and + O.
,,s' n.snson' announced that they would
B wave me preliminary hearing that was
60; ~. Iof today, thus letting the case 30
omsStIy to the Circuit Court. which
@O''ehes next Tuesday.
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