New-York tribune., 1921-03-01
Nurse Denies
Selecting Drug
For Her Cousin
Mrs. Lattimer Says Her
Father Prescribed Medi-
cine Alleged To Be Chic
raj Hydrate for Patient
Parent Contradicts Story
Prisoner Hires Lawyer as
Grand Jury Inquiry Is
Arranged at Syracuse
Special Dispatch TO 7he Tribune


SYRACUSE, N. Y, Feb. 2s.-Mrs.
Alice T. Lattimer, the nurse arrested
in New York Sunday night in connec-
ton with charges made by her cousin
and patient, Mrs. Ruth Crawford. to-
day denied responsibility for adminis-
tering medicine contai ming choral
hydrate to Mrs. Crawford. She said the
medicine had been prescribed by her
father, DR.. William D. Townslev.
Mrs. Lattimer was arrested in New
York on board the steamer Arapahoe
when she returned from jacksonville,
Fla. This was after the police here
had found Mrs. Crawford, who is sixty
eight years old. strapped in bed at her
home and after chemical analysis had
revealed poison in a bottle found in
the room. Attendant nurses said they
had given Mrs. Crawford some of
the contents Of this bottle at Mrs. Lat
timers directions.
DR.. Townsley tonight said that he
mad not prescribed for Mrs Crawford
for year and a half and that Mrs Lat
timer had been in complete charge Of
the case in this time For more than
six years, he said, Mrs. Crawford was a
patient in the doctors home and during
part of that time, he said he knew
nothing of what was going on in her
ever prescribing chloral hydrate for
Mrs Crawford. This was used some
times for quieting hysterical persons.
he explained, and he admitted that his
daughter had told him on occasions
that Mrs. Crawford was in that condi-
ton.
No charge has been preferred against
Mrs. Lattimer by the police or District
Attorney Malpass and no decision has
been reached whether they will oppose
her effort to obtain her freedom on
SIS 600 bail Mrs Lattimer has engaged
an attorney.
May Question Mrs. Crawford
The District Attorney will have Mrs.
Crawford examined, both mentally and
physically, and if she is able to appear
will take her before the grand jury to
repeat her charges of being strapped in
bed and having her feet tied to the bed
posts. Because no definite crime has
been charged, it is probable the grand
jury will take up the matter as John
Doe inquiry. leaving it to the jury
whether a crime has been Committed
and what persons are involved.
Mrs. Lattimer was taken direct to Po-
lice Headquarters when her train ar
rived here and was questioned by ChieH
Of Police Cadin.
It was during this conference that
Mrs Lattimer, according to Chief
Cadin, said that her father had pre-
scribed the chloral hydrate for Mrs.
Crawford
Judge William s Farmer, of the
Municipal Court, is expected to be
called as a witness in the case because
he conducted the trial last year of a
suit brought by DR.. Towsley against
Mrs. Crawford for board and care while
she was in his home. The suit is said
to have caused break between DIR.
TowsleyS and Mrs. Lattimer, and when
the physician was eway from home Mrs.
Lattimer moved her patient to Mrs
Crawford s own home, next door.
Patient Attempted Suicide
Mrs. Crawford to-day said that Two
years ago she tried TO kll herself by
tying the straps around her neck, bu
was unable to pull them tight enough.
My suffering was unbearable.' sh'
declared II used to beg her Mrs. Lat
timer to give me pill to PVT me out
of my misery.
"W men l turned over my money anC
property to Alice she said she would
take care of me as long as l lived.
told her to take it and be happy AM
to leave mo alone. | haven't an
clothes. If | were aba to leave m
bed to-day I should have nothing t
wear. All the money / have in th
world is one penny. Since Alice bega
taking care Of me- | have had thre
new night gowns"