The Washington times., 1921-03-25
BEAUTY,DY|NG,
LOVER
PhiIadelphian Held on Story Of
War Dept. Girl, Victim Of
MidWife's Operation.


Her romance shattered when the
alleged father of her unborn child
refused to marry her, pretty Mabel
Spence, 24-year-old employe of the
War Department, who lived at the
Morton Apartments, 1892 r street
northwest, returned to Washington
from Philadelphia on Monday and
died yesterday afternoon at the
George Washington University Hos
pitai.
HOLD MIDWIFE RESPONSIBLE.
Neyitt, District coroner, and Detective
Sergeants Henry G. Pratt and George
Darnall. of the Central Office. was due
to q criminal operation said to have
been performed on the girl on March
13 by a midwife known as Mary" in
Philadelphia.
As q result OF q dying confession
made by the girl. q Philadelphia busi-
ness man is being held by the police
Of that city. He Is said to have de-
MED the girls allegation that he was
the father of her unborn child, al
though he Is said to have admitted he
had courted the girl and had visited
her several months ago in this city.
According to the dying statement
alleged to have been made by the
girl to Doctor Bradley. resident ply
sician of the George Washington
University Hospital. she met the
Philadelphian last September while
on . visit to Atlantic City. She said
he courted her and had promised
to, wed her. TX
On Nerrh, ~. Miss Spence vent to
PSoIaoaArihiA and visited the alleged
father of her unborn child. She
pleaded that he marry her. instead,
the Phfledelphian u alleged to have
urged her to 20 to- the midwife.
when she found that her pleadings
were OF no avail. the girl did as he
advised.
FAINTs IN APARTMENT.
Last Monday Miss Spence returned
to Washington. Upon reaching her
apartment. she tainted. DR.. Everett
N. Ellison. 1870 N street northwest,
was called and advised that the girl
be sent to the hospital. Despite the
efforts Of attending physicians. Miss
Spence died at 5 o'clock yesterday
afternoon.
The police and Coroner. Nevitt were
notified at once. They were told of
the girls dying statement and the
Philadelphia police were advised as
to the cause of her death and of the
dying statement she Is said to have
made involving the Philadelphia busi
ness man and the midwife. The ar
rest Of the Philadelphian followed.
/, After an autopsy had been per-
formed by DR.. hewitt the girls body
was taken to the undertaking estab-
lishment Of John r. Wright Company,
1887 Tenth street northwest
FATHER COMES FROM OHIO.
Following the death Of the girl, her
sister, Miss Laura Adeline Spence, en-
ployed in, the Bureau Of War Risk
Insurance. with whom she lived at
the Morton Apartments. notified her
father, William Henry Spence, of
Chillicothe. Ohio, to come to Wash
ington. Spence, accompanied by his
son, William Arthur. Spence, of the
radio service of the Norfolk navy
navy yard. arrived In the Capital this
morning.
1.-The death of my daughter is a
great shock to me-" said the girls
father. II intend to have the mat
ter thoroughly probed and prosecute
any person who may be responsible
for her death"
Miss Spence, accompanied by her
sister, came ito Washington nearly
three years ago. She was q strik-
ingly beautiful girl and had many
friends In the Capital.