The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-06
DoctorHeld
in Death of
Pretty Girl
Omahan Accused of p " e
ing Illegal Ope. W
Basset School ~
Inquest He...
Father Urges Penalty

l dtllCi OISCo l clldlty
Dr John T. Mathews. a resident of
Omaha for 40 years. With offices at
405 Paxton block. yesterday was held
responsible by a coroner's jury that sat
at Heafey & Heafeys morgue, for
the death of pretty Loretta McDer-
mott. "a, teacher OF Bassett, Neb.,
who died Thursday at Lord Lister hos
pital.
Whereupon County Attorney Henry
Paul Stienwender. acting coroner,
filed charges of murder to produce
abortion" against Mathews.
DIR. Mathews was arrested shortly
after noon and his bond set at $4,000
by County Attorney Beal.-
lie was taken to Central police
Headquarters, where a short time lat
er Fred NJ. Davis. who said he was
a real estate man. appeared and
signed the bond under which the ply
sician was released.
Gives Dying Statement.
The McDermott girl came to Omaha,
according to evidence introduced at
the inquest, and lived with a chum,
Mrs. Nina Henry, 6o2 North Twenty.
third street, formerly of Bassett.
A dying oral statement purported
10 have been made by the girl to DR..
w. L. Strickland, who took it down
in long hand, and signed by the girl
Of 'her own free will and accord" ac-
oording to his testimony, is now in
the hands of Beal
In this statement. the girl said that
"as long as | am going 10 die. |
might as we'll tell all" In it she
charges that upon the advice of
friend she went to DIR. Mathews Of
flee. DIR. Mathews, she alleges, took
her to a home said to be near 2602
Cunning street, and there performed
an operation.
Came Here Christmas.
This was on December -. The girl
came to Omaha on Christmas day.
DIR. L. c. Henry and DIR. Edward
1saaeson. pathologist, both testified
they were present at the post. mortem
and there were indications that an
illegal operation had been performed.
Joe w. Fleming. 1854 Woolworth
avenue, lifelong friend of the Me
Dermotts. stated that he did not know
of the girls condition until he was
called by telephone by the father
who was at Hotel Castle. New Years
day.
Il was told that tho girl was dy-
Ing" said Fleming, so l called Fa-
ther Mccarthy and we talked with
her at the hospital. | asked Father
Mccarthy IL he would please leave the
room while l talked with the girl.
Seeks Return of Check.
"She told me that she had been
going with Louis Latten. Ainsworth.
Neb., real estate man. and that he
sent her $500" said Fleming. "She
told me that DIR. Mathews performed
the operation and that she was taken
to place at 26o2 Cunning street"
Loretta told me that she paid DIR.
Mathews s25 by check" testified Mrs.
Henry. II didn't know that she was
to have an operation performed until
December % when she told me. When
she became violently i'll | called DIR.
Strickland"
After the inquest, Beal gave Mrs.
Henry S25 and ordered her to go to
DR.. Mathews office and get the check
said to have been given him by the
McDermott girl.
"He showed me the check said
Mrs. Henry, returning. Il would not
L. tod
to tear off the signature of the check.
which bore Miss McDermott's name.
told him she was well and on her
way home
Later Mrs. Henry, accompanied by
Carey Ford. Investigator out of the
county attorneys office, made an
other trip for the check and this time
succeeded in her mission. She found
the check was for 500 instead of
$25.
Beal now has the check which was
made out to cash" for 500, dated
December 81. signed by the girl, and
drawn on the State Bank of Bassett.
Father Sobs i'm Sorrow.
Il want DIR. Mathews punished if |
nave W Sptld ever Jhthti navy
sobbed Pat McDermott, father of the
girl.
II have had eI ough grief during my
life. | have a wife and a daughter
in the asylum at Norfolk, Neb.. and
neither one can recognize the other.
My wife does not know her daughter
has been confined with her for 10
years.
McDermott's four other children
have been cared for by Loretta and
by the Oldest daughter. he said.
Just before McDermott left for
Bassett yesterday he told Beal his
crops have failed for several years.
The body will be taken to RasSett