The Omaha morning bee., 1924-03-12
Sister Of
Dead Girl
Details of Alleged Illegal OPP
Grafton Recited-Testimony
Somewhat Contradictcd
by Hospital Physician.
State Fires a Broadside

Counsel for the state shot it's broad
side yesterday in trial of DIR. Frederick
Edwards, charged with causing the
death OF Lillian Holman, Is. January
"A, by an Illegal operation performed
in his office December IA, 1928.
Star witness for the state, Mrs.
Daisy Beems, II, sister Of the dead
girl, called first on the witness stand,
recited details of the alleged opera
ton.
Her testimony was somewhat con-
tradicted when DR.. A. p. Condor,
staff physician at Nicholas Sem hos
pital, who cared for the Holman girl
the last days of her life, following
blood poisoning from the alleged
operation, said autopsy examination
of certain organs did not reveal signs
of condition necessitating the opera
ton.
His testimony was substantiated by
DR.. ]. II. Newell. associate surgeon
at the hospital present at the autopsy.
Many Women Present.
Both were called as witnesses for
the state.
Defense Attorney Gene O'Sulivan
attempted in examination of the two
doctors to establish the fact that
irregular conditions causing blood
poisoning could have been caused by
social disease.
Morning crowds attending the trial
were augmented by recruits during
the afternoon. Half OF the spectators
were women, in the ma jority young
and good looking, who hung on every
word Of testimony. Many Of the wo-
men were escorted by men slightly
their senior.
Effort will be made, 1t was indicat-
cd by attorneys for the state, to rest
its case tomorrow.
Dying Statement Admitted.
Dying statement of Miss Hohnan.
taken by Emmett Brumbaugh, at
torney, friend of the dead girls
mother, on December so, and the ap-
pended clause In which the girl ad-
nitted she knew she was dying, were
admitted a. evidence over objections
of the defense attorney.
Effort was made by the defense to
show that Miss Holman was In a be-
wildered mental condition during the
last days of her life, during which she
signed a statement accusing DR.. Ed
wards. as the result of drugs admins
tered to assuage her pain.
Would these drugs which were ad-
ministered affect the mentality of the
patient?" DIR. Fl. Newell, staff physi-
clan at Nicholas Sem hospital, called
as a state witness. was asked on cross
examination.
Little Effect.
Very little effect"
Would the drugs administered De-
cenber 80 do so?'
They would have no marked ef-
feet"
why not7"
because the amount administered
would only be sufficient to assuage
pain"
Would they not make the patient
susceptible to suggestion?'
mo. I don't think So.
But a normal person would be be-
wildered?"
yes"
Here Deputy County Attorney
Yeager took the witness.
did you say. before Miss Holman's
death, that she could not recover,
After reference to hospital
records, DR.. Newell replied in the af.
fIrmative.
did you see the body7"
"Yes. at the autopsy"
Would you say on the evidence
there that an Illegal operation had
been performed"
NO"
History Against Doctor
ION the history Of the case?'
Yes"
Attorneys for the defense pressed
this point further.
III the history could be relied on,
you mean?"
yes"
by history you mean those cir
cumstances which have been gathered
by other persons
yes"
DR.. Newell substantiated the state.
ment of a previous medical witness
that examination OF the body revealed
no direct evidence that an Illegal oper-
alton had been performed.
DIR. Edwards sat throughout the
day back of his counsel squirting In
his characteristic manner, with which
police and court attaches have be.