Evening star., 1948-01-26
Physician Tells
OF Treatment in
Laugh|in Case
Denies He Performed
Illegal Operation
On Mrs. Hobbs

~" sVhsSs shSSSS
DR.. Henry L. Peckham, jr., South
east Washington physician on trial
with Attorney James j. Laughlin In
District Court on abortion charges,
denied the charges from the witness
stand today.
The Government alleges DR.. Peck
ham performed illegal operations on
Mrs Esther Pickard Hobbs, Mr.
Laughlin's former fiancee, ION or
about" last March 20 and 20, and
that Mr.. Laughlin was an accessory.
DR.. Peckham testified that he did
not see Mrs. Hobbs until Sunday,
March %, when he was summoned
to the home of Mrs. Irma Petrain,
2215 H street NV. The call came
by telephone through the District
Medical Society's medical bureau, he
testified.
He said he saw Mrs. Hobbs, who
was identified to him as Miss Esther
Pickett. Mrs. Hobbs. who is %, was
Miss Esther Pickard before her mar
riage last May 2.
Denies Using Instrument.
DR.. Peckham testified that Mrs.
Hobbs was about to have a miscar-
riage when he arrived at the Petrain
home. Delivery was so imminent,
he said, that in his judgment the
proper course was "to assist nature"
He denied he used any instrument
or performed any illegal operation.
He said he then wrote out two
prescriptions on blanks bearing his
name and left them.
DR.. Peckham said he charged So
for the visit and was paid by Mrs.
Petrain, who took the money from
Mrs. Hobbs purse. He said he told
the patient he would return the
next day and did so.
DR.. Peckham, who looks younger
than his 40 years, testified calmly
under questioning by H. Mason
WEIGH, one Of his attorneys. DR..
Peckham, whose Office is at 428
Eighth street Sc, testified he lives
at TAO Princeton place NV. He is
q native of Washington, he said, and
q graduate of Central High School
and the Medical School of George
Washington University. He received
his degree In 1884, he said.
Denies Stottlemyer Testimony.
The physician also denied the
testimony of Hubert L. Stottlemeyer,
employed at a radio shop at 2116
Pennsylvania avenue NV, who said
he had telephoned DR.. Peckham
concerning an illegal operation for
a young woman. Mr.. Stottlemyer
had testified that he took Mrs.
Hobbs to DR.. Peckham's Office and
that he gave the physician an en-
velope which had been given to him
by Mrs. Petrain. DR.. Peckham also
denied these allegations.
Preceding DR.. Peckham to the
stand was his brother, Felix Peck
ham, also. of the Princeton place
address, a mechanical engineer en-
ployed by the Army Engineers.
He testified he and DR.. Peckham
had dinner at home the evening
of March 20, the date the Govern
ment charges an operation on Mrs.
Hobbs first was attempted. On
Saturday evening, March a., they
also had dinner together, he testi-
fled, and then both went to dance
at the Washington Canoe Club.
The doctor was accompanied by
Miss Veronica Fischettl, his brother
testified. She previously had testi-
fed concerning seeing the doctor
at about the time the Government
charges the operations were taking
place.
Nursing School Aide Called.
Prior to DR.. Peckham's testimony,
James Richard Connolly, manager
of the Medical Bureau of the Dis
trict Medical Society, testified that
at 3:19 pm on last March % Mrs.
Petrain called for DR.. Peckham
and that the message was finally
delivered to the physician at 4:5l
pm.
Mrs. Petrain had testified to max
ing such a call in order to summon
the doctor to treat Mrs. Hobbs, who,
she said, was running temperature
on that day.
Mr.. Laughlin, who is helping con-
duct his own defense, called to
the stand Mrs. Helen Miller, reg
istered nurse and assistant to the
dean of nurses at New York Hos
pital of which the New York Lying
In Hospital Is a part.
Mrs. Pertain had testified she had
received certificate in obstetrical
nursing from the New York Lying In
Hospital. but Mrs. Miller said the
records of the New York hospital
did not show any certificate for
nursing service by Irma Petrain or
Irma Bush.
Laughlin Letter Introduced.
Mrs. Evelyn C. Brownell, Mr..
Laughlins secretary also testified
that to her knowledge Mrs. Hobbs
had not been employed in Mr..
Laughlin's office. Arthur j. Nc
Laughlin, assistant United States
Government attorney, thereupon in
troduced a letter in which Mr..
Laughlin recommended Mrs. Hobbs
for employment by the Hecht Co.
The letter, which said Mrs. Hobbs
had been employed by Mr.. Laughlin
from March to December. 1916, said
she was person of excellent char
acter, highly cultured and refined"
Eu....I D;&oa Wodnned.v