Year: 1871

In charging the grand jury at the open
ing OF the September term of the Court Of
General Sessions, New York city, Judge
Bedford thus spoke of the recent cases of
medical malpractice which have been
brought to light:


"But day or two ago the law-abiding
citizens of this city were appalled, by the
intelligence of murder, most cruel in its
nature and most foul in its character,
making the heart grow sick at the con-
temptation of such fendish depravity.
This case, with all its melancholy sur
roundings, will be presented to you for
your deliberation. 1t will require thor
ough and searching analysis, as it is a
matter which must be investigated and
probed to its very core; for the deed it
self strikes, as it were, at the heart-strings
of society. | have reference, gentlemen,
to that mysterious trunk, which, but a few
days ago, was discovered i'll this city, con-
tanning the lifeless body of young and
once happy, but, | fear, most unfortunate
girl, the sad victim of treachery and de-
ception-one who, unfortunately for her
own happiness, believed too much. Full
OF anguish for the past, and in the vain
endeavor to screen from the public gaze
her delicate condition, in a moment Of
utter hopelessness and frantic despair. she
gave herself up and was robbed of her ex-
istence by the murderous hand And
here, gentlemen, are we not irresistibly
prompted, in the true spirit of philan-
tropy, to ask ourselves, can crime so fear
full and atrocious be perpetrated in the
very midst of Christian community, en-
bracing within its jurisdiction more than
million of souls, and where the religion
OF Heaven is preached and its holy man
dates observed? All the startling. pain
full fact is too true. If this great city of
New York, constituting, as it were,
world within itself, can boast with con-
scious pride OF her churches, her numer-
Gus charities, the virtue and intelligence
OF her deeds, she has, too. to drop tear
over the vices and wickedness of many of
her children. But will not detain you
Suffice it to say that of late we have been
living, as it were, in an atmosphere of
crime. In one word, the very air is, in
deed, heavy with the dark deeds of these


heartless and unscrupulous specimens OF


human depravity Let the warning word


this day go forth, and may it be scattered


broadcast throughout the land, that from
this hour the authorities, one and ALL shall
put forth every effort and shall strain
every nerve until these professionals,
these traffickers in human life, shall be
exterminated and driven from existence,
and the majesty Of the law be fully vindi-
Gated in all eases of this fiendish charac-
ter.


And now, gentlemen, in conclusion let
me express the earnest hope-shared in,
as feel confident it will be, by you and
all other right-minded citzens-that the
Legislature mt its next session will so
amend the statute-book as that ANY per-
son who shall administer to any woman
with child, or prescribe for any such wo.
man, or advise or procure her to take any
medicine, drug, substance or thing what
ever, or shall use or employ any instru-
ment or other means whatever, with in
tent thereby to procure the miscarriage of
such woman, unless the same shall have
been necessary to preserve her life, shall,
in case the death of such child or of such
woman be thereby produced, be deemed
guilty of manslaughter in the second de-
gree, be declared to be murder in the
first degree. and punishable as such with
death, instead of as now, but manslaugh-
ter in the second degree, punishable by
imprisonment not exceeding seven years"