Real Name- 'Kate Simpson'
A volunteer paid for a marker to be placed at her grave in September 1997, bearing the inscription-
"Kate McCormick Seduced and pregnant by her father's friend, unwed, she died from abortion, her only choice. Abandoned in life and death by family. With but a single rose from her mother. Buried only through the kindness of unknown benefactors. Died Feb.1875 age 21.
Victim of an unforgiving society ,Have mercy on us."
Abortion in Memphis
The Sad Fate of a Seducer's Victim
Dr. D. S. Johnson Charged With a Double Murder
Kate McCormick:Memphis Ledger, Feb. 2
In Monday's Ledger was published an account of an inquest held upon the body of an infant found dead in Mrs. Widrig's boarding house, on the corner of Second and Winchester streets. From information received yesterday by Chief of Police Athy Dr. D. S. Johnson, who keeps a private infirmary at No. 18 Jefferson street, was arrested this morning, the mother of the infant above revered having died last night. Yesterday Chief Athy called at Mrs. Widrig's and talked to the sick woman. She said her name was Kate McCormick and resided at Humboldt, Tenn. Chief Athy at once telegraphed to Mrs. McCormick at Humboldt, but when she arrived last night her unfortunate daughter had been dead a few hours. The girl had been seduced by a man at Humboldt, and she came to this city to give birth to a child and to hide her shame. This forenoon our special reporter attended the inquest held on the body of Katie McCormick by Coroner Spelman.
The Dead Girl
The boarding-house of Mrs. Widrig is in a double one-story frame tenement on the corner of Winchester and Second streets. The body of the deceased was laid out on a board and was covered with a white sheet. The room was neatly furnished, and on the table were a number of books, among others a Bible, hymn book and prayer book. Katie McCormick lay there, her white face turned up toward heaven, her eyes closed, and with an expression upon her cold face as if in prayer. She was a blonde, with a clear cut and handsome face, tall and large in size. A wealth of golden hair was coiled up on her head - hair that resembled that painted by idealistic artists in their pictures of the Madonna of the Cenci. She appeared to have been about twenty-one years of age.
The Testimony
Coroner Spelman summoned a jury of citizens and the following testimony was heard:
Mrs. Widrig was sworn and stated that the girl came to her house some time before Christmas, but only stayed one night; that she came back three weeks ago, and on Saturday night, or, rather, Sunday morning, she was delivered of a dead child; that Dr. Johnson had been attending her; that her suspicions were aroused and she asked Katie to tell her the whole truth; on Sunday Dr. Frayser had been sent to see Katie by Chief Athy and told her that the girl would die; this she told to Katie, who seemed much affected and made a confession; she said: "Mrs. Widrig, I think my time is short," and then she added: "Dr. Johnson gave the medicine to destroy my child; till Dr. Johnson that I promised not to deceive him or tell any person, but the time has come when I can keep the secret no longer; I paid Dr. Johnson twenty-five dollars for the medicine; he gave me the medicine some three weeks ago, and said if it did not do its work in six days it would be a failure; I took the medicine from Dr. Johnson to kill my child, and paid him twenty-five dollars for it."
Mollie Brown swore: Katie told me last night that Dr. Johnson sent her medicine by express; she said to me she was satisfied she was going to die, and that Dr. Johnson was the cause of it.
Mrs. Keith swore: Katie told me she asked Dr. Johnson for medicine to destroy her child, and that he advised her not to take it, and if she took his advice he would befriend her; I did not see her until Sunday last; she said she came here to hide her shame; that no one knew of her coming but her mother; her other friends thought she had gone North on a visit.
Dr. Marable testified as follows: On Sunday morning was called by Dr. Johnson to make a call; he told me about the case, and said he had prescribed for diarrhea; the treatment was correct as stated by Dr. Johnson; he said that he had discovered that she had a baby last night, but that she was in danger of dying from the afterbirth; I attended to her immediately, and gave her the necessary remedies to stop the flooding, and the remedies resulted successfully; the girl appeared very weak; Dr. Johnson and I went to see Chief Athy at once with reference to the dead child, and at my instigation Dr. Johnson called upon Coroner Spelman to hold an inquest on the dead infant, which inquest was held on Sunday; I advised Dr. Johnson as to the necessary treatment to place the girl under with a view to her recovery; the girl had diarrhea and I prescribed with Dr. Johnson for its treatment; the girl was nervous and troubled in mind; she said she was out of money and had not friends; trouble of mind and excitement very often cause abortions or miscarriages, and the greatest trouble physicians have in such cases is to keep the patients quiet; I think flooding and mental anxiety was the cause of her death.
Dr. Johnson testified as follows: Three weeks ago I first saw the deceased; she came to my office and told her story, and wanted to hide her disgrace; I advised her not to commit abortion, as it was against the law; I called to see her at Mrs. Widrig's boarding-house and prescribed for diarrhea; on Sunday morning I called and found that she had a miscarriage; I then called on Dr. Marable; the prescription given her by me was acetate of lead and morphine; the girl seemed troubled, and said she would sooner died than live; she said this both before and after the abortion had taken place.
Mrs. Widrig recalled: Dr. Frayzer called yesterday afternoon and told me that death was inevitable; I told this to Katie McCormick, and then she made the confession above state; when Dr. Frayzer left Katie asked me: "Is the doctor going to do anything for me?" I replied: "No, Katie; the doctor says you must die;" she then commenced praying and crying; she said she gave Dr. Johnson twenty-five dollars for the medicine to procure an abortion; the medicine was sent her by express, and she said Dr. Johnson told her that if the medicine did not relieve her in six days it would do no good; Dr. Johnson on Saturday morning took the bottle of medicine away; she was confined on Saturday evening; before her death she put her arms around me and kissed me; she was perfectly rational; I pressed her to tell me all about it, and she said she wanted to see Dr. Johnson first; she said she had made the arrangement with Dr. Johnson when she was here first - before Christmas; she then returned to Humboldt, and came back three weeks ago last Friday; when she was here before Christmas she only stayed one night at my house; said she was poor and wanted to get some sewing to do; she was absent about two weeks.
The girl's trunk was examined by the coroner's jury and a letter from Allegheny, Pa. Was found therein. It was signed by a female friend. The inquest closed and the body of the unfortunate deceased was left in charge of her mother, to be carried back to Humboldt for interment.
The jury of inquest was unable to agree up to 1 o'clock today, and adjourned over to 5 o'clock this afternoon to consider a verdict.
Memphis Appeal. Feb. 3:
The Jury's Verdict
The jury of inquest met in Chief Athy's office at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon and hear the evidence of D. B. G. Henning, who, with Dr. Frayser, was called to see the unfortunate woman the previous afternoon. His evidence was given in full, and as no post-mortem examination had been made of the body, because such had not been ordered or desired by the coroner or his jury, it was determined by Justice Spellman to have the same done this morning.
Dr. Henning being sworn, stated that about five o'clock Tuesday evening he visited the young woman, in company with Dr. Frayser. He asked her whether any medicinal or instrumental interference was used in delivering her of the child? She answered, "No." After Dr. Frayser left, he again urged her to confess it, if such was the case. She then confessed that she came to Memphis about three weeks before Christmas to see Dr. Johnson and have the child taken from her. He (Dr. Johnson) told her he could give her medicine to kill the child, but he feared she was too fa gone. She returned to Humboldt, and again came to Memphis about three weeks ago. Having said this much she declined to reveal any more until she could see Dr. Johnson.
The jury then returned the following verdict:
State of Tennessee, County of Shelby:
An inquisition held at Memphis, in the county and State aforesaid, on the second day of February, 1876, before John Spelman, Justice of the Peace and Coroner of said county, upon the body of Kate Simpson, alias Kate McCormick, who came to her death in the following manner, to wit: By reason of the premature birth of a female instant still-born, and that the premature birth was occasioned by the means of medicines administered for the producing of abortion under the direction of D. D. S. Johnson. In testimony whereof the said jurors have hereunto set their hands the day and date above written. M. H. REILLY, Foreman;
M. C. BUTLER,
C. H. HILSCHER,
JOHN O'CONNER,
MARTIN BULGER,
PETER THEIS
In this verdict, I non-concur.WM. WALLACE
DR. JOHNSON REARRESTED
After the inquest, Justice Spelman issued a warrant for the arrest of Dr. Johnson, who is therein charged with murder by committing an abortion. The warrant was placed in the hands of Constable Tom Garvey, who proceeded to the office of Dr. Johnson, No. 17 Jefferson street, where he made the arrest of the accused. When Constable Garvey entered the office, Dr. Johnson was found in consultation with Gen. Wm. Wallace, who had been on the jury of inquest, and dissented from the verdict above entered. Constable Garvey delivered the prisoner over to Justice Spelman, who went with the accused to a number of the latter's acquaintances, whence bail was expected to the amount of $3,000.
POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION
A post-mortem examination will be made today. The mother will permit the body to be buried here, as she has no desire to have it interred near her home. It is proper to state here that Dr. Marable had no connection with Dr. Johnson, but was called in by way of consultation as above stated. Drs. Henning and Frayser attended the girl at the solicitation of Chief Athy, who had been led to suspect that there was foul play in the matter. On the evening of February 2, 1876 Kate McCormick's corpse was moved from the boarding house where she died and taken to the makeshift quarters called the county morgue, in a Union Street stable; there it was placed in a plain box in readiness for burial. It was here that Fred Brennan, newspaper reporter for the Memphis PUBLIC LEDGER investigated these circumstances and appalled by them sought out Captain George D. Miller, with whom an appeal was made to the coroner to release the corpse to Hoist & Son morticians, for a decent burial in a proper casket, being "rearranged, the sawdust was carefully brushed from her hair, face and clothing." Kate's interment on the fourth of February in Elmwood Cemetery was scheduled. It was noted as well that the Humboldt shoemaker, George Burgess, who was the father of Kate's stillborn child, failed to show an interest in the disposition of her remains and as for her mother, she is reported to have left Memphis on February 2 and "returned to Humboldt, seemingly not feeling any more interest in the dead and having no desire to pay the last sad tribute of ashes for her daughter", evidently "more troubled about the publicity given to the affair than about the fate of her erring and unfortunate child." Memphis PUBLIC LEDGER, February 4, 1876.
https://www.tngenweb.org/records/davidson/misc/nda76/nda76-05.htm
Contributor: C Carney (49549350)
A volunteer paid for a marker to be placed at her grave in September 1997, bearing the inscription-
"Kate McCormick Seduced and pregnant by her father's friend, unwed, she died from abortion, her only choice. Abandoned in life and death by family. With but a single rose from her mother. Buried only through the kindness of unknown benefactors. Died Feb.1875 age 21.
Victim of an unforgiving society ,Have mercy on us."
Abortion in Memphis
The Sad Fate of a Seducer's Victim
Dr. D. S. Johnson Charged With a Double Murder
Kate McCormick:Memphis Ledger, Feb. 2
In Monday's Ledger was published an account of an inquest held upon the body of an infant found dead in Mrs. Widrig's boarding house, on the corner of Second and Winchester streets. From information received yesterday by Chief of Police Athy Dr. D. S. Johnson, who keeps a private infirmary at No. 18 Jefferson street, was arrested this morning, the mother of the infant above revered having died last night. Yesterday Chief Athy called at Mrs. Widrig's and talked to the sick woman. She said her name was Kate McCormick and resided at Humboldt, Tenn. Chief Athy at once telegraphed to Mrs. McCormick at Humboldt, but when she arrived last night her unfortunate daughter had been dead a few hours. The girl had been seduced by a man at Humboldt, and she came to this city to give birth to a child and to hide her shame. This forenoon our special reporter attended the inquest held on the body of Katie McCormick by Coroner Spelman.
The Dead Girl
The boarding-house of Mrs. Widrig is in a double one-story frame tenement on the corner of Winchester and Second streets. The body of the deceased was laid out on a board and was covered with a white sheet. The room was neatly furnished, and on the table were a number of books, among others a Bible, hymn book and prayer book. Katie McCormick lay there, her white face turned up toward heaven, her eyes closed, and with an expression upon her cold face as if in prayer. She was a blonde, with a clear cut and handsome face, tall and large in size. A wealth of golden hair was coiled up on her head - hair that resembled that painted by idealistic artists in their pictures of the Madonna of the Cenci. She appeared to have been about twenty-one years of age.
The Testimony
Coroner Spelman summoned a jury of citizens and the following testimony was heard:
Mrs. Widrig was sworn and stated that the girl came to her house some time before Christmas, but only stayed one night; that she came back three weeks ago, and on Saturday night, or, rather, Sunday morning, she was delivered of a dead child; that Dr. Johnson had been attending her; that her suspicions were aroused and she asked Katie to tell her the whole truth; on Sunday Dr. Frayser had been sent to see Katie by Chief Athy and told her that the girl would die; this she told to Katie, who seemed much affected and made a confession; she said: "Mrs. Widrig, I think my time is short," and then she added: "Dr. Johnson gave the medicine to destroy my child; till Dr. Johnson that I promised not to deceive him or tell any person, but the time has come when I can keep the secret no longer; I paid Dr. Johnson twenty-five dollars for the medicine; he gave me the medicine some three weeks ago, and said if it did not do its work in six days it would be a failure; I took the medicine from Dr. Johnson to kill my child, and paid him twenty-five dollars for it."
Mollie Brown swore: Katie told me last night that Dr. Johnson sent her medicine by express; she said to me she was satisfied she was going to die, and that Dr. Johnson was the cause of it.
Mrs. Keith swore: Katie told me she asked Dr. Johnson for medicine to destroy her child, and that he advised her not to take it, and if she took his advice he would befriend her; I did not see her until Sunday last; she said she came here to hide her shame; that no one knew of her coming but her mother; her other friends thought she had gone North on a visit.
Dr. Marable testified as follows: On Sunday morning was called by Dr. Johnson to make a call; he told me about the case, and said he had prescribed for diarrhea; the treatment was correct as stated by Dr. Johnson; he said that he had discovered that she had a baby last night, but that she was in danger of dying from the afterbirth; I attended to her immediately, and gave her the necessary remedies to stop the flooding, and the remedies resulted successfully; the girl appeared very weak; Dr. Johnson and I went to see Chief Athy at once with reference to the dead child, and at my instigation Dr. Johnson called upon Coroner Spelman to hold an inquest on the dead infant, which inquest was held on Sunday; I advised Dr. Johnson as to the necessary treatment to place the girl under with a view to her recovery; the girl had diarrhea and I prescribed with Dr. Johnson for its treatment; the girl was nervous and troubled in mind; she said she was out of money and had not friends; trouble of mind and excitement very often cause abortions or miscarriages, and the greatest trouble physicians have in such cases is to keep the patients quiet; I think flooding and mental anxiety was the cause of her death.
Dr. Johnson testified as follows: Three weeks ago I first saw the deceased; she came to my office and told her story, and wanted to hide her disgrace; I advised her not to commit abortion, as it was against the law; I called to see her at Mrs. Widrig's boarding-house and prescribed for diarrhea; on Sunday morning I called and found that she had a miscarriage; I then called on Dr. Marable; the prescription given her by me was acetate of lead and morphine; the girl seemed troubled, and said she would sooner died than live; she said this both before and after the abortion had taken place.
Mrs. Widrig recalled: Dr. Frayzer called yesterday afternoon and told me that death was inevitable; I told this to Katie McCormick, and then she made the confession above state; when Dr. Frayzer left Katie asked me: "Is the doctor going to do anything for me?" I replied: "No, Katie; the doctor says you must die;" she then commenced praying and crying; she said she gave Dr. Johnson twenty-five dollars for the medicine to procure an abortion; the medicine was sent her by express, and she said Dr. Johnson told her that if the medicine did not relieve her in six days it would do no good; Dr. Johnson on Saturday morning took the bottle of medicine away; she was confined on Saturday evening; before her death she put her arms around me and kissed me; she was perfectly rational; I pressed her to tell me all about it, and she said she wanted to see Dr. Johnson first; she said she had made the arrangement with Dr. Johnson when she was here first - before Christmas; she then returned to Humboldt, and came back three weeks ago last Friday; when she was here before Christmas she only stayed one night at my house; said she was poor and wanted to get some sewing to do; she was absent about two weeks.
The girl's trunk was examined by the coroner's jury and a letter from Allegheny, Pa. Was found therein. It was signed by a female friend. The inquest closed and the body of the unfortunate deceased was left in charge of her mother, to be carried back to Humboldt for interment.
The jury of inquest was unable to agree up to 1 o'clock today, and adjourned over to 5 o'clock this afternoon to consider a verdict.
Memphis Appeal. Feb. 3:
The Jury's Verdict
The jury of inquest met in Chief Athy's office at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon and hear the evidence of D. B. G. Henning, who, with Dr. Frayser, was called to see the unfortunate woman the previous afternoon. His evidence was given in full, and as no post-mortem examination had been made of the body, because such had not been ordered or desired by the coroner or his jury, it was determined by Justice Spellman to have the same done this morning.
Dr. Henning being sworn, stated that about five o'clock Tuesday evening he visited the young woman, in company with Dr. Frayser. He asked her whether any medicinal or instrumental interference was used in delivering her of the child? She answered, "No." After Dr. Frayser left, he again urged her to confess it, if such was the case. She then confessed that she came to Memphis about three weeks before Christmas to see Dr. Johnson and have the child taken from her. He (Dr. Johnson) told her he could give her medicine to kill the child, but he feared she was too fa gone. She returned to Humboldt, and again came to Memphis about three weeks ago. Having said this much she declined to reveal any more until she could see Dr. Johnson.
The jury then returned the following verdict:
State of Tennessee, County of Shelby:
An inquisition held at Memphis, in the county and State aforesaid, on the second day of February, 1876, before John Spelman, Justice of the Peace and Coroner of said county, upon the body of Kate Simpson, alias Kate McCormick, who came to her death in the following manner, to wit: By reason of the premature birth of a female instant still-born, and that the premature birth was occasioned by the means of medicines administered for the producing of abortion under the direction of D. D. S. Johnson. In testimony whereof the said jurors have hereunto set their hands the day and date above written. M. H. REILLY, Foreman;
M. C. BUTLER,
C. H. HILSCHER,
JOHN O'CONNER,
MARTIN BULGER,
PETER THEIS
In this verdict, I non-concur.WM. WALLACE
DR. JOHNSON REARRESTED
After the inquest, Justice Spelman issued a warrant for the arrest of Dr. Johnson, who is therein charged with murder by committing an abortion. The warrant was placed in the hands of Constable Tom Garvey, who proceeded to the office of Dr. Johnson, No. 17 Jefferson street, where he made the arrest of the accused. When Constable Garvey entered the office, Dr. Johnson was found in consultation with Gen. Wm. Wallace, who had been on the jury of inquest, and dissented from the verdict above entered. Constable Garvey delivered the prisoner over to Justice Spelman, who went with the accused to a number of the latter's acquaintances, whence bail was expected to the amount of $3,000.
POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION
A post-mortem examination will be made today. The mother will permit the body to be buried here, as she has no desire to have it interred near her home. It is proper to state here that Dr. Marable had no connection with Dr. Johnson, but was called in by way of consultation as above stated. Drs. Henning and Frayser attended the girl at the solicitation of Chief Athy, who had been led to suspect that there was foul play in the matter. On the evening of February 2, 1876 Kate McCormick's corpse was moved from the boarding house where she died and taken to the makeshift quarters called the county morgue, in a Union Street stable; there it was placed in a plain box in readiness for burial. It was here that Fred Brennan, newspaper reporter for the Memphis PUBLIC LEDGER investigated these circumstances and appalled by them sought out Captain George D. Miller, with whom an appeal was made to the coroner to release the corpse to Hoist & Son morticians, for a decent burial in a proper casket, being "rearranged, the sawdust was carefully brushed from her hair, face and clothing." Kate's interment on the fourth of February in Elmwood Cemetery was scheduled. It was noted as well that the Humboldt shoemaker, George Burgess, who was the father of Kate's stillborn child, failed to show an interest in the disposition of her remains and as for her mother, she is reported to have left Memphis on February 2 and "returned to Humboldt, seemingly not feeling any more interest in the dead and having no desire to pay the last sad tribute of ashes for her daughter", evidently "more troubled about the publicity given to the affair than about the fate of her erring and unfortunate child." Memphis PUBLIC LEDGER, February 4, 1876.
https://www.tngenweb.org/records/davidson/misc/nda76/nda76-05.htm
Contributor: C Carney (49549350)
Real Name- 'Kate Simpson'
A volunteer paid for a marker to be placed at her grave in September 1997, bearing the inscription-
"Kate McCormick Seduced and pregnant by her father's friend, unwed, she died from abortion, her only choice. Abandoned in life and death by family. With but a single rose from her mother. Buried only through the kindness of unknown benefactors. Died Feb.1875 age 21.
Victim of an unforgiving society ,Have mercy on us."
Abortion in Memphis
The Sad Fate of a Seducer's Victim
Dr. D. S. Johnson Charged With a Double Murder
Kate McCormick:Memphis Ledger, Feb. 2
In Monday's Ledger was published an account of an inquest held upon the body of an infant found dead in Mrs. Widrig's boarding house, on the corner of Second and Winchester streets. From information received yesterday by Chief of Police Athy Dr. D. S. Johnson, who keeps a private infirmary at No. 18 Jefferson street, was arrested this morning, the mother of the infant above revered having died last night. Yesterday Chief Athy called at Mrs. Widrig's and talked to the sick woman. She said her name was Kate McCormick and resided at Humboldt, Tenn. Chief Athy at once telegraphed to Mrs. McCormick at Humboldt, but when she arrived last night her unfortunate daughter had been dead a few hours. The girl had been seduced by a man at Humboldt, and she came to this city to give birth to a child and to hide her shame. This forenoon our special reporter attended the inquest held on the body of Katie McCormick by Coroner Spelman.
The Dead Girl
The boarding-house of Mrs. Widrig is in a double one-story frame tenement on the corner of Winchester and Second streets. The body of the deceased was laid out on a board and was covered with a white sheet. The room was neatly furnished, and on the table were a number of books, among others a Bible, hymn book and prayer book. Katie McCormick lay there, her white face turned up toward heaven, her eyes closed, and with an expression upon her cold face as if in prayer. She was a blonde, with a clear cut and handsome face, tall and large in size. A wealth of golden hair was coiled up on her head - hair that resembled that painted by idealistic artists in their pictures of the Madonna of the Cenci. She appeared to have been about twenty-one years of age.
The Testimony
Coroner Spelman summoned a jury of citizens and the following testimony was heard:
Mrs. Widrig was sworn and stated that the girl came to her house some time before Christmas, but only stayed one night; that she came back three weeks ago, and on Saturday night, or, rather, Sunday morning, she was delivered of a dead child; that Dr. Johnson had been attending her; that her suspicions were aroused and she asked Katie to tell her the whole truth; on Sunday Dr. Frayser had been sent to see Katie by Chief Athy and told her that the girl would die; this she told to Katie, who seemed much affected and made a confession; she said: "Mrs. Widrig, I think my time is short," and then she added: "Dr. Johnson gave the medicine to destroy my child; till Dr. Johnson that I promised not to deceive him or tell any person, but the time has come when I can keep the secret no longer; I paid Dr. Johnson twenty-five dollars for the medicine; he gave me the medicine some three weeks ago, and said if it did not do its work in six days it would be a failure; I took the medicine from Dr. Johnson to kill my child, and paid him twenty-five dollars for it."
Mollie Brown swore: Katie told me last night that Dr. Johnson sent her medicine by express; she said to me she was satisfied she was going to die, and that Dr. Johnson was the cause of it.
Mrs. Keith swore: Katie told me she asked Dr. Johnson for medicine to destroy her child, and that he advised her not to take it, and if she took his advice he would befriend her; I did not see her until Sunday last; she said she came here to hide her shame; that no one knew of her coming but her mother; her other friends thought she had gone North on a visit.
Dr. Marable testified as follows: On Sunday morning was called by Dr. Johnson to make a call; he told me about the case, and said he had prescribed for diarrhea; the treatment was correct as stated by Dr. Johnson; he said that he had discovered that she had a baby last night, but that she was in danger of dying from the afterbirth; I attended to her immediately, and gave her the necessary remedies to stop the flooding, and the remedies resulted successfully; the girl appeared very weak; Dr. Johnson and I went to see Chief Athy at once with reference to the dead child, and at my instigation Dr. Johnson called upon Coroner Spelman to hold an inquest on the dead infant, which inquest was held on Sunday; I advised Dr. Johnson as to the necessary treatment to place the girl under with a view to her recovery; the girl had diarrhea and I prescribed with Dr. Johnson for its treatment; the girl was nervous and troubled in mind; she said she was out of money and had not friends; trouble of mind and excitement very often cause abortions or miscarriages, and the greatest trouble physicians have in such cases is to keep the patients quiet; I think flooding and mental anxiety was the cause of her death.
Dr. Johnson testified as follows: Three weeks ago I first saw the deceased; she came to my office and told her story, and wanted to hide her disgrace; I advised her not to commit abortion, as it was against the law; I called to see her at Mrs. Widrig's boarding-house and prescribed for diarrhea; on Sunday morning I called and found that she had a miscarriage; I then called on Dr. Marable; the prescription given her by me was acetate of lead and morphine; the girl seemed troubled, and said she would sooner died than live; she said this both before and after the abortion had taken place.
Mrs. Widrig recalled: Dr. Frayzer called yesterday afternoon and told me that death was inevitable; I told this to Katie McCormick, and then she made the confession above state; when Dr. Frayzer left Katie asked me: "Is the doctor going to do anything for me?" I replied: "No, Katie; the doctor says you must die;" she then commenced praying and crying; she said she gave Dr. Johnson twenty-five dollars for the medicine to procure an abortion; the medicine was sent her by express, and she said Dr. Johnson told her that if the medicine did not relieve her in six days it would do no good; Dr. Johnson on Saturday morning took the bottle of medicine away; she was confined on Saturday evening; before her death she put her arms around me and kissed me; she was perfectly rational; I pressed her to tell me all about it, and she said she wanted to see Dr. Johnson first; she said she had made the arrangement with Dr. Johnson when she was here first - before Christmas; she then returned to Humboldt, and came back three weeks ago last Friday; when she was here before Christmas she only stayed one night at my house; said she was poor and wanted to get some sewing to do; she was absent about two weeks.
The girl's trunk was examined by the coroner's jury and a letter from Allegheny, Pa. Was found therein. It was signed by a female friend. The inquest closed and the body of the unfortunate deceased was left in charge of her mother, to be carried back to Humboldt for interment.
The jury of inquest was unable to agree up to 1 o'clock today, and adjourned over to 5 o'clock this afternoon to consider a verdict.
Memphis Appeal. Feb. 3:
The Jury's Verdict
The jury of inquest met in Chief Athy's office at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon and hear the evidence of D. B. G. Henning, who, with Dr. Frayser, was called to see the unfortunate woman the previous afternoon. His evidence was given in full, and as no post-mortem examination had been made of the body, because such had not been ordered or desired by the coroner or his jury, it was determined by Justice Spellman to have the same done this morning.
Dr. Henning being sworn, stated that about five o'clock Tuesday evening he visited the young woman, in company with Dr. Frayser. He asked her whether any medicinal or instrumental interference was used in delivering her of the child? She answered, "No." After Dr. Frayser left, he again urged her to confess it, if such was the case. She then confessed that she came to Memphis about three weeks before Christmas to see Dr. Johnson and have the child taken from her. He (Dr. Johnson) told her he could give her medicine to kill the child, but he feared she was too fa gone. She returned to Humboldt, and again came to Memphis about three weeks ago. Having said this much she declined to reveal any more until she could see Dr. Johnson.
The jury then returned the following verdict:
State of Tennessee, County of Shelby:
An inquisition held at Memphis, in the county and State aforesaid, on the second day of February, 1876, before John Spelman, Justice of the Peace and Coroner of said county, upon the body of Kate Simpson, alias Kate McCormick, who came to her death in the following manner, to wit: By reason of the premature birth of a female instant still-born, and that the premature birth was occasioned by the means of medicines administered for the producing of abortion under the direction of D. D. S. Johnson. In testimony whereof the said jurors have hereunto set their hands the day and date above written. M. H. REILLY, Foreman;
M. C. BUTLER,
C. H. HILSCHER,
JOHN O'CONNER,
MARTIN BULGER,
PETER THEIS
In this verdict, I non-concur.WM. WALLACE
DR. JOHNSON REARRESTED
After the inquest, Justice Spelman issued a warrant for the arrest of Dr. Johnson, who is therein charged with murder by committing an abortion. The warrant was placed in the hands of Constable Tom Garvey, who proceeded to the office of Dr. Johnson, No. 17 Jefferson street, where he made the arrest of the accused. When Constable Garvey entered the office, Dr. Johnson was found in consultation with Gen. Wm. Wallace, who had been on the jury of inquest, and dissented from the verdict above entered. Constable Garvey delivered the prisoner over to Justice Spelman, who went with the accused to a number of the latter's acquaintances, whence bail was expected to the amount of $3,000.
POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION
A post-mortem examination will be made today. The mother will permit the body to be buried here, as she has no desire to have it interred near her home. It is proper to state here that Dr. Marable had no connection with Dr. Johnson, but was called in by way of consultation as above stated. Drs. Henning and Frayser attended the girl at the solicitation of Chief Athy, who had been led to suspect that there was foul play in the matter. On the evening of February 2, 1876 Kate McCormick's corpse was moved from the boarding house where she died and taken to the makeshift quarters called the county morgue, in a Union Street stable; there it was placed in a plain box in readiness for burial. It was here that Fred Brennan, newspaper reporter for the Memphis PUBLIC LEDGER investigated these circumstances and appalled by them sought out Captain George D. Miller, with whom an appeal was made to the coroner to release the corpse to Hoist & Son morticians, for a decent burial in a proper casket, being "rearranged, the sawdust was carefully brushed from her hair, face and clothing." Kate's interment on the fourth of February in Elmwood Cemetery was scheduled. It was noted as well that the Humboldt shoemaker, George Burgess, who was the father of Kate's stillborn child, failed to show an interest in the disposition of her remains and as for her mother, she is reported to have left Memphis on February 2 and "returned to Humboldt, seemingly not feeling any more interest in the dead and having no desire to pay the last sad tribute of ashes for her daughter", evidently "more troubled about the publicity given to the affair than about the fate of her erring and unfortunate child." Memphis PUBLIC LEDGER, February 4, 1876.
https://www.tngenweb.org/records/davidson/misc/nda76/nda76-05.htm
Contributor: C Carney (49549350)
A volunteer paid for a marker to be placed at her grave in September 1997, bearing the inscription-
"Kate McCormick Seduced and pregnant by her father's friend, unwed, she died from abortion, her only choice. Abandoned in life and death by family. With but a single rose from her mother. Buried only through the kindness of unknown benefactors. Died Feb.1875 age 21.
Victim of an unforgiving society ,Have mercy on us."
Abortion in Memphis
The Sad Fate of a Seducer's Victim
Dr. D. S. Johnson Charged With a Double Murder
Kate McCormick:Memphis Ledger, Feb. 2
In Monday's Ledger was published an account of an inquest held upon the body of an infant found dead in Mrs. Widrig's boarding house, on the corner of Second and Winchester streets. From information received yesterday by Chief of Police Athy Dr. D. S. Johnson, who keeps a private infirmary at No. 18 Jefferson street, was arrested this morning, the mother of the infant above revered having died last night. Yesterday Chief Athy called at Mrs. Widrig's and talked to the sick woman. She said her name was Kate McCormick and resided at Humboldt, Tenn. Chief Athy at once telegraphed to Mrs. McCormick at Humboldt, but when she arrived last night her unfortunate daughter had been dead a few hours. The girl had been seduced by a man at Humboldt, and she came to this city to give birth to a child and to hide her shame. This forenoon our special reporter attended the inquest held on the body of Katie McCormick by Coroner Spelman.
The Dead Girl
The boarding-house of Mrs. Widrig is in a double one-story frame tenement on the corner of Winchester and Second streets. The body of the deceased was laid out on a board and was covered with a white sheet. The room was neatly furnished, and on the table were a number of books, among others a Bible, hymn book and prayer book. Katie McCormick lay there, her white face turned up toward heaven, her eyes closed, and with an expression upon her cold face as if in prayer. She was a blonde, with a clear cut and handsome face, tall and large in size. A wealth of golden hair was coiled up on her head - hair that resembled that painted by idealistic artists in their pictures of the Madonna of the Cenci. She appeared to have been about twenty-one years of age.
The Testimony
Coroner Spelman summoned a jury of citizens and the following testimony was heard:
Mrs. Widrig was sworn and stated that the girl came to her house some time before Christmas, but only stayed one night; that she came back three weeks ago, and on Saturday night, or, rather, Sunday morning, she was delivered of a dead child; that Dr. Johnson had been attending her; that her suspicions were aroused and she asked Katie to tell her the whole truth; on Sunday Dr. Frayser had been sent to see Katie by Chief Athy and told her that the girl would die; this she told to Katie, who seemed much affected and made a confession; she said: "Mrs. Widrig, I think my time is short," and then she added: "Dr. Johnson gave the medicine to destroy my child; till Dr. Johnson that I promised not to deceive him or tell any person, but the time has come when I can keep the secret no longer; I paid Dr. Johnson twenty-five dollars for the medicine; he gave me the medicine some three weeks ago, and said if it did not do its work in six days it would be a failure; I took the medicine from Dr. Johnson to kill my child, and paid him twenty-five dollars for it."
Mollie Brown swore: Katie told me last night that Dr. Johnson sent her medicine by express; she said to me she was satisfied she was going to die, and that Dr. Johnson was the cause of it.
Mrs. Keith swore: Katie told me she asked Dr. Johnson for medicine to destroy her child, and that he advised her not to take it, and if she took his advice he would befriend her; I did not see her until Sunday last; she said she came here to hide her shame; that no one knew of her coming but her mother; her other friends thought she had gone North on a visit.
Dr. Marable testified as follows: On Sunday morning was called by Dr. Johnson to make a call; he told me about the case, and said he had prescribed for diarrhea; the treatment was correct as stated by Dr. Johnson; he said that he had discovered that she had a baby last night, but that she was in danger of dying from the afterbirth; I attended to her immediately, and gave her the necessary remedies to stop the flooding, and the remedies resulted successfully; the girl appeared very weak; Dr. Johnson and I went to see Chief Athy at once with reference to the dead child, and at my instigation Dr. Johnson called upon Coroner Spelman to hold an inquest on the dead infant, which inquest was held on Sunday; I advised Dr. Johnson as to the necessary treatment to place the girl under with a view to her recovery; the girl had diarrhea and I prescribed with Dr. Johnson for its treatment; the girl was nervous and troubled in mind; she said she was out of money and had not friends; trouble of mind and excitement very often cause abortions or miscarriages, and the greatest trouble physicians have in such cases is to keep the patients quiet; I think flooding and mental anxiety was the cause of her death.
Dr. Johnson testified as follows: Three weeks ago I first saw the deceased; she came to my office and told her story, and wanted to hide her disgrace; I advised her not to commit abortion, as it was against the law; I called to see her at Mrs. Widrig's boarding-house and prescribed for diarrhea; on Sunday morning I called and found that she had a miscarriage; I then called on Dr. Marable; the prescription given her by me was acetate of lead and morphine; the girl seemed troubled, and said she would sooner died than live; she said this both before and after the abortion had taken place.
Mrs. Widrig recalled: Dr. Frayzer called yesterday afternoon and told me that death was inevitable; I told this to Katie McCormick, and then she made the confession above state; when Dr. Frayzer left Katie asked me: "Is the doctor going to do anything for me?" I replied: "No, Katie; the doctor says you must die;" she then commenced praying and crying; she said she gave Dr. Johnson twenty-five dollars for the medicine to procure an abortion; the medicine was sent her by express, and she said Dr. Johnson told her that if the medicine did not relieve her in six days it would do no good; Dr. Johnson on Saturday morning took the bottle of medicine away; she was confined on Saturday evening; before her death she put her arms around me and kissed me; she was perfectly rational; I pressed her to tell me all about it, and she said she wanted to see Dr. Johnson first; she said she had made the arrangement with Dr. Johnson when she was here first - before Christmas; she then returned to Humboldt, and came back three weeks ago last Friday; when she was here before Christmas she only stayed one night at my house; said she was poor and wanted to get some sewing to do; she was absent about two weeks.
The girl's trunk was examined by the coroner's jury and a letter from Allegheny, Pa. Was found therein. It was signed by a female friend. The inquest closed and the body of the unfortunate deceased was left in charge of her mother, to be carried back to Humboldt for interment.
The jury of inquest was unable to agree up to 1 o'clock today, and adjourned over to 5 o'clock this afternoon to consider a verdict.
Memphis Appeal. Feb. 3:
The Jury's Verdict
The jury of inquest met in Chief Athy's office at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon and hear the evidence of D. B. G. Henning, who, with Dr. Frayser, was called to see the unfortunate woman the previous afternoon. His evidence was given in full, and as no post-mortem examination had been made of the body, because such had not been ordered or desired by the coroner or his jury, it was determined by Justice Spellman to have the same done this morning.
Dr. Henning being sworn, stated that about five o'clock Tuesday evening he visited the young woman, in company with Dr. Frayser. He asked her whether any medicinal or instrumental interference was used in delivering her of the child? She answered, "No." After Dr. Frayser left, he again urged her to confess it, if such was the case. She then confessed that she came to Memphis about three weeks before Christmas to see Dr. Johnson and have the child taken from her. He (Dr. Johnson) told her he could give her medicine to kill the child, but he feared she was too fa gone. She returned to Humboldt, and again came to Memphis about three weeks ago. Having said this much she declined to reveal any more until she could see Dr. Johnson.
The jury then returned the following verdict:
State of Tennessee, County of Shelby:
An inquisition held at Memphis, in the county and State aforesaid, on the second day of February, 1876, before John Spelman, Justice of the Peace and Coroner of said county, upon the body of Kate Simpson, alias Kate McCormick, who came to her death in the following manner, to wit: By reason of the premature birth of a female instant still-born, and that the premature birth was occasioned by the means of medicines administered for the producing of abortion under the direction of D. D. S. Johnson. In testimony whereof the said jurors have hereunto set their hands the day and date above written. M. H. REILLY, Foreman;
M. C. BUTLER,
C. H. HILSCHER,
JOHN O'CONNER,
MARTIN BULGER,
PETER THEIS
In this verdict, I non-concur.WM. WALLACE
DR. JOHNSON REARRESTED
After the inquest, Justice Spelman issued a warrant for the arrest of Dr. Johnson, who is therein charged with murder by committing an abortion. The warrant was placed in the hands of Constable Tom Garvey, who proceeded to the office of Dr. Johnson, No. 17 Jefferson street, where he made the arrest of the accused. When Constable Garvey entered the office, Dr. Johnson was found in consultation with Gen. Wm. Wallace, who had been on the jury of inquest, and dissented from the verdict above entered. Constable Garvey delivered the prisoner over to Justice Spelman, who went with the accused to a number of the latter's acquaintances, whence bail was expected to the amount of $3,000.
POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION
A post-mortem examination will be made today. The mother will permit the body to be buried here, as she has no desire to have it interred near her home. It is proper to state here that Dr. Marable had no connection with Dr. Johnson, but was called in by way of consultation as above stated. Drs. Henning and Frayser attended the girl at the solicitation of Chief Athy, who had been led to suspect that there was foul play in the matter. On the evening of February 2, 1876 Kate McCormick's corpse was moved from the boarding house where she died and taken to the makeshift quarters called the county morgue, in a Union Street stable; there it was placed in a plain box in readiness for burial. It was here that Fred Brennan, newspaper reporter for the Memphis PUBLIC LEDGER investigated these circumstances and appalled by them sought out Captain George D. Miller, with whom an appeal was made to the coroner to release the corpse to Hoist & Son morticians, for a decent burial in a proper casket, being "rearranged, the sawdust was carefully brushed from her hair, face and clothing." Kate's interment on the fourth of February in Elmwood Cemetery was scheduled. It was noted as well that the Humboldt shoemaker, George Burgess, who was the father of Kate's stillborn child, failed to show an interest in the disposition of her remains and as for her mother, she is reported to have left Memphis on February 2 and "returned to Humboldt, seemingly not feeling any more interest in the dead and having no desire to pay the last sad tribute of ashes for her daughter", evidently "more troubled about the publicity given to the affair than about the fate of her erring and unfortunate child." Memphis PUBLIC LEDGER, February 4, 1876.
https://www.tngenweb.org/records/davidson/misc/nda76/nda76-05.htm
Contributor: C Carney (49549350)
