Dayton Daily Empire

The North Adams Tragedy

The investigation into the circumstances connected with the death of Miss Mattie Butler, of North Adams, has been progressing for a week past, and has been very thorough and searching. The developments are of the most remarkable character, and if anything could deepen the gloom which surrounds this sad affair, it is the knowledge of the fact that the reputation of the unfortunate and erring girl was needlessly compromised! The investigation goes to show that her death was caused by inflammation of the bowels, or, as it is medically called, puerperal peritonitis-that she was not pregnant, and that the doctors who attended her, mistaking her symptoms, formed an erroneous diagnosis, which was strengthened by the admission of the unfortunate girl that there had been an improper intimacy with Littlefield. The operation which was performed upon Miss Butler just previous to her death, only aggravated her sufferings needlessly, and her dying words were, 'I cannot believe I am in the family way, although the doctors say so-there has been no chance. Littlefield, also, before he fled, persistently stated that his intimacy with Miss Butler could not have produced this result. The post mortem examination developed the fact that the case has been mistaken, but rather than acknowledge a blunder which, under the peculiar circumstances, and with the symptoms which manifested themselves, was material, the attending physicians, thinking to save their own reputation, prevaricated, and told the family of the deceased that they had found things "as they expected!" The case, in all its aspects, is probably without a parallel in all the records of medical science.

The jury have not yet tendered their verdict, but there can be little doubt that it will be, that death was caused by inflammation of the bowels.