Abortion and Death in Edmeston
The Old Story and The Same Sad Sequel
Bainbridge Republican, September 13, 1872
There is living in this usually peaceable village, a family by the name of Penry which did consist of husband, wife, three daughters by a former marriage, and one daughter by the present wife, who though comparatively poor in this world's goods, are yet, as the world goes, quiet, inoffensive people. One daughter, the eldest, the wife of John Davis, was married last February. The second daughter, Clara, was a lively young girl of 16 years of age and is the principal character in the drama just enacted, and which has drawn to so sad a close. There had been rumors afloat throughout the neighborhood bringing serious discredit upon the name and character of Clara, and on the 4th day of July the Poor Master thinking that he had a duty to perform, visited the house, but Clara being absent, he elicited nothing to warrant him in going father at this time in his official capacity. On the Sunday following, John Davis called at the house in company with his wife. The latter went into the house and asked Clara if she would not like to take a ride. She said that she would not. Her sister (Mrs. D.) told her to go along. She began to cry and said that she did not want to. John told her start, and not stand there crying like a great baby. Her stepmother opposed it, thinking that there was something wrong, having, as it appears a presentiment of coming evil. but upon the urgent request of both Davis and his wife, Clara donned the bonnet and shawl of her sister and started. Their route carried them to Dr. Crandall's in Leonardsville, a distance of 12 miles, according to the subsequent statement of Clara.
They arrived back home sometime after midnight, and for several days nothing was seen of Clara. But about ten days after the journey to Leonardville, Mrs. Penry sent in haste for Dr. Chambers, the messenger stating that the little girl was sick. He thought it was the youngest, Olive, until his arrival at the house, when he found that his services were required for Clara. he also found that on the Tuesday following the visit to Leonardville, a child was born which was probably within two months of maturity. The child was very quietly put into a cigar box and buried in the garden. Dr. Chambers attended her four days after which he discontinued his visits for several reasons, until he was recalled two days before her death, which occurred on Friday of last week. After the cessation of Dr. Chambers' visits, Clara growing worse, Mrs. Penry sent for Davis, and he was sent to Leonardville for medicine. On Wednesday of this week Davis was arrested, and after examination was sent to Cooperstown, upon evidence, as accessory, and a warrant issued for the arrest of Dr. Crandall, as principal in the case of abortion.
The postmortem examination conducted by Drs. Chambers and Spencer, of Edmeston, and Hills, of Burlington Flats, elicited the fact, to which the physicians testified, that the immediate cause of death was effusion at the pericardium, more remotely, ulceration of the serous tissues. There were also unmistakable indications of recent pregnancy, and mechanical, unnatural interference. the inquest held before Coroner E.H. Hills, of Schuyler's lake and the subsequent examinations brought forth many particulars, but few of which are permitted to be made public. Among those not withheld, are these: During Clara's sickness, she repeatedly told her stepmother that were it not for John Davis, she would not be in the condition that she was. Davis admitted that he carried her to Leonardville, but knew nothing of the reason for her visit, that he stayed in the wagon while she was in the Dr.'s office. While Davis was trying to persuade her to go to Leonardville her stepmother advised her to stay at home, let matters take their natural course, and she and hers should be taken care of and provided for, but if she did go with Davis she need not come back there. She subsequently thought better of this however and seemingly did everything that she could for the girl while she lived. It appears also that Clara had been urged upon several occasions to implicate various parties as criminally connected with her, but she insisted that she would not criminate the innocent, either to shield the guilty or to secure pecuniary advantage to herself, as was suggest to her.
Thursday morning D.B. St. John and Norman Mitchell went to Cooperstown to appear as bail for Davis, the amount of which was fixed at $1,000.
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