Dr. Charles Porter performs abortion that results in death of his wife, 1873

 Lakewood Times and Journal 18 Jul 1874

AN ABORTION CASE IN BRICKSBURG

-----

THE PERPETRATOR FLED TO PARTS UNKNOWN

On Saturday last a death occurred in this village which, though not attracting special notice at the time beyond a very limited circle, has since been found to involve consequences of grave importance and tragical character. Evidence has been found that prove that a heinous crime has been committed --a crime of that class of which happily our citizens know very little from actual knowledge or experience, but which the spread of public intelligence through the press demonstrates to be of fearfully frequent occurrence.

Want of space in this issue compels brevity in a preliminary statement; besides, the leading facts of the case are fully given in the accompanying report of the evidence taken before the Coroner's jury.

On Tuesday morning last the suspicions of several of our leading citizens had been excited by the divulging of certain circumstances connected with the death and burial of Mrs. Amelia Porter, wife of Charles Porter, a druggist doing business here. He was not a regular practitioner, but was understood to have a diploma and generally designated "Doctor Porter."

A brief conference was held. It was decided that prompt measures should be taken. A gentleman started immediately for Toms River, and on arriving there called for Mr. John Klippel, Coroner; stated the circumstances and requested his prompt official action. Mr.K. came up to Bricksburg immediately, accompanied by T. Middleton, Esq., and the County Prosecuting Attorney, Justice Edward Day and Dr. R.L. Disbrow. A preliminary meeting was held. It was decided that a post-mortem examination should be made.  The undertaker was directed to exhume the body and the constable to summon a jury to be in attendance early on the following morning.

On Wednesday morning the Coroner, with Messrs. Day and Middleton, were in attendance at Larrabee's Hall.  The jury was empaneled, and official proceedings being thus organized the Cemetery was visited, and the body having been disinterred, an autopsy was made by Dr. Disbrow of Toms River, assisted by Dr. Gordon and Dr. Chase.  The investigation of the case was continued in Larrabee's Hall by the examination of witnesses before the Coroner by the Prosecuting Attorney--Justice Day being present in his official capacity and assisting in the proceedings.  The following named gentleman, all residents of Bricksburg, composed the jury:

Walter Beansy

Benjamin R. Smith

Frederic H. Jones

Griffith H. Teller

Marcus Conant

Alfred Currier

Harvey Simons

Nathan P. Brooks

Frederic M. Marston

Leonard K. Clough

Wm. L. Boughton

Augustus F. Pawley

Mrs. Caroline Hallock sworn: Was intimately acquainted with the deceased; was with her on the morning of the day of her decease, and again in the evening and hour and a half before she died; saw her on Friday A.M. standing in the door of the drug store; appeared well then; had suspected her being enceinte, first of her being sick on Saturday morning July 11; went over to her house; she was lying in her bed; I asked her what the matter was; she replied, "Oh! My God! I wish you had come before"; I replied, "I would have come had I known it."; she said if she should die, her death was awful; she called for the Doctor; I asked her what doctor; she said "My dear and beloved husband"; Mrs. Dr. English and myself were with her when she died

S. McKenzie Bennett sworn: Am Dr. Porter's assistant in the drug store; his wife's name was Amelia; Mrs. Porter died about 5 1/2 o'clock PM Saturday evening; buried Sunday between 2 and 3 PM; saw Dr. Porter last Monday PM 13th about 1 1/2 o'clock; he made no remarks nor left any instructions with me before he left; he was much excited, acted wildly; there are three children--two here, one at Toms River; I put up a prescription for Mrs. Porter on Friday about 2 or 3 o'clock---1 drachm tinct. Valerian, 1 dr. Lavender comp'd; Dr. Porter ordered it put up; he gave it to her himself; since her death he told me his wife died of inflammation of the womb; I telegraphed to F. Drake, Montreal, Canada, to come on.

Dr. R.L. Disbrow sworn: Made post mortem examination at the cemetery, assisted by Drs. Gordon and Chase. [A condensed synopsis of Dr. D's testimony goes to establish evidence of violence upon the person of Mrs. Porter, showing that an abortion was committed of a nature to cause her death.] No remedies could be applied to save life after the womb was punctured through or injured to the extent indicated by the examination; the examination was mad by the aid of the microscope; the examination showed a ragged surface of the parts; there was no foreign substance; there may have been a detachment of the membrane (the placenta or after-birth)

Leading points of the evidence of Dr. C.O. Gordon: There was no contraction of the womb during pain; there had been some vomiting, as reported to me by the husband; when the patient became conscious, she asked to be relieved of the pain in her back and abdomen; when called by the husband in the morning, I asked him what the case was; he replied, a case of abortion; while at the house, and after having made an examination of the patient, the husband (Dr. Porter), told me that he found a bowl of water with undissolved alum in the water, and the syringe lying by the bowl, and he suspected that she (the deceased) might have done something; soon after, I asked the patient if she had done anything to bring this about and she said "No, Doctor; I have not done anything but exposure and overwork"; upon inquiry of the husband what treatment had been given his wife, he told me he had given her 1/8 grain of morphine every 1/2 hour until she had taken two grains; up to the time I was there and during the same period, he had given her 8 ounces of brandy; about 6 o'clock in the evening I was met by Dr. Porter on the street; he told me his wife was dead since about 1/2 an hour previous; I at once started to go to my house; he followed me; during the walk I offered him any services I could render; he said there was nothing particular he knew of, after which he said there was one thing especial he would request of me--that upon arrival of his wife's family from Canada, I would tell them everything that had been done that could be for his wife; we had then got to my house; I said to  him that there were doubts in my mind as to the cause and condition that I found his wife in during my visit in the morning; I suggested an autopsy; after hesitating, he said "Yes, I would like one, but am afraid the friends might object"; he then left; in about one hour after, he (Dr. Porter) called for me; upon being told I was absent, said he would call again. He called the next morning (Sunday) at about 10 1/2 o'clock.

Dr. Porter said to me, "Doctor, I don't believe there is any foetus in the womb."  The impression made on my mind was that he knew there had been a premature expulsion of he foetus from the womb.  I should think a person could not tell of such an expulsion from an external examination; the effect of the alum would be to cause abortion.

[the details of the facts elicited by the post-mortem investigation and examination by the microscope, we are obliged to omit ---ed.]

Dr. D.C. Chase sworn: I knew Charles Porter and wife; was the family physician; called to see Mrs. Porter two or three times during her last illness; first on Friday PM July 10; found her lying on the floor; surfaces of the body cold and pulse feeble; her husband was present; he called for me; I found her in a state of collapse from some shock; enquired of her husband what was the matter with Mrs. Porter [Here a question was put to the witness, which he declined to answer]. Mrs. Porter's mother was present on Saturday afternoon, when I called, and Mrs. English and Mrs. Hallock; i was present at the post-mortem; heard the evidence of Dr. Gordon; I fully corroborate his views; saw Dr. Porter last on Sunday PM July 12; he was very much excited; I believed that an abortion had been attempted; it would seem impossible for a woman to perform such an operation on her own person. 

Evidence of Mrs. Dr. English: I was at the Dr. Porter's Saturday morning, July 10; I called in as a friend, hearing Mrs. P. was sick, very low; found there was much inflammation of the abdomen; had a conversation with Mrs. Porter in regard to her condition about 11 AM; she told me her husband would have it so; I asked her if he had used forcible measures and she said he did--he used a rubber catheter; told her that could not produce her present condition; "after that he put her in a comatose condition by administering chloroform and used a blunt instrument (iron)"; I am of opinion such operation caused her death; the last operation was performed about 8 o'clock Friday afternoon; at first, Dr. Porter denied it; afterwards he admitted it and put the instruments in my possession; he took them back, and I never saw them since; one looked like and old screwdriver; he said there was no use lying; he would show me what he done it with; he gave me the instrument on Monday; I was there from 11 o'clock on Saturday until she died; I prescribed merely restoratives; Dr. Chase left her in my charge, as he was going away; Dr. Porter on Monday seemed wild; said he would not live 20 minutes longer.

Mrs. Anna E. Wood called: I am the mother of Mrs. Porter now dead; I resided with my daughter; was there when she died; she told me previous to her death that it was her husband's intention to bring about an abortion; that he had her hurt her very much ("violently"); this was Saturday afternoon; she said "It was not a drug, it was worse." It was an instrument; he prevailed upon her and by using threats he used chloroform.

[NOTE: As a matter of justice, it may be stated that Mrs. Wood, upon leaving the witness stand, said she did not think Dr. Porter really intended to cause the death of his wife--Ed.]

Evidence of James Westhall: I am the undertaker at Bricksburg; buried Mrs. Amelia Porter on Sunday last, July 12. Interred her remains in Woodlawn Cemetery about 3/4 mile from the village; I took up the body of the deceased this day (July 15) about 7 AM; was present at the post-mortem; Mr. Starr, Mr. Effingham, and Mr. Drake assisted me in exhuming the body; Dr. Porter wished me to keep the body until Tuesday that his people could arrive from Canada, but it was not possible to do so; I have no patent ice-box.

The following is the finding of the jury as comprised the final clause of the verdict:

They do say upon their oaths that one Charles H. Porter, late of Bricksburg, County aforesaid, did, on the 10th day of the month above written, willfully commit an abortion with some instrument unknown to the jury causing the death of Amelia Porter