A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1129, 2 August 1883, Page 3

A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY.

On the 30th June the police in the cellar of a dwelling-house at No. 2343, North Fifth street, Philadelphia, formerly occupied by Dr Isaac Hathaway, an alleged abortionist, discovered the bodies of several children, and a large number o f human bodies, Dr Hathaway was arrested in March, 1881, with the Rev T. B. Millar, for committing criminal malpractice upon Mary Butler, a servant girl, whose child died after an operation. Both were admitted to bail, and Hathaway fled. He, however, returned to the city some time ago, but has never been re-arrested on the charge. Three months ago his wife charged him with brutally assaulting her, and threatening her life. She asked to have a warrant issued for his arrest, bat subsequently withdrew the charge. She made some revolting disclosures to the police. Up to 4 o’clock on the 20th, 21 skulls or portions of skulls have been found buried in the cellar of his dwelling. Dr Hathaway is now in a country prison charged with assaulting a relative. The coroner has lodged a detainer at the prison against him. The New World’s correspondent says that after Dr Hathaway left Philadelphia he went to a little village near Manch Chuuk, Pa. A resident near there tells strange stories of the doctor’s house. Young girls were seen to go in there, and were soon reported to the police missing. For years past the doctor is said to have been engaged in criminal malpractices. When the detectives quitted work in the evening, they discovered 25 skulls, but no signs of flesh could be seen. Hathway kept several large dogs, and it is supposed they lived on human flash. The portions of children’s remains found in the house formerly occupied by Dr Hathaway were examined at the Coroner’s office. Physicians pronounced thorn foetal bones, and expressed the opinion they were probably the remains of a dozen babies. A search of the premises occupied by Hathaway at the time of his arrest resulted in the discovery of a small leather satchel, filled with phials containing liquids and powders. A surgical instrument was also found, which the doctor’s wife, who lives in the house, said he used in nefarious practices. An account book was found, which covered the period extending from May, 1876, to July, 1882, and contained the names and adaddresses of about 200 females, with the amount for services written on margin. In conversation with a magistrate, Mrs Krichbaum, Hathaway’s former associate, told a tail sickening and revolting in every detail. She said that the bodies found were but a small portion of the number of infants destroyed, and that he had performed hundreds ot operations. When asked where the remains could be found, the woman asked if she could be held as a participator in the crimes. On being assured that the law would have to take its course at all hazards, she declared that numberless bodies had been cremated in the family cooking stove, and that meals for the family had been prepared by fire from human fuel. When confronted with direct proof of Ids guilt Hathaway denied the stories, but the woman maintains that they are true. The streets surrounding the residence of the mal-practitioner were filled with curi-osity-seekers, and loud threats of lynching were heard. On 27th June Hathaway was convicted of having performed criminal surgical operations upon a servant girl in April, 1881, and sentenced to pay a fine of SOOdols and undergo an imprisonment of seven years, the fullest extent of the law,—Horae conespondent of the Wellington Post.