AIR OF MYSTERY IN HOSPITAL DEATH
Miss Josephine Hall [sic] of Union Star Succumbs to Peritonitis
Josephine Allen, eighteen years old, died at noon yesterday at the Ensworth Deaconess Hospital. Death was due to peritonitis. The girl was taken to the hospital last Monday morning in charge of her sister. They came from Union Star, Mo., where their father, George Allen, is a prosperous farmer. The girls were unaccompanied, so far as known to the hospital authorities. Miss Allen was then in a critical condition. She grew rapidly worse until the time of her death. Her father was with her when she died. Her physicians say that they are not positive as to what led up to her condition at the time she came to St. Joseph. Coroner Doyle has not taken any action in regard to her death. The body will be sent to Union Star this morning.
Source: St. Joseph Gazette-Herald, 31 March 1901, p. 4, col. 3
PHYSICIAN IS ARRESTED
SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS FOLLOW DEATH OF MISS ALLEN
An autopsy over the remains of Miss Josephine Allen, aged eighteen years, who died Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the Ensworth hospital, held at Heaton's morgue by Drs. T. E. Potter and W. T. Elam, developed the fact that death was due to blood poisoning, the result of a criminal operation.
Miss Allen was the daughter of George Allen, a farmer of Union Star, and on Saturday afternoon Dr. W. E. Pentz of that place was placed under arrest, charged with manslaughter in the first degree. He was taken to Maysville, where he will be given a preliminary hearing. The alleged betrayer of the young woman, said to be a relative, has not been apprehended.
Miss Allen was brought to the hospital from Union Star about two weeks ago. Immediately upon her death K. B. Randolph, who had been consulted previously by her father, decided that an autopsy was necessary in order to secure the facts for the prosecution of the case, and he employed Doctor Potter, who called in Doctor Elam. The body was shipped to Union Star Sunday morning at 9:40 o'clock, where it will be interred.
Coroner John Doyle is indignant at the course pursued in the case. He was not notified of Miss Allen's death and thinks that he did not receive proper treatment in the matter. He states that the circumstances attending the death of Miss Allen were of such a nature that an investigation should have been made by him.
"The case was one for the coroner to investigate," said Dr. Doyle yesterday, "and I am at a loss to understand why I was not informed of the young woman's death. I received no official information whatever. The first that I knew of the case was what I read in The Daily News Saturday. I thought, of course, if the facts were as published, I would have been notified by some of the friends of the young woman, or someone connected with the case. On Sunday morning there was further mention of the case in the Gazette-Herald. I thought it strange that I had not been notified and decided to make an investigation.
Coroner is Indignant
"I learned that Doctor Potter had been employed to hold the autopsy, by Mr. Randolph, who was representing the father of the girl, and that when it was about completed he called in Doctor Elam, who, upon learning the facts in the case, said it was a case for investigation by the coroner. One of the organs of the body was removed, which would now partially destroy the value of a post-mortem examination.
"Before I had completed my investigation I learned that the body of Miss Allen had been taken to the union station to await shipment to Union Star. When I presented the facts to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Shultz, he said that I had the right to seize the body and hold an inquest. Had I been so disposed I could have put the attorney in the case and his client to considerable inconvenience, but I believed from what I had learned that all of the facts necessary for any prosecution had been obtained by the physicians who held the autopsy, and I decided not to hold an inquest, unless additional developments should warrant such a proceeding.
Mr. Randolph stated this morning that as the offense had been committed in DeKalb County and death had occurred in this county, he did not think of notifying the coroner. Being anxious to get all the facts possible in the case, he had ordered the autopsy. He stated that no discourtesy was meant to coroner Doyle.
Dr. W. E. Pentz, the physician arrested in connection with the death of Miss Allen, formerly lived in this city, where he is well known. He ran for the nomination for coroner on the Republican ticket last fall, but was defeated by Dr. L. C. Sampson. Doctor Pentz was released on bond and came to this city yesterday. He has employed T. B. Allen to defend him. His attorney says that his client is an innocent man and that this will be proven at the trial. Doctor Pentz' preliminary hearing will be held at Union Star on Friday of this week.
It is probable that the remains of Miss Allen will be brought back to this city and an inquest held. The funeral was to have taken place at Union Star this afternoon.
Source: St. Joseph Gazette-Herald, 2 April 1901, p. 5
SENSATION AT THE STAR
MISS JOSEPHINE ALLEN DIED AT HOSPITAL IN ST. JOSEPH
DR. PENTZ UNDER ARREST
Reported Betrayal by her Brother-in-Law, J. Veale Jr. -- Bold Criminal Operation Cause of Death -- Betrayer Skipped -- Dr. Under Heavy Bond -- Indignation at the Star
Daily News, March 30.
Josephine Allen, aged eighteen years, died at 1 o'clock this afternoon at Ensworth Deaconess hospital as the result of an operation. Miss Allen was the daughter of George Allen, a prosperous farmer living near Union Star. She was brought to the hospital in a critical condition two weeks ago. She was not strong enough to withstand the shock and sank steadily until she died.
It is said her death was the direct result of her betrayal. The authorities are making an investigation and arrests may follow.
Gazette Herald, April 2.
An autopsy over the remains of Miss Josephine Allen, aged eighteen years, who died Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the Ensworth hospital, held at Heaton's morgue by Drs. T. E. Potter and W. T. Elam, developed the fact that death was due to blood poisoning, the result of a criminal operation.
Miss Allen was the daughter of George Allen, a farmer of Union Star, and on Saturday afternoon Dr. w. E. Pentz of that place was placed under arrest and charged with manslaughter in the first degree. He was taken to Maysville, where he will be given a preliminary hearing. The alleged betrayer of the young woman, said to be a relative, has not been apprehended.
Miss Allen was brought to the hospital from Union Star about two weeks ago. Immediately upon her death K. B. Randolph, who had been consulted previous by her father, decided that an autopsy was necessary in order to secure the facts for the prosecution of the case, and he employed Doctor Potter, who called in Doctor Elam. The body was shipped to Union Star, Sunday morning at 9:40 o'clock, where it will be interred.
Dr. W. E. Pentz, the physician arrested in connection with the death of Miss Allen, formerly lived in this city, where he is well known. He ran for the nomination for coroner on the Republican ticket last fall, but was defeated by Dr. L. C. Sampson. Dr. Pentz was released on bond and came to this city yesterday. He has employed T. B. Allen to defend him. His attorney says that his client is an innocent man and that this will be proven at the trial. Doctor Pentz' preliminary hearing will be held at Union Star, Friday of this week.
Reports concerning the above are too revolting for publication, and if true, there are two parties that should be severely punished. The people about the Star are terribly wrought up over the affair. Joseph Veale, Jr. is charged with ruining the girl, his sister-in-law, and he and Dr. Pentz charged with the crime causing her death. Let the guilt fall where it will, a terrible crime has been committed and those guilty should suffer the consequences.
Source: The King City Chronicle, 5 April 1901, p. 1
UNION STAR, MISSOURI
UNION STAR, April 13 -- (Special Correspondence.) -- It is reported that Joseph Veale, who is wanted at this place, in connection with the death of Josephine Allen, has been located. The citizens have offered a reward for his arrest. Under the new law the state was enabled to waive preliminary examination in the case of Dr. W. E. Pentz. The defendants were anxious for the hearing, but the case will not come up until June, in the circuit court before Judge Burnes.
Source: St. Joseph Gazette-Herald, 16 April 1901, p. 4
FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MALPRACTICE
Case of Dr. Pentz of This City Dismissed at Maysville
The case of Dr. W. E. Pentz of this city, charged with criminal malpractice in the case of Miss Josephine Allen, was dismissed at Maysville, Thursday, after the witnesses for the state had been heard. The witnesses for the defense were not put on the stand. Miss Allen's home was in Union Star. She died in a hospital in this city last spring as the results [sic] of an alleged criminal operation. Dr. Pentz, who was at the time located in Union Star, was arrested. The state dismissed its case after an alleged dying statement of Miss Allen was ruled out. About forty witnesses were subpoenaed. Doctors William F. Schmid, T. E. Potter, W. S. Elam and Bansbach, and George Begole were among the witnesses.
Source: St. Joseph Gazette-Herald, 25 October 1901, p. 5