Person Page - 538

Colonel, 15th Foot, later the East Yorkshire Regiment.
He had entered military service as an ensign, by purchase, on 16 February 1838. Promoted Lieutenant by purchase, 18 September 1840; appointed Adjutant, 16 May 1845; promoted Captain, by purchase, 28 June 1850; Major (without purchase) on 12 November 1858 vice Mansergh who had been dismissed the service by the sentence of a General Court Martial. On 1 April 1866 he was promoted Lt. Colonel on half pay.⁶

SEWELL Arthur J 1 Lt NY B-NY 19 Mar 25 (NCUS Armor 1 lt 22 Sep 50 0960091)--Enl (USNR 22 Feb 43 active 7 Aug 43 to 29 Apr 46) 2 It Inf 15 Dec 47 Cav 4 Jan 50 1 lt 24 Jan 50.⁴

THE SENSATION OF the week in New Britain has been the resignation of the matron of the New Britain hospital, Miss C. Adelaide Sewell. This is, strange to say, not the culmination of the recent allopath vs. homeopath troubles, nor in any way connected with them. The resignation was the result of an attempt to aid a friend, which attempt ended badly and the facts became public.
Miss Sewell has been with the New Britain hospital somewhere about a year and a half. She came from Toronto, Can., at the time the hospital was opened in the autumn of ’98, and has since been in charge. She has given good satisfaction, though the allopaths claimed that she, being educated on homeopathic lines, sided with the homeopaths in the troubles between the two schools.
Last February there came to the hospital from Springfield, Mass., a new nurse, a “Miss Bliss.” She was a bright young woman of prepossessing ways, and immediately gained favor with the attending physicians for her skill and cleverness in handling patients.
Miss Sewell introduced her as a friend and there was no comment other than that favorable to “Miss Bliss.” But locked in the hearts of thfese two women was a secret which has now come out and made the situation of both very uncomfortable.
It seems, as Miss Sewell explains, that “Miss Bliss” was really Mrs. Peter Markey of Springfield, and. that her husband is now in the Massachusetts city. He and his wife did not care to go to housekeeping immediately after their marriage and Miss Sewell helped them out by obtaining her a position in New Britain. When circumstances made it best it was "Miss Bliss’ ” idea — and Miss Sewell’s — that she quietly leave and go to her husband in Springfield.
Consequently, and owing to the fact that the New Britain hospital, like all such institutions, has a rule barring married nurses, the fact that “Miss Bliss” was really Mrs. Markey was concealed from the hospital directors.
Everything went on smoothly, and but for the vagaries of nature, all would have been well. The time was approaching when “Miss Bliss” would leave the hospital of necessity. But the first part of week before last, she was in attendance upon an operation which was very unpleasant, and on Friday of that week the unexpected happened.
Drs. E. P. Swasey and Herman Strosser were hurriedly but quietly called in, and in the attic of the hospital occurred the birth into this world of an infant whose eyes were closed in death before they had opened in this world. The doctors were pledged to secrecy and later in the night an undertaker was called and the body of the infant was quietly taken to Fairview cemetery.
Thus far all was well. And for a short time it seemed likely that the untimely arrival of the infant could be kept a secret. The attending physicians attended to the death and burial certificates. Whether they notified Medical Examiner Lyons of the matter is not known, but it is likely that they did. He knew of it, anyway, but has refused to talk to newspaper men about it
On Saturday night the executive committee of the hospital held a meeting. The rumors which were afloat had reached their ears and they proposed to discuss the matter. Miss Sewell learned of this meeting and knew that for her deception her resignation would likely be asked.
Therefore, she forestalled the hospital managers, and, almost before they knew what was happening, she had her resignation before them. They accepted it. She will remain until they choose her successor.
When Coroner Taintor learned of what had occurred, he promptly called upon Medical Examiner Lyons with a view to an investigation, but after a few words with the medical examiner he dropped the matter. Neither will talk.
During the last week, there have been many ugly rumors about to the effect that the father of this child was a New Britain doctor and that Miss Sewell was protecting her friend in wrongdoing, if not in crime. But there seems little, if any, foundation for such. Mrs. Markey will return to Springfield when able. Bridgeport Herald, 13 May 1900.³

University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 1864; McGill University, 1869; M.R.C.P., Edinburgh; colonel and surgeon to the Royal Canadian Artillery, retired, with active service during the Riel rebellion in 1885; principal medical officer of the Quebec District; a governor of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Quebec; died at his home in Quebec, December 1, from pneumonia, aged 68. He was given a military funeral and the pallbearers were selected from the officers of the permanent and volunteer corps.⁸