The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-03
FIRST EDITION N
THE FIN AZ SCENE.
The Last Moments and Death of Mr..
Richar ardson-ViceP President Col
fax Over the Body of His
Dead Friend.


AHA. M. yesterday morning Mr.. Richardson
was very low. He had been unconscious since
9 o'clock in the evening, and had only been sus-
tanned by small doses of brandy through the
night. Between and o'clock in the morning
he became momentarily conscious and pro-
nounced the name of his wife, whom he saw
before him. In minute he was again uncon-
scious. His sufferings were evidently very
severe. He frequently gasped for breath and
gave utterance to low moans lie was exceed
ingly restless, and spasmodically turned himself
from one side to the other. His eyes became
fixed and glazed. At half-past he sank into
quiet stupor, and for some moments II deathlike
stiffness reigned in the room.
Occasionally the muiled tinkle from the bell
of street car was heard, followed by the dull
roaring of milk carts on Broadway. Shorty be-
fore o'clock the dying man again essayed to
turn himself, but in vain. He was again con-
scous. The bell of st. Paul's struck five. Be-
fore its last vibration had melted away, Mr..
Richardson drew last gasp and was corpse.
He died without apparent pain. As the end ap-
preached his friends had clustered about his
bedside, and their kind words solaced his last
moments. But small number of persons were
present. They were Mrs. Richardson, his son
1eander, Mr.. Junius Henri Browne, Colonel
Thomas w. Knox, and Doctors Swan and
Carter, Colonel Knox, and Mr.. Browne, the
latter of whom passed eighteen months in Rebel
prisons with Mr.. Richardson, were deeply
affected.
During the Morning.
The thin hands were folded over his breast,
the eyes and mouth were closed dampened
napkin was placed over the face, the coyerlet
was again drawn over the body, and everything
was then left until the arrival of the Coroner.
The news of the death of Mr.. Richardson was
early posted upon the bulletn-boards, and by 8
o'clock it was known throughout the city.
During the morning number OF journalists and
acquaintances called to take last look at the
countenance of their dead friend. The face
hardly looked natural. The eyes were sunken
and somewhat discolored. The skin had been
apparently rubbed from part OF the nose. The
aorH hnW trim and tha
massive broad forehead remained as it
during life.
vice-President CoIfnx.
About 10 A. M. Vice-President Colfax, who
had just arrived in the city, visited the Astor
House When told of Mr.. Richardson's death,
he was deeply affected He was conducted to
the parlor on the second floor, where he stood
for some moments looking at the corpse of his
friend.
'.He has terribly changed" he said, at last.
'Poor Richardson, should scarcely have known
him."
The face of the dead journalist was again
covered and the Vice-President left the room.
Soon afterward he visited Mrs. Richardson, and
had long interview with her. He offered her
his sympathy, and expressed his sincere sorrow
at the tragic ending of the life of his friend The
Rev. Mr.. Field of Boston also visited Mrs. Rich
ardson, and condoled with her. After viewing
the remains of Mr. Richardson he left the corri-
dor, apparently deeply moved.
The Post-mortem Examination.
The reporters and other friends present who
desired the privilege were then admitted and
after looking at the corpse and receiving the
names of the jurors, were compelled to retire.
The jury then re-entered, together with the
coroner and the doctors who were engaged to
make the autopsy. Drs Sayres, Ncelis, and
Shine were preoent but not participating. The
result of this examination is given herewith in
the testimony of DR.. Cushman, who, being duly
sworn, deposed as follows
bod2 9 S at e 9 tGe
O'Clock p. NJ. Thursday, December 2, 1869, assisted
by Drs. Il. c. tnnell }: c. Morton, O. \. swan, and
s. j. Clark; rigOr 8tOrtis was well marked; on eX
amining the body externally, we found gunshot
wound of the abdomen, five inches below the left
nipple and half inch to the left OF the medlan line of
the body. The direction of the wonnd was inward,
downward, and backward, aud to the left OF the
spinal column inch above the crest OF the ilium
this wound traversed through the left lobe Of the
liver, two inches from its anterior border through
the stomach, the ilium then passing along the lower
margin OF the left kidney to the point at which was
extracted. The abdominal and pelvic cavities con-
tanned about 80 ounces OF bloody tluid. Extensive
pertOnitis existed in the vicinity of the wound and
the surrounding tissues. quantity Of pus was
found in the mesenteTy; the lungs, heart and Kid
neys free from disease; the brain was healthy,
and weighed b4X ounces; DEATH in our opinion, was
caused by extensive peritons, the result OF gun
shot wound OF the abdomen.
The inquest was then adjourned until Monday,
at 10 A. NJ, when 1t will be continued in the
Coroner's Office, in the City Hall.
All the Doctors in ihe World Could Not have
Among the medical practitioners present were
Drs. Swan, Sayre, Holcombe, Finnell, Neais, OF
the Tombs Shine, Burrill, Smith, Clarke, Cush-
man, Morton, and another surgeon from one of
the universities of Great Britain, as also Mr..
Richardson brother of the deceased, Mr.. Stet-
son, Jr Mr.. Gilbert Mr.. Frohman, of the Tri-
bpe, and four or five others, intimate friends OF
the deceased. During the examination the sur
\ geons worked unconcernedly, and three of them
smoked incessantly. They were heartless,
and laughed and joked immoderately.
The weight of Mr.. Richardson's brain astonished
them. His Uranium was found to be unusually
thick, upon which DR.. Sayre said:-
mcfarland must have known that Richard
son had a thick skull, else he would have shot
him in the head"
The other doctors Uttered immoderately at
this remark. This unfeeling conversation was
deeply regretted by the friends of Mr.. Richard
son present
''Why did Mr.. Richardson die 2" asked Sun
reporter of one of the professional gentlemen
who was wiping his scalpel upon the body.
SWELL in plain English, replied the Doctor,
'the bali passed through the stomach, through
the liver, and through a small intestine. All the
doctors in the world could not have saved him.
He had eaten heartily but two hours before his
death, and his intestines were distended, SO that
the ball passed through one of them. The
stomach having been twice perforated, Its con-
tents ran into the abdominal cavity out of which
we have just taken quart ofextravasated blood
and matter. The only wonder is that the mar
has lived as long as he has"
The Burial Services.
The inquest was adjourned until Monday
The body will be removed this afternoon K
Franklin, Mass, for interment. II is said tina
the funeral services will be held In one of tn,
parlors of the Astor House prior to its removal
He simply left memorandum OF his wishes a
tba dianoaitinn NJ hia wit N