The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-20
DEATH OF The PHILADELPHIA CHEMIST.
The Case Investigated-A Sergeant Of Police and
Police Surgeon orion Censured by the
Jury-The Remains Claimed.

Yesterday afternoon Coroner Schirmer took up
the case Of Mr. John D. Duggan, the Philadelphia
chemist who died In the Tombs on Saturday last.
Among the witnesses examined were Sergeant Cro-
Ius, OF the Third precinct ana Police Surgeon Ur-
ton, both Of whom saw deceased In the station
house. Their testimony was somewhat conflicting,
the Sergeant testyng that IN his opinion deceased
was much under the influence OF liquor at the time
he was brought In while DIR. Orion, who saw Dug
gan half an hour later, could discover no signs of
liquor on his patient. The great mistake was that
q more thorough diagnosis OF the case was not MADE
by both the Sergeant and surgeon, and the dying
man sent TO the hospital In an ambulance instead
OF compelling MIN to walk to the Tombs to be COM
mitted to o cell. Below viii be found q synopsis of
the evidence ana the verdict OF the Jury:-
Sergeant Cr0lius, Of the Third precinct. testified
that at two O'Clock on Thursday afternoon Oficer
Kelly brought In deceased on q charge of intoxica-
ton; he SAID his name was John d. Duggan; that
he had no home; said he had family, put did not
live with them; deceased was accused OF
having been drinking, and he SAID he had
and wanted some more; preferred some brandy
but none was furnished him; the man was taken
down stairs, staggered and appeared stupid from
the effects OF liquor; the sergeant soon went down
stairs and found deceased sitting Dy the stoves he
said he was sick and asked for liquor; none was
gwen and he refused coffee, which was offered him;
surgeon Orion was sent for, who on seeing Duggan
and believing such 10 be the case, Duggan was sent
TO the Tombs where he was committed to a
cell; have no doubt that deceased was under
the influence OF liquor at the time he was brought
IN have seen deceased under the influence OF liquor
before
Samuel Horton, M. D., Police Surgeon, testified
that re called to deceased at the Third pre.
clnct station ana was told by the Sergeant that de-
sitting by the stove; asked him where ne had been
the night previous, and he said he had stad the
station house and was there the night previous: de.
a
sometimes be resided In Philadelphia and some-
and asked him II he wanted something to eat; he
said he had plenty to eat and felt sick; then felt Of
his pulse and put his hand upon his chest;
found the action OF the heart was very feeble,
pulsatlon about eighty per minute; concluded
from the examination that the man was suffering
probably, Of phthisis and from exposure; then
told the sergeant that the man had Deen leading
me was e sni ~ me porU ana tnas
as they would not take MIN there, the man should
be sent to the care Of the Commissioners OF Cnar-
ties ana Correction; did not make the remark tnat
tue man was under the influence OF liquor; did not
know that the man would be sent to the Tombs;
might nave had q conversation relative to the
mode OF disposition OF SICK men with the Sergeant:
1t never occurred TO the Doctor that deceased was
under the influence OF liquor; md not question the
man regarding his sickness except as stated.
William I. Nealis, physician to the City Prison,
deposed that on Thursday afternoon he saw Officer
man In presence Of Oficer Kelly, and founa him
pulseess at the wrist, deathly pale. eyes SCI, and
great OllCulty In Dreaming, tOO OmCer Kelly tnat
the man was dying, and II the man died should
report MN: ne stated that he was only oDeying or
ders. and that the police surgeon should be report
ed; deceased was placed in padded cell, the best
In the prison, ana whtskey was given him I'LL he died.
which occurred about nine O'Clock A, M. on Friday,
deceased was committed under the name OF James
P. Dillon; did not smell any liquor the breath Of
deceased on admission.
Ofcer Kelly. OF the Third precinct testified that
he found deceased at the store No. l07 Murray
street apparently drunk or sick; Duggan said he
had been drinking, but was not drunk, but sick;
told him If ne was sick would not MAKE any
charge against him; deceased could not walk
further than Warren and Greenwich streets, when
o stretcher beng procured, ne was taken to the
station house; did not report the man drunk to
the Sergeant but as sick man; did not consider
him drunken man; after dinner was ordered by
the Sergeant TO take the man TO the Tombs and on
reaching the steps OF the T0mps mad to help de-
ceased in; Judge Hogan committed deceased to the
care OF the Commissioners OF Charities and Correc-
ton as homeless and destitute.
Joseph Cusnman, M. d., made p0st-mortcm ex-
animation on the body and found the internal
organs particularly the lungs and breast, much
diseased. In the Doctors opinion death was caused
by pneumonia and phthisis puImonalls
Surgeon vandewater, Of the Centre Street
Hospital was IN Court 70 testify that patients suffer-.