The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-18
A PHILADELPHIA CHEMIST DIES IN THE
TOMBS.

Somebody TO Blame-An investigation To
BE Had-Statement Of DR.. NeaIis.
case requiring explanation and thorough tnves-
tgation occurred at the Tombs about nine O'Clock
yesterday morning. On Thursday afternoon last
Officer Kelly, OF the Third precinct, took to the
Tombs q very respectable appearing man In a semi
conscious condition, and justice Hogan committed
nm to the care Of the Commissioners OF Cnari-
ties and Correction for treatment. DR.. Neals. the
prison physician, on seeing the man, told the
ofncer that was no place for him, he was liable
to de- and should have gone 10 the hospital. Being
threatened with a report to the Police Commission
ers. Oflcer Kelly said the police surgeon who had
seen the man. and not himself, was TO blame DIR.
Meals TOOK the pat lent under mis- care and treated
nace the as sas spe ms Ouaa n
possessi ON OF deceased showed that his name
was Carnes ?: Dl!lon or John D. Duggan,
chemist, OF 2 POT Carter street, Phtadelph la. He
also had two letters from his daughter and one ad-
dressed to him from the President Of the Jefferson
Medical College, Coroner schIrmer has taken
charge OF the case and to-day Deputy Coroner
Cushman will make post-m0rtem examination on
As the matter STANDS at present the police sur.
geOn who sent the dying man TO the T0mDs instead
the hospital comes IN % age snare 81
OF the patents case, who came under MS care and
not hurried him or to the TGmbS s. as -,
Doctor may have consistent and good
defence for the cause he pursued. but. at all
fore the Coroner and jury on Monday next: when
the Investigation Is TO take place. Should. IL be
DrOyed that Mr.. Dugqan's death was fastened by
neglect or incOmpetency on the part OF the police
doctor fearful responsibility viii be placed his
communicated with, and It Is believed they
will come on and claim the remains for
interment. DIR. Duggan was forty-eient years
of age and a native OF Ireland.
WHAT DIR. MEALS SAYS.
HERALD reporter called on DIR. Nealis mt the
Tombs yesterday. and obtained the following state
ment Of the case from him:-when l saw
him III, knew that he was IN no mt condition TO be
sent to the Tombs, and told the ocer that IN case
the man died should report MN. lie said in re-
ply he was only 0beylng ORDERS that the surgeon OF
man to the Tom6s he being destitute,
and he had no alternative but TO do as
he was told. The poor fellow the patient, saw
Instantly was In dying condition. His pulse was
almost gone and his extremlties were cold as death.
lie was so far gone that was unable to say what
disease he was suffering rom IL was only by the
unspartng use or stimulants he was kept alive so
long as he was. did all could TO help him, but of
course could be OF no use. II the man had been
sent TO hospital there Is some probability that he
might have ved; but to make q dying man
walk from the Third precinct station house to the
Tombs was criminal In The extreme. Cases
ike this are numerous. We have about
fifteen deaths at the Tombs every year, and they
are all OF a like nature. Persons are taken here
either dangerously Ill or dying, when the proper
place for them would be the hospital. have known
some TO be brought VINO died almost the moment
they entered the door. There Is blame somewhere,
have no power 10 refuse admission to such cases
when they are committed, but the proper place Tor
them Is in the hospital. -,
Al the Third precinct station house they allege
that the man was arrested for drunkenness anu
vagraDcy and that the proper course unuer ING
circumstances was adopted