The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-08
THE DE VERNON INQUEST.

l. LIE LLNlNO1N 14NAO 1-0
HOW POWERS WELDED THE BED sLAT-TH1
VICTIM POUNDED WHILE BEING HELD DOWN
BY ANOTHER ATTENDANT.
Coroner Kessler continued the inquest IN the
case OF Gustave de Vernon at the Coroners' ONCE
yesterday. The prisoner, Powers, was early on
hand, attended oy his counsel, william +. Howe.
He appeared very uneasy during the entire pro.
ceedlngs, ana evidently did not relish 70 any very
great extent the web OF evidence the various wit
nesses wound about him. II the evidence mus
Iar adduced in regard TO this mans yloence to-
ward the unfortunate Frenchman Is substantiated
IN court his punishment should be severe indeed
for rarely mas a more outrageous case or brutality
been brought to the notIce OF the authorities be
ia a large, powerfully built fellow. capable OF
handling with almost any average man, bus
seems TO have developed a remarkable
FoNDNEss FOR BED STATS
as weapon oil offence.
DR.. Alexander f. Mcdonald was the first Wit
ness examined, and testified as folows:-l reside
on Wards Island; am Resident Physician 81 the
Insane Asylum remembered tue man De Vernon
on his arrival; he was very mucn excteu, and
gave evidence OF acute mania; the medical ex-
animation was made by my assistant, Dr. Herman,
who transcribed 1t upon the minute book; next
morning / examined the patient in bed; there
were bruises and marks OF violence on tue lett
shoulder ana on the nip; my assistant reported
to me that he (the patiently had been beaten; am
satisfied the patient had no characteristic slgns
OF symptoms OF pneumonia when ne came 10 the
asylum; II
A Man WAS BEATEN
ia the manner lie Is said TO nave been, and had
bronchitis at The time, lt would cause pneumonia;
there is rule to the effect that IN cases OF vlo-
lence on tue part OF patient the attendant must
cah for assistance sufficient 10 restrain the
patent; no violence is allowed under any clrcum.
stances on the part or the attendants.
George Won Harmon. the keeper alluded to in the
report of yesterdays proceedings, was now
culled:--I had nothing TO DO with the deceased
until the mornlng OF the 25rn, when the attend
ant having nlm IN charge came rom ms ward
(d) to NINE aud asked Tor assistance, saying Dc
vernon vas Wild ana violent; wens 10 tue cell
and tue man INSIDE; Powers was OUTSIDE; de
Vernon was yery Wild ana had an iron oar, watch
ne nad wrencncu from tue window, IN MS handsi
asked Powers why ne dld not put the man unaef
restraint, and nc said, ''on no." then rushed
INTO the room anu caught the patient al ounu the
body, when ne dropped the bar; / threw aim TO
tne moor; there was about three incnes Of straw
on the fioor; called Powers BRING q strait
jacket but nc brought board or pieces OF BOARD
instead and began
STRIKING THE MAN
as hard as he could; ne MI him, should say, ten
or twelve times anu aud not heed my request to
stop; De Vernon was laying quiet when Powers
came into the CELL Powers uld not hit the man Ia
sell-aeIence, ior was holding tue man down.
was exhibited. lt proved 10 be 4 bed Stat saoous
four leeE long. Que inch tack aud three incnes
wlde-a very formidable weapon.
Mnile Powers was pounding the patient, con.
Lnueu the Witness another attendant Drought u
stralLJa cKet Whicn We put on soon after. DIT.
Herman came 70 NE anu told me to take the
paIlenl from ward Ii to my ward. G / reused 20
take ann unt tue doctor should have nrst exam
ined hlln ana noted tue injuries ne had received
at tue hands oi Powers; he was examined; when
got nlm u my ward ne lag down and While rub
Dug MS bruises Kept saying,
ION, ny GOD Ny GOD ~
he appeared TO De suffering greatly rom his In.
furfa ma futsu
tae stralt-iacxet on MN wnen took charge or
him; nc remained quiet all the Tine he was with
me 4 had 10 trOuOle With nun; he Was not vloens
at ali wlLn NE; ne began sinAlng rapidly on tue
mornlng OF tue 29th, ana wnen tue doc or came
he mad the patient removed TO the hospital, 30
that 1 saw nothing OF MIN again until ne dledi
Powers struck he patient wlta the edge Of tue
board, hoidlng IL IA poth hanus au1 sttAihg VILE
All his strength.
RoUert Kennedy, watchman at the asylum
testlned:-Jn the morning 81 tue 25th was going
tbroGgn Ward II, about i've O'CLOCK wnen
heard a NOISE ~ the cell occupied ~ De vermont
window; opened the door 70 Try 70 que MIN,
wnen he tn ew piece d iron az me, cutting nv
mead little; eit tue cell quite suddenly; the
next nlgnE | went 10 his cell again and
He WAS NOISY;
know nothing mgre about the case.
Thomas Coanely, an attendant In ward II,
was sworn:- dld not see the sculle In the cell
between DE Vernon, Won hannon and Powers;
went ia tue cell just alter the iussi whenever
was KIND 10 MN could 40 anything with MN ne
was lncAned 10 De violent, uut a!wais yielded To
EInd treatment; whenever he became noisy or
restless ana went 70 hlm lie would calm down
very quickly; Just alter ne MT Kennedy with tne
piece 81 iron went TO his cell ana quoted him
with out little dlnculty. Inc witness next de-
scri0eu the scene n the patents ceh al the tune
he was ripping up the iron bars from tne window,
but as nc was a0sent nc the Narden's ofnce dur
ing the time Powers was using the bed slat ne
could not testify 70 any violence lie said, now
ever, that ne aeafd Van Harmon tell DR.. klernan
POWERS HIT DE VERNON
Mrs. De Vernon, the vile OF the deceased, was
called ana tessned:-I 1--we AT NO 1913 Blocker
street; arrived IA this country ABOUT two weeks
ago the steamer Canaua, i arrived on tue 20