The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-10

FIXING THE RESPONSIBILITY.

INQUEST ON TIE INSANE WOMEN VINO DIED
on DLAcKwELLs ISLAND from AN OVER
DOSE OF LoEofoRM-vERDIcT OF THE
JURY.
Coroner wotman, with his deputy, Or. Cushmqn,
and u jury empanclled TO inquire into the circum-
stances attending the death OF Julia Hogan and Mary
Jane Bracken Ut the Female Luuatc Asylum ON Black
Wells Island, May & proceeded to The Island yes
day morning to take the testimony Of tho ON.
cials OF the Institution and examine the drug
room where the insane patient, Anne Hannanan,
had procured the poison. The iury mad previously
viewed tho bodies the dcednouse attached Belle
vue Hospital On arriving at tfe island the jury cx-
amncd the drug room and IT'S surroundings while Dr.
S.rcw explained The rules governing the
Tho jury next proceeded TO large room the second
door IN the main building where the inquest was held.
THE TESTIMONY
The 1rst Witness called was Hugh IL. Hagan, the
druggist OF the asylum, who testified as ioo~s:-l
am Tho druggist OF the asylum, on Saturday morn
Ing, at eleven o'clock, Anne Hannahan, one oil tho
patients camo III Tor her ration OF alc usual; she
had in tho habit OF getting ration OF ale Tor
two months past amo uniting to ono pint pcr day,
which Is put up IN bottle; tie ration Is gwen
On INC re9aision ,,. OF ,ne hsil physiSal, ap
OF ale are placed on tho floor at the bottom 0! tho
counter; could not say whether the ale was handed
10 The patients; told Mr. Cassidy, my assistant, 10
hand It 10 them ana not think anything more OF u
until two O'Clock, when the cnloroiorm botto was
uaH0eu UdCk 70 me empty ny anne hanEAuau, VINO
said that had given her poison; asked Mr.. Cassidy
90 60 70 hall and tell the nurse; the next
heard about II was from DR.. Bowen, who sud
that therc was woman In state OF coma
went up and DR.. Bowen smciled her breath; she was
not q patient; we then went to hall and asked the
nurse about ~; Anne Hanuahan thcn told the nurse;
did not notice anything the matter with Anne Han
nahan when she brought back the bottle; am
tho habit vi leaving chiorotorm IN that place, put
tho bottle there Friday because tho stock bottle
full TO hold IL; had Iull knowledge that was
there; have boon in tue habit OF leaving drugs
n n | m
Several other Witnesses wero then examined.
Among them were David CASSIDY, Dr. Hogan's assist
ant, who testified that his duties were tho
bottles Of ale tor tho patients anu take them around
the different wards; Ellen Ray, tho nurse VINO de-
were suffering rou tho elects Of their fatal pstatons,
aud the physicians who had been called TO attend
Thorn. The testimony, however. disclosed no facts
which have not already appeared IN tho HERALD.
Deputy Coroner Cushman was also aad testified
TO having found during the autopsy which he had
made oil the bodies Of tao two women traces Of
sivc alcoholism and chloroiorm.
THE VERDICT.
Coroner Woltman hon charged the jury. who retired
and alter absence OF fifteen minutes returned with
the following verdict:-
"Wo conclude that Julia Hogan and Mary Janc
Brackcn came 10 their death from nn overdose Of
chlorOorm stolen from tho drug store connected
tho asylum by person or persons - US unknown.
Wc believe tho Institution 10 10 at faut IN allow ing
the patients 10 enter the drug store under any pro
tcncc at auy time, anu we approve OF the precau-
ticnts out OF tho drug store. We recommend
rule be strictly enforced hereafter We cersuro the
drug clerk Tor pl4c Ing poison within tho oil
uents entering Inc drug store"