National Republican., 1878-11-15
The Death Of George ZeigIer.

An Investigation into the cause Of the death
of George Zeigler, which occurred at the Re.
form School the 10th instant, was held yester.
day. George Xeiglcr was the lad interested in
the hdjeas corpus case which was pending for
q long time before Justice Humphreys, and
the proceedings in which were interrupted by
his death. Zcigler was remanded from his
mothers custody back to the Reform School,
and It was charged that his death, which oc.
Cured shortly aftcrward, wal caused by
neglect on the part of the officers Of the iusti.
tuition. BY invitation of the board of trustees
a committee of dsintcrcstcd citizens, consist.
ing of Mrssrs. John A. Baker, Thomas L.
Hume :. Mast, aud William Balantync, were
present yesterday aud assisted In the exam.
inatiOn Of witnesses.
The trustees OF the institution in attend.
ance were Messrs. A. J. Falls, n. W. BuTchcll,
II. A. willard DR.. Richard Joseph, and J. +.
Carpenter.
THE EXAMINATION.
The first witness called was DIR. c. A. Wells,
the attending physician at tho school. lie
testified that he attended George Zeigler dur
ing his last illness. lie was suffering with ma.
lignant scarlet fever Witness first saw him
last Saturday, between one and two o'clock.
Did not think ut the time that 1t would be
more than an ordinary case. Mr.. Howe stated
to witness that he noticed tho boy at the break
iast.tahle. lie said he did not feel well aud
he took him upstairs to his room. Witness
proposed sending him to the hospital, but Mr..
Howe objected, saying 1t would he better for
| him to remain in the building, so that he could
| look after him. About nine o'clock last Satur-
day night witness was sent for by Mr.. Howe,
| who said that Zcigler was worse Witness an
| swcred the call ~ soon as possible, but saw at
u glance that the patient would not live. 1t
had been stated that the boy died Of brain
fever This was not so. The cause of his
| death was malignant scarlet fever. There was
a congestion Of the brain, supcrinduced by the
fever; but it could not be called brain fever.
The hoy prior to his death was properly and
we'll clad.
Tie witness was cross.cxamned by Messrs.
Ballantyne Baker and Hume, and stated that
Ieisler, when taken sick, was put into n room
| separate fTcm the other boys. Every care and
attention possible was given him. Had he
| been at home the result OF his Illness would
not have been different. Witness had been d.
| rccted by the trustees to see that the inmates
| Of the institution had the best medical treat.
mcnt. lie was employed at the School as he
would he in any private family. lie made his
calls and was paid for them Had treated the
inmates Of the Reform School for nearly five
| years, and In that timo had only lost four pa
ticmts-two by scarlet fever, one by dropsy,
and one by mGlarial fever. The examination
|
| that everything possible for q physician to do
had been carried ont.
| now GEORG ENTERED THE SCHOOL.
| The next witness called was u Mrs. Steele,
who stated that she went with Mrs. Zeiglcr to
soc Mr. Howe and get her hoy into the school.
Mrs. Zciglcr stated that George was incorri-
gi L. and She wanted him taken caro- of until
he was twrmty-Onc years Of age. Tho rules of
the institution were fully explained to Mrs,
Xriglrr aud she expressed herself fully salts
fed with them. Mis-. Zeiglcr said at the time
(D, cenber Il, ls77) that George was niue
years old. Witness was presCnt'whCn the boy
left his mother lie was good naturcd and
seemed pleased at the idea Of going to the
school. Nothing further of Importance was
cIiCitcd by the exaniuation of tho witness and
| she was oACuscd.
Mr.. +. W. Howe. superintendent of the Re-
form School, was next called. lie stated that
since the school was established In January,
1870. $40 boys had been under his supervision.
In that time five had died, one by drowning Rld
four by disease.
During tho winter the boys clothing were
here exhibited and examined by the mcmbers
Of the committee, all of whom expressed them
selves perfectly satisfied that they were heavy
enough for winter. Witness stated further
that Zeiglcr was taken sick last Saturday
morning. His testimony on this point was
cOrroborative of Dr. Wells, and need not be
given. During Zeiglcr's sickness he was at
tended by witness, his wife, Miss Julia Nor
gan, one Of the teachers, and
CLAD ~ HEAVY wOOLES SUITS
aud in summer cotton. When George Zeigler
Cnmo back to the school, October %, he wore Il
dark suit Of clothes. Tho pants wcrc knee
pants. Ills underclothing was a light canton
Iamnel shirt and pair of drawers. His stock.
: ings were cotton and very thin. These were
taken of him and heavy woolen socks substi-
tutcd. lie was clothed in the suit worn by the
other inmates, aud had long pants. The clothes
were one dfthe eChambermaid's. When the doctor
said George could not be cured witness sent a
carriage for his mother, and she came out and
staid with him until his death. Nothing was
left undonc. Had ho been witness son hC
could no, have received more attention. Mrs
Zeiger requested witness to save Georges
good suit when he WIS sent hack 10 school, rs
he might soil them. They would have been
taken of him anyhow as the rules Of the
school provide that all the inmates shall dress
alike. After the change tho boy was more
warmly clad than before. Witness had three
children sick now with scarlet fever whom Dr.
Wells was attending. They were treated in
the same manner that George was
| Mrs. Howe, the next Witness substautiated
the testimony of her husband in regard to tn,
texture Of the clothing and the attention shown
the boy.
NOT ovERwoRKED.
DR.. J. T. Graham, Overseer OF the workshop
was next called. Ills evidence showed tha
the Xcigler boy worked two weeks at chair
! Gaming and in that time finished three chairs
The usual task for new boy was one chair
day but is George was not bad boy" il,
| favored him somewhat. lie was not exposed
more than the other boys either In or out U
the shop; was not oycItaskCd, but on the con
. traiy was allowed to have his own way. From
I hrs knOwedge he was satisfied that the boy
was properly treated and warmly clad. Th,
work shop WAS heated by steam during til,
period that George worked in it..
Tho examination of this witness closed tn,
case, hut the visiting committee were asked t,
call other witnesses il they thought 1t ncces
sary. They decided, however, that they ha,
heaId enough and presented the following re
port as indicative Of their opinion.
} THE REPORT.
We the subsCrlbcrs having, on the lIth day 0
NuNCmLur, $50. by imN iulun Of the board OF trus
tees oI The IlitCd rtEle- Reform school ATTENDED
c an examination into the cause Of the death 0
10 hcOTge ZCg,CT a. lhAl Institution Oh the lulh Inst
a after II D-luugh and exhaustive investigation O
y he matter, End that this boy received the Sam
= care aid attention bestowed upon all other In
/ luucr Of H., IsiituliOni that he wa furnished
!. with mHth warmer clothing than that with WEiC!
lie Wss tHnlHlcl when HdmiUcd into the iu.I,u
luu' tia! lie Iv,Gyrd proper medical attention
ud um'ug Unl that his death wus caused b.
u s-aIiel Fever IN the u''! uulgIULt uTH, uui wa
, Of ,uy q! 'hG OttCCla ul this institution.