The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-05
DEFYING MEDICAL LAWS.

THOMAS SHIELDS LIVING FOR TWO WEEKS
WITH HOLE IN HIS BEAM FOUR INCHES
DEEp--How WAS lie INJURED?
The case OF Thomas Shields, who was Injured In tht
brain August "a last and who lies in critica
condition at his residence, No. So Glnscvoost street
is difficult puzzle police and the physicians
been consulted. rho latter declare II is an
instance OF remarkable vitality, tho wound from
winch he suffers would have been immediate death TO
ninety nine persons out OF hundred, and the police
of the Sixteenth precinct are at their Wits ends Tor
single Glow as to his alleged assaIIauts
Shields Is about thirty-two years OF age, a carmau
In the employ Of John Mulferd, Nc. 235 West Fifty.
third street. On the evening Of August "a. IN com.
pany with two freuds named Charles Manning ana
John Hughes, he went on a drinking tour, aud after
midnight tho three turned up at an aic house ID
Eighteenth street, all under the ind renee OF liquor
Coming from this ale house Shields IL said to have
got into trouble with some unknown persons aud 70
have either fallen or been thrown to the sidewalk.
This part OF their nights experience s wrapped In
mystery, but cortain IL that Shields
IRON the sidewalk bleeding from wound
In his head Manning ana Hughes went with him
10 the Office Of DR.. Gyes, No. liz Ninth avenue,
where his wound was dressed. and the trienas then
separated Tor their homes. Next morning Shields
chain, which had been left with tho proprietor, an
OLD schooimate of hts.
On Monday Shields went 10 work AS usual, and con-
tnued I'LL Saturday, August 81, whom he visited DR..
and complained OF being SICK ana having pains IN MIS-
mead. He said nothing, however, about the wound
OF week before, ana tho doctor, hnding hm lever
isb, prescribed Tor him. Shields went home
wnere he has remained ever since. DR..
Jowslt visited him daily and Sunday last
the patient became paraiyzed on the right side
ace, entire len siac OF body. Salts
lied that the brain Affected tho doctor made In
quirlcs OF Shields mother, WOO remembered audins
IA lls sta n her In
lod HIM to examine tho patienrs head when he found
only little scab over the right tompie, and Shields
told him he mad laen on the sidewalk during she row
OF August "a Dr. Jewett determined on making .
furtner examination OF Shields mead ON Tuesday and
called In DR.. John 7. Kennedy, OF No. l07 East rwen.
ty-ninih street, and Dr. Qdnan, oil ST. vinccnt's Hos
pitaI. Tney made an lns,sioa over shs wound and
discovered hole IN the skull about quarter OF an
inoh IN diameter and peciectiy round.
THE BRAIN
One of tho ply scians had prooe, which placed
IN the aperture, aud Of It's own wcigh IL sank about
four inches INTO the BRAIN The doctors wore
tonished at the discovery nnd argued = must have
tanned sirsnuousiy that 10 pistol had been fred the
night OF the skirmsh and Tor fear oil cndangertno
his life the Physicians did no moro probing Lsn
precinct, ana Coroner woitman called to 81 Mr.
shields ante mortem stalemoni, Sst no was sDis
only TO remember the name OF Manning,
whom asked VINO was with him August "a
Yesterday morning DR.. Jcwott found tho patient ~
said h0 felt much better and had no int0nson Of
dying. At four O'Clock In the afternoon Coroner
NOlttuan calico 10 see ntms Uut tno most por.
sstent Efforts could caru nothing by which 70 d0t0r.
mine how Shields was wounded.
PuzxtIxu CASH
Captain Alairo has been endeavoring unravol the
mystery attending Shclds injuries, but thus far with
out SUCCESS The proprietor OF the ale house II
Eighteenth street says he don't rcmember
any disturbance In his saloon on the aighs
OF August "a. Charles Manning declares thAs
attacked Shields, and tue nght lasted
minute, WHOM Shields foil TO the sidewalk and tho
parties left. John Hughes says he remember
In Snf.,A Inn tnaAS nj
those concerned In tho bro may be accounted for
by the iAct al considerably under the ia-
nuence liquor, but the ponce seem TO think that
the wounded man and bis friends know more about
tho assaing party than they tell Manning
and Hughes said to have boon q tride
inconsistent in the versions OF The fracss
gwen by them TO different parties. Dr..
Gyies, who dressed Shields' wound Immediately
after It's infection, said the three friends into
his ONCE under tho influence OF liquor, but shields
told The doctor no had boon In a little aud had
.'got OF H.. From this the doctor inferred
that Shields meant no had been struck. The wound
was liberated ons but apparently slight, and when
10 was dressed Shields was sober enough TO inquire
the charge and count out the sum from q number oil
balls he had In ms pocket.
DIR. Jevstt Is still impressed with tho idea that toe
wound was caused by a pistol shot He says u has
precisely that appearance; but not ny pistol then
II must have been caused Dy some sharp insrumene
such an Ice pick. Shields Obtained hat from ~.
Gyies oice, having lost his own IL that one can bo
found II may throw some little light on what Is nov
mysterious accident or crime.