The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-16
POLICE D0INGS EXAMINED.
MR. JOSEPH HEJL's DEATH IN THE Ell
BRIDGE STREET STATION.
A Man with n Fractured skuIi Committed to
Cen-The Police Averring that he was
Drunk, ard Others that he was Sober.

Ceii-The Police Averring that he was
Drunk, and Others that he was Sober.
Coroner Ellinger began the inquest yes
terday in regard to the death OF Joseph He'll Of
81 Eldridge street. who. falling from his truck
In the Bowery. on Thursday the 81 inst, his
skull being fractured, was taken to the Eldridge
street police station, where he died. Previous
to taking testimony the Coroner informed the
jury that He'll was an exemplary husband and
father. and temperate and Industrious citizen.
Mr.. Heil's widow sat in the examination room,
with her little boy and girl clinging to her
skirts.
Deputy Coroner Goldsmith testified that Hes
denih resulted from n fracture OF the skull. ex-
tending TO the base Of the skull.
Officer Albert l.. Robbins testified that while
on his post on the east side of the Bowery. Mt
about c. o'clock on the afternoon Of tho 81
inst. n gentleman said. Officer. thero Is man
on the opposite side Of the way that seems to bo
drunk. You had better sec to him." The officer
crossed the street and found Mr.. IIcl lying in
the street about two feet from the curb stone
H. was lying on his side and was conscious
hut spoke incohcrcntly. There was a strong
odor of liquor on his breath. Some ono I'm the
crowd said that Mr. Hcn had fallen from his
truck which was standing few feet away. Mr.
He'll said: Onicrr don't take me in: let mo 10
Hcil TO the truck, and held him down. On the
way TO- the police station Mr. He'll lay sti on
the truck. continuously pleading to be allowed
to 90 ONO. He admitted that he had heon
drinking When the truck reached the station
Omecr Robbins helped Mr.. Hell t. get down
He'll walked like IN intoxicated man Tho ofi-
ccr charged that Mr.. He'll was intoxicaicd. BY
the Scrgcants direction he lOillccr knubnsl
and poorman Burbank examined NJ. Hell. but
touni no imurirs Then lie and the doOrman
Doorman Edward f. Burbank testified that
ON 'er Robbins took Mr.. Hell 10 the desk Of the
Eldrdse street station at about "a o'clock. and
that when Mr.. He'll first entered the station he
walked erect. but that thu heat Of The great
stove seemed to wcaken him Mr.. Hoirs breath
uiiicer about whose name hc il uncertain. car
ried Mr. Hei down the stairway leading to the
Of a cell There is narrow wooden
bench on ono side OF each Of the cells
IN nut the station s1' is rgnG gsGRms to
70 roll from It on the floor Ten minutes later
b. lDo9rmgn ,Burbankl put a, mat under Mr.
ihis hut W Mr Hei di' not Is speak i Twrnty & min MIN
utes aiterward he found Mr.. He'll vomiting. lie
there Tor about hftcen minutes. He made sev. sew
eral other visits to MIR Heil's cell. In the last
Of them hc found Mr, He'll breathing stertQ-
rou-ly. He shook Mr. Hell. but the latter only
mumblel some words that We're unintrllgihle
He felt Mr.. Heil's pulse. 1t was very feeble
Ing him 10 watch No desk. went to Mr. meil's
cell. soon Doorman Moore relieved him. Door
sl him, lie yDcorman Burbank then went to
Mr., Heils cell. and Sergt. Chrystic, directed him
and another officer to take Mr. He'll into the
mat under Mr.. Heis head Sergt. Chrystie
then returned 10 the desk, as he said, to tele;;
graph for the police surgeon. Mr.. He'll uttered
a deep Groan and his breathing was NO longer
Sergeant William II. Chrystie testified tina, he
fr.fs sa ~ Mr ~ ~ hafprA a I,4sk hQ.
tween nnicer RobNins and noorman Burbank at
about T., o'clock. There wes c9nsdersble con
fusion in the Office as the roll OF the officers re-
turning from the afternoon posts wns being
called. Mr.: He'll grasped the rail and was as
limp as n drunken man. He answered every
question accurately. frequently in,erp9sng the
request 10 ~ allowed T. 90 homo. Ohicer Rob:
he answered. ~ You know how i is,yoursch "
Then Oncer Ro' bins said that NJ, He'll light
| have fallen from hi7 truck. Mr. Hell thereupon
| side the rail INK and directed Oncer Robbins and
Ro92rman n Burbank 70 ascertain as. iti whether NJ
cations that he hid been. He Sergeant Chrys. rvs
tiel smet liquor on Mr.. Heils breath. IL is n
rule for the government Of police scrgeants
that an insenslble or wounded person must be
taken into the officers sitting room Of tho sta
tion and kelt there until the police surgeon ar
riVes. A. Mr. Hell did not seem Unconscious III
Erant Chry-tcl ordered Doornan Burbank 10
lock him up. :, II, Serg,ant Chrystiei then sent
ono should take charge Of the truck. Hollis
brother sQmp. luf did nsk his lrDf lrr
Here Indignant chances were exchanged hy Mr.
Hollis reiativ.sl IN hour later he returned
and asked NJ what hour in tho morning h :
brother would hetaknn 10 court ' If he h,l
nHkrd L. soc his brother" sergeant CGr,stii'
continued. would hav,. prrnl'itri hin, l., 10
$50. / cannot co down 10 liz. ,,.lls py-nlf with
| ont tle do rnau"
" Ihrn. ." Coroner I'hncer innuirol wnriniv
whom a man is locked ip in "A csl n, "A l',,ic,,
station .n,Of III, rrlAilV.', or lis couI.sl cai,
SEE himY'
That's tho rule. sir"
" i.y-l with the permission Of the Off ,er
AT tin d..k -
P5iire Surgeon s. X. LYONS testified that ho
| found Mr. Hell lying in Nh, corridor .f tho
coils lead The holy WIS still warm There
nrr POINTS of similarity in rn.es OF drunken
moss ANA fracture. of th. skull that may uislenl
| n l.yuinu lh.y are str riur1u. brrnihiny ih..
nll,.rnil,c t pupils Of tn. eyrs. auI Vom.
itin. The diii.r.n - between Il case II deep
| drunkenness, and of typhoid fever at the h.'-
| ginning Il the latter ~ not readily percetthle
Fran .- j. Hail of Hall & stephens mattrrsS
and hcliing manufacturers of 2OG Canal street
testified TINT Mr. II ia had been Ia the firm ;
employ for more than u year He was an eX-
crlfent employee. attending to his duty faith
fuly and never losing an instant on account oi
| intcmprtance. He drank only three glasses oi
| beer according to hi, Mr. Halls knowlrdl:r in
| the time tnat hn was employed hy tho firm. Mr.
| Heil drove 10 Harlem with Il lund Of bedding
and furniture on the morning Of the 81
inst returning To the store shortly after
,',.o.k H., tvl. th., ,,arf..,tl, -,l.r H.. IL