The New York herald., 1879-09-08
DECAPITATED PAUPERS.

MYSTERIES OF HEAD CHoPPING AND BONE BOIL
ING, AS PRAcrIsED ON BLACKwELLs ISLAND
TO WHAT BASE USES THE POOR MAY RETURN.
"I won't turn the dead house into q butcher shop
If can help it, said Warden Vought. of the Aims
house on Backwells Island, to HERALD reporter
yesterday afternoon. II don't want to say much
about the afair-indeed, out of respect to the Com
missioners don't know that 1 ought to say any
thing-but this thing has annoyed me than
anything which has happened here in long time
For day two could scarcely sleep. was SO hor
rifed."
The affair referred to was the decapltation of two
aged paupers, who recently died in the Almshouse
by DR.. william stubenbord. the house physician
The Doctor among the graduates at the last
commencement Of the medical department of the
University Of the City OF New York. while his sub
jects Patrick Fitzpatrick aged sixty five years, and
Christopher Strub. aged eighty-fve years. for
long time inmates of the Almshouse. They died OF
natural causes on the 2lst Of August, and their
bodies were taken to the dead house preparatory to
removal to the Morgue. While awaiting removal
DR.. Stubenbord made autopsy Of the remains,
removing the skulls of both and boiling them in
kettle until they became two excellent specimens
of the human Uranium. The skulls may now be
in the Doctors Office. where the reporter had
look at them yesterday; but the fact of boiling two
venerable heads and then holding them up to in
spcction, does the grave digger in Hamlet. %
when he unearths the skull or poor Yorck, caused
a sensation of horror to spread itself over the
island and this sentiment was shared by the Warden
of the Almshouse. who Immediately preferred
charges against DIR. Stubenbord before the Commis-
sioners of Charities and Correction.
1.-THE doctors have certain rights under the law. 4"
the Warden said to the reporter. "but don't think
the law conters any such extraordinary privileges
upon them.
SECRETS or THE DIssEcrING ROOM.
subsequently the reporter met DR.. Stubenbord. a
mild appearing. mild mannered young fellow. who
looks exactly the opposite of a head-chopper and
boneboiler. When spoken to in regard the affair
| the Doctor showed no hesitation in conversing
about it, and. asking the reporter to his room,
brought from q secret corner the skulls OF the late
Fitzpatrick ana his fellow pauper, the venerable
strub. Then arranging his microscope. he revealed
to the reporters eye colors fine those OF the
spectrum analysis in fragment OF bone that MAS
once part of the aforesaid Strub
"Both of these men," he said. "died Of the same
| disease-cirrhosis OF the liver-a disease which
stains all the tissues of the body wanted to know
whether the bone was stained in the same way"
"You can soc for yourself. Before boiling both
the skulls were stained just you this piece OF
bone. They were interesting cases. Strub especially.
| He old and had been for thirty years on
| the island. He had friends and somebody was
sure TO dissect him before he got to the Potter's
| Field did it myself. SO far removing the skull
Is concerned. in the interest of science and my
science acquits me of any wrong doing. The public.
suppose. would be Mortified at what after all, is
very ordinary processall doctors boil bones in pur-
suing their Investigations. Ididnt the heads into
caldron OF boiling water, ~ has been said but
placed the skulls in neat little covered kettle and
boiled them quietly and decently. Besides. is it to
be supposed would give my services and year Of
my time to the public for nothing; that would
make daily visits " $50 sick paupers and be liable
to be called out of bed at any hour OF the night
by any of the 200 inmates OF this institution,
If was not to have facilities to learn something
The by-play at this point i'll the conversation need
not be explained.
"What kind Of head are you going to put over
thisY the Doctor passing his hief
| his lips.
| 81 have nothing to do with heads" the reporter
| answered II carry only the body of the article to
| the HERALD"
The Doctor accompanied the reporter to the boat
landing. whore Captain Taylor, the famous East
River boatman. waiting. Captain Taylor al
though he had waited long time still IN good
humor. and did not even talk of doubling his
| charges.
III say" he remarked he pulled against the
tide. III heard all about IL. They've taken boil
| ing the paupers here Il that young chap the
fellow that's got furnace on the other side of the
| islandY'