The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-07
THE AUTOPSY ON GUrTEAv.
An Unpleasant Scandal Ariscn--Drs. sowcr.
and Hartigan Charge Dr- Lamb with
Something Like Sharp Practioe Upon
Them.

Something Like Sharp Practice Upon
Them.
WASHINGTON, July sit seems that there
is now 10 be a scandal in connection with
the autopsy Of Guiteau. DR.. Lamb. ac-
cording TO the reports Of his two associ-
ates, Drs. Sewers and Hartigan. has stolen
march upon them, taken possession Of all
the notes made during The autopsy, made
report upon the case. and sent Il TO med-
cal journal for publication. lie refuses TO
give Drs. Sewers and IIartigan access 10
the notes, or TO consider them in any ar-
thoritatve sense associated in the autopsy,
lie holds that they were merely selected as
cIiStodianS OF the brain OF Guiteau. Drs.
Sewers and iiartigan viii make what they
term majority report.
Or. Sewers was called upon by corrc-
spondent this evening and made the follow
ing statement Of the case DIR. Hartigan be-
ing present and acquicscing in IL:
"Dr. llartigsn and myself were i'm no
way connected with this case, except by &C.
Cident. I'm other words, wc did not seek
10 be connected with il. The first knew
that was 20 he in any way connected with
the case, or even that | would be expected
at the Jail, WAS upon the receipt Of the fol-
lowing telegram. written at the jail at
O'Clock the night previous 20 the execution,
and sent 10 my Office, where il was not re-
ceiyed until $3.50 the next morning:
"'Dr. 4. T. So,rerS. 1924 Nec Iork ave-
nue.:
wAgreement that YOU assist at autopsy
Guitcau to-day, Friday. BE at Jail 10
o'clock. Report 10 Or. Hicks.
GEORGE Il. CORKHILL."
Il went 10 the Jail nj hali-past IL O'Clock
on the day of the execution and saw DR..
Hich,. and received from him such In-
strucions as he wished observed in the
autopsy, which were embodied in the fol-
lowing
PROPOSITION WRITTEN,
1t the time:
"'The brain OF Gmtcau to Dc taken out
bv Or. Lamb. Dr. Sewers anil DR.. HaIti-
gan. in the presence Of the invited parties,
and put by them IN the necessary prepare
ton FOR preservation for microscopic exam
nation. and kept at the National Museum,
where such final examination shall be made
At the proper time by parties selected by
the Rev. Or. Hicks and Colonel Corkhill.
United States District attorney
After Witnessing the eXccueon and
conforming ~ nearly rs we could 10 the
proposition. we assisted in the autopsy and
Inspected all that was done with great care,
desiring TO report all that we saw and to
be careful to make no mistakes. The brain
was given to Ir. IIartgan TO take charge
Of until we met at the Museum. When
We arrived asked Or. Hartigan if tins
VA, the brain oi Guiteau. Being assured
10y him that il was, we proceeded TO make
further examination Of the brain with great
care aud caution. such examination was
completed about O'Clock that evening.
The following day
WE NET AT THE MUSEUM
Or. lIartisan and myself-tO examine the
notes taken OF the autopsy by'those whom
our committee had requested 10 do so.
The notes being IN crude condition, we
postponed the examination until copies
could he made. That swa> on Saturday.
On Monday we examined such notes rs
had been forwarded to us in a revised con-
diton. They embraced only very small
part OF the whole examination. such adj
ditional notes as were necessary Or. Lamb
promised to collect and have at the Museum
aS soon a. possible and TO inform us when
they arrived, 80 we could examine them
and formulate our report. The Fourth OF
july interviewed, and we expected DR..
Lamb would not he at his office, and thai
h. would not call upon us until to-day.
Instead Of receiving the notification to eX-
anime the revised notes, rs we had antici-
pated. we each received a copy OF the fol-
lowing
LETTER FROM DIR. LAMB:
".Aftcr consultation with number OF
physicians i'm regard to the proper inter-
;retation TO be put upon the memorandum
handed TO me Just before the autopsy,
have sent the reports to medical journal.
A. Won are aware your services are recog-
MED i'm the report
"Tbc words Il have sent the reports to
q medical journal were understood by
pr. Lamb. We were at loss TO know
how 10 interpret this action, and we awaited
tl,c return of the District Attorney, the
'appointing power TO inquire OF him II
th.~e UO,sihly could have been miSunder-
standing on our part n to our functions IN
thu matter. Colonel Corkhill having seen
a ilrntion IN the star OF certain so-called
report Of the autopsy, sent his servant TO
my Office and asked me 10 call at his rooms.
Dr. Hartigan and | called upon Colonel
CoIl.hill. after which we embodied the re-
suit of our interview in a
LETTER TO DR. LAMB,
q. follows:
COVE have called on the District Attor-
nev, AZ his request. TO ascertain what the
difficulties were about the rumOrs OF this
~o-called report. He stated TO Us That III
accordance with the positiY written agree
meut between Or. Hicks and himself, taiter
DIR. Macdonald declined 10 take charge OF
II on account OF motives Of delcacy, nc
having been witness ia the caSc,) it was
agreed that the autopsy should be made by
Drs. Sewers. Lamb, and Ilartigan Jointly,
and WAS at his che District Attorney )
suggestion that YOU were retained IN con-
iunction with us; that in his Judgment the
publication of any report that does not
meet fhe approval and is not signed ny all
three /, officially unauthorized and IiCiA-
zion OF the trust imposed on us, ana tlial
be earnestly protests against it. IL VIII dc-
stroy All The security the medical profession
al the country will have in the proposed
examination Of the BRAN, and Is an as
SUMPTION Of authority unauthorlzed ana
in inter yiolati IN Of his rights III lhe
premises. .. p ColoreI
Corkbill reissues us OF the correctness y,
our opinion. expressed 10 you WIN regard
70 our official connection with the autops!
Of Charles j. Guiteau, and If II be correct
a. stated i'm the evening papers ana III
vour letter 70 us, that copy OF the report
committed and signed by you alone has been
forv rded to medical journal for publ
c,tinn--as majority OF the committee,
coraIiy authorized and Responsible we re-
sn4ctfiIly request OF you all OF the hotos
tdler NJ The autopsy, TO enable us TO iorinu-
late a report such rs we are Wiiiihs - s'7"'
IN compliance with the trust iihposcV'
"This letter was forwarded ~ uigs't tho