The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-07-06
lambs Reply.
WASHINGTON, July 8, 1882.
Drs. Scorers and Haytigaa:

DTs. SOlrerS and UaIti0aa.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter OF this date Is re.
ceiyed. The unsigned agreement made be-
tween Col Corkhill and DR.. Hicks was accepted
by me out of courtesy 10 Col. Corkhill l In.
terpreted 1t then rs do now and as II has
been by others, to mean no more than to pro.
vide Tor tho custody of tho brain. | was In.
formed by DR.. Hicks that II this agreement,
made without my knowledge after had boon
selected by both him aud DR.. Young, and
handed to mo at tho time of the examination,
should hamper me In any way, he did not con-
slider 1t binding. The provisions OF the agree.
ment rs understood Them have so far been
fulfilled, and nothing remains but TO notify
Colonel Corkhill and DR.. Hicks when tho mi.
croscopical preparations arc ready. There
certainly can DO no doubt In your minds rs
to my understanding OF this question,
since have several times assured
you that did not regard you MS
ofncially connected with tho autopsy or report,
except so far as tho charge OF tho brain was
concerned. have consulted medical mon OF
this city and Of Philadelphia and OF the Army,
and am assured that my position IS correct.
The report by this time In print. The editor
OF tho journal is aware OF tho circumstance.
must decline 10 give up tho notes OF the
autopsy.
Respectfully, d. 8. LAMB.
what Colonel COrIshiIi Says.
Tho Post this morning publishes tho follow.
ing interview with Colonel Corkhill:
~ am very 10th to say anything ON this sub.
1ect. Dr.. Lambs letter, which you have shown
me, containing the statement that he has al
of the examination OF Guiteau's brain Is
great surprise to me. Until SEQ that publlca
tion cannot believe that DR.. Lamb has 30 far
violated the trust and confidence reposcd In
kind. He certainly had no au.
thority from me nor from any person
has assumed to do what he had no right to un.
dertake. The history of this matter Ia very sim
pie. had received from a specialist, Dr.
Beard, OF New York, printed circular that he
Npi I'M laI IN MIR l IN fa
President for determination OF Guiteau's
brain, after first getting suspension OF tho
sentence for that purpose. 1pald no attention
from DR.. Gray, OF Utica, N. "; DR..
Kempster, OF Wisconsin; Dr.. Calender,
q Memphis DR.; Macponald, OF New
saying that If any autopsy was made 1t should
be done by tho best medical talent In the
country. For tho purpose OF security asked
DR.. Macdonald TO be In attendance at the time
OF tho execution. / learned Indirectly tho
day before tho execution took place that this
man Beard, who had been here for several
days, had Issued a request 10 various sur
ge0ns OF the Army to be present at the autopsy
OF the body OF Guiteau and the examination
OF his brain.
"on tho night previous to the execution,
some time after midnight, ] drove to the jail
and saw Dr. Hicks, who2informed me that no
had obtained from Mrs. Scoyllle and John W.
Guiteau REIMBURSEMENT of their rights to
the body. He also showed mo what purported
TO be n will OF tho assassin, assigning to DR.,
Hicks the disposition OF his body. l asked
DR.. Hicks for u list OF tho names OF tho persons
invited TO the autopsy, This was given
two exceptions, there were mono who
had not expressed an opinion that
Guiteau was insane and certainly none who
were competent TO make microscopic exam.
ination OF the brain. Iexplained TO Dr. Hicks
tho situation, and told him that had asked
Dr.. Macdonald to come here to prevent Just
such scheme as was being SGT In motion by
these men. DR.. Hicks colncided In my View
OF the matter at once, and asked DR.. MacDon-
aid, who was with u.s. TO take charge OF the
body and give such directions as would satisfy
thelmedical profession OF tho country.
"Dr. Macdonald declined, as he had already
on tho witness stand expressed an opinion
upon tho insanity OF Guiteau, and stated
further that 1t would DO impossible to make
thing then; that IL would require care and
time TO mako such an examination properly
that In the meantime the brain could be taken
out by disinterested parties and preserved
cal profession OF the country would
make such an examination as would be
acceptable as well as authoritative and con,
elusive. Dr. Hicks agreed 20 this In every
particular. DR.. Macdonald thon first sug
| gestcd Dr. y. H. Sewers as II man who had
| large experience In matters OF this kind. |
| told Dr.. Hicks knew DR.. Sewers well; that ha
| was man OF standing In his profession, and
| thht his selection would meet with my entire
| approval. DR.. Sewers was tho first man agreed
| upon between DR., Hicks and myself
"rho next suggestion made by DR.. Hicks was
| that Dr. Lamb, having boon already requested
| by DR.. Young, tho Jail physician, 10 DO pres
| ent with his instruments aud assist In the au
| topsy might properly DO selected II there were
no objections TO him rs a medical man, re-
| Piled that DR.. Lamb was wholly satisfactory
| 10 me, That no had been selected 10 make an
autopsy on tho body OF President Garfield, and