The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-25
A DOCTORS STORY.
How He Found the Body of His
Friend
On Disseeting Table, and Aept the
Secret six Years---Didn't
Want to spoil q
subject"

CHICAGO Jan. 25-The Times publishes
the following story: "a prominent phys-
clan found the body of one of his friends upon
the dissecting table in Hahnemann college
six years ago, and though he has continued to
be the physician of the mans family ever
since, he has never informed them of the fact,
while they, not knowing whether the man was
dead or alive, have regularly paid premiums
upon his insurance policy, said a traveller at
the Michigan Central railway depot. The
physician he referred to is DR.. Temple S.
Hoyne, of ! ,634 Wabash avenue, treasurer of
Hahnemann college. Six years ago DR..
Hoyne was register Of the college. Among
his patients were number of wealthy per-
sons
"Will you repeat the story about the man
whose death you have been keeping secret for
several years?' reporter asked DR.. Hoyne.
DR.. Hoyne quickly arse from his chair,
while his countenance took ON perturbed
appearance. II thought that would never
be known" said he; II took every safeguard
against its obtaining publicity
Then it is true that you found the body of
your friend upon the dissecting table,"
Yes, that is true. l was his family ply
stefan and knew him we'll. He was addicted
to drink, and when under the influence of
liquor he would absent himself from home
for weeks at tirue. l was going through
the dissecting room in the college one
day when | saw his body lying on the
table. l was shocked and thought of
informing his family, but the boys
needed subject and so let them
go on with their work. He had dis
appeared several days previously, and l
think that the family were still believing
that he would return as before"
DO you know how the body was OBJ
taineds"
Not exactly, but believe it was turned
over to the college by the authorities. At
that time the unclaimed bodies of dead per
sons were given to the colleges for medical
purposes. l suppose the man died on the
street from alcoholism, and that his body,
after lying at the morgue two or three days,
was sent to the college to be dissected; but l
did not made any investigation and do not
know positively. There were no marks of
violence SO far as ascertained."
why did you not inform the family:7
We'll, as told you, / did not want TO
spoil a subject for the boys. Besides there
was slim chance that the body was not that
of the man l thought of. l remember once
the sheriff and the coroner took body from
us that answered to nicely the description
of body they wanted, and then discovered
it was a case of mistaken identity. They
came out for the body and we
told them, as we always do, that
there was none il the place. They
swore they'd have it and then left After
| they had gone the porter said the body was
in the dissecting-roonl, but he had not told
them because he had an idea they were stu
dents from Rush college trying to trick US
| they're always playing some such prank
/ but the next day the coroner came out, with
| proper authority and got it. Every mark
was correct, but when the subject WAS seen
| by the relatives they rejected it. | tell this
| to show how easily one may mistake"
/ You have been visiting the family since."
Yes, for part of the time"
"And th0y continue to believe the man
aliveg7
! Il don't know that, but think they are
not sure whether he is alive or not They
have kept on paying on an insurance policy
| After the man had been missed some time
they had conference with the insurance
company, and an arrangement was made
| whereby the family were to pay premiums
for seven years when, if nothing had
been heard of the man, they were to receive
the amount Of insurance and all the pre-
miuIns since paid, with interest on the pre-
miums added The time is almost up now l
had an idea that the family would conclude
before now that the man was dead"
The insurance was for $50, 600 For OBJ
vious reasons the name of the man is with
held