New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-06-12
THE CoRoNER's RECORD.

THE CoRoNER's RECORD.
The Testimony of DR.. Moses Book
In the Matter OF the April Inquest.
ROCHESTER,, Special, June a IF GLOWING ii
a copy of the coroner's record Of the inves
tigation held at the asylum on Combs body
April D:
Twas notified by DR.. J. E. Bowers, superin.
of the hospital On going to the hospital DR.. j 4
y. Bowers made the following statement: Thai
the death occurred on the afternoon OF April i
1889, in ward G., 8. The attendants in that
ward, August Beckman and Ed Peterson (the
former having been in the ward two months anC
the latter ten months). notified him Of the deatf
at 5 o'clock D. M. making the following explana
ton: That Combs was working on scaffolo
in the southeast corner room of the ward "a
two other insane patients. During the morning
of April 1, while engaged in washing the ceiling
preparatory to painting. he came out from
the room about IL a M, saying to the attend
ants that he had fallen from the scaffold and
hurt himself. and desired to be put to bed. That
they then placed Combs in the crib. that being
the only bed made up in the ward at that time
(the ward was being cleaned that day), and
asked if he wished to see the physician. That
Combs said no. and lay quietly in BED. some OF
the time apparently sleeping quietly until about
2:3O p. M, when they 1.-THE attendants) found
Combs dead, and then notified Dr.. Bowers and
the assistant physicians.
examined the ward. The room in which
Combs was at work at the time Of the alleged
accident contained two step ladders with a
plank placed across the top. the plank sup.
about six feet, the only other articles in the
room being an upright desk or wardrobe stand
ing on one side of the room against the north
wall, a shelf projecting from it at a height of
about three feet Of about six inches in width
and small radiator in the southeast corner OF
room, these being the only objects in the
room at time of accident The crib in
which he died showed no blood stains in the
wooden cover that shuts down over the top and
sides. noticed no blood stains or any other
marks in the room where accident occurred. The
two attendants. Beckman and Peterson, con.
frmed the above described story, so detailed by
DR.. Bowers. as to the accident and subsequent
death. Two patients were pointed out to me as
being the ones az work with Combs at time of
accident. could get no intelligent description
Of the occurrence from these patients, they re-
fuslng to answer questions, seeming to be inca
pable and demented.
x DR.. Bowers stated that these two patients,
with Combs and the two attendants. Beckman
and Peterson, Were the only prisoners in the
ward at the time Of the accident. After exam
ming the ward and attendants went to the
dead room of the hospital in the basement, and
examined the body Of Combs. DR.. j. E. Bow
ers and Assistant Physicians Collins, Phelps and
Randall being present with myself The fol-
lowing are notes of the examination Of the body
and the autopsy:
Physical Appearances Subject negro, skin
very dark, under middle age: a strong, well de-
yeloped. muscular subject, evidently having
There was ~ a scalp wound on back OF the
head just to the right of occipital protuberance
an inch in length and apparently extending to
the bone: also ~ a bruise and swelling on the
back of the left hand, the skin being abraded,
the bruse looking as if being the result of
blow. and (3) fracture of the sternum at the
junction of the upper and middle third, with no
bruise apparent on skin over this fracture.
Doctors Phelps, Randall aud Collins made the
post post, m ta1 at my request. Dr.. Bowers and
showing a slight ecchymosis beneath the scalp
wound, the wound hardly extending through
the skin, the skull being nninjured. The cal
iured, with no congestion or unnatui al condition
apparent. The neck was examined with view
conclusion arrived at that the cervical
vertebrs were not injured or mis-
placed The sternum was found fractured
COMPLETELY com off from before. backward at juno.
glsdeatus. also one rib (third) broken off on the
right side at this point. A large amount of
the anterior mediastinum extending into the
cellular tissue and around the front of the peri
cardium, this injury Of the sternum and the in
ternal hemorrhage being evidently the cause of
death. The heart and lungs were found in
healthy condition From the statements above
made it appeared at the time, April 2. 1889, that
u cause Of the above injuries which resulted
scaffold in the room of Ward 8. 8
May 81. l859-It is now my opinion that
the injuries found o in s the sternpm oa and
chest cavity, it being more probable
that the fracture Of the sternum and the re-
knee or heel Of the attendant or attendants
above named There being testimony to
show violence used by some party. conclude
now to empanel a jury and to make further de-
velOpments of the case.
June 3, 1889 ION May so Noah Wilkins re-
lated to me that John Date had said that Combs
of this date saw John Date, who made the fol-
lowing statement: That he was working in G 8
with Combs and other patients, in the forenoon
OF April L, 1889. at second hospital for the in
sane; that he saw August Beckman take Combs
down the ward, pushing and striking him; that
he took Combs into the clothing room. knocked
him down, chOked him, and called on Ed Peter
son. the other attendant. to pitch in; that Pc
terson seized cane and broke it on him Combs:
that they ordered Combs to get up and go to the
wash room: that Beckman again knocked him
down, and, jumping on his (Combs) chest.
stamped him. and that they hickman and Pc
terson) continued to assault Combs from about
quarter before IL O'Clock a. m. to 11:3O a. m:
that at 2 o'clock p. m. Combs died. Date also
stated that he was afraid to make this statement
known on account Of threats from Beckman and
Peterson. presented these facts to the county
attorney, w Logan Breckenridge, on the even
ing Of May 80. also Sheriff Richardson and JUS
tice .. Q. Benjamin. with the statement that
would hold inquest May 81. On the afternoon
of May 81 DR.. J. %. Bowers made complaint.
and warrants were issued for the arrest of Beck
man and Peterson. The county attorney. W.
Logan Breckenridge, concluded to bring the
case before the grand jury, and that an inquest
was unnecessary F. r. NOSE. NJ D.
Coroner.
Aid for The Destitute
New York's response to the cry for help
from the Conenaugh valley was prompt
Something. like 100000 have already heen
reported to the mayor. The legislature of
Massachusetts has appropriated $50 900. The