Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-05
THE CAUSE OF ADLER's DEATH
The Coroner's Inquest 20 Determine
That Matter In Progress

Inc 'Coroner's Inquest 20 Determine
That Matter In ProgresA
THE SHOOTING CASE IN rHx xAxsrr sAroox-
TESTIMONY OF PRISONS WHO saw 1.-THE RE-
suit OF THE AuroPsY-pR. scHAErER's
oPISIoN-wHAr KILLED ADLER.
The autopsy on the body Of Maurice Adler,
which was in progress when TIE STAR went to
press yesterday, was completed about O'Clock.
The keen knife Of the surgeon in the hands of
Dr. Schaeffer laid bare the vertebre in the
neck where the ball had entered
1t was found that the spinous process
OF the fourth cervical vertebra had been shat
tered, and the ball being detected TO the right
and little upward passed around the vertebra
and was found lodged in the muscular tissue
In front OF the third vertebra. 1t is supposed
that Adler bent his neck forward
when shot, thus causing the ball
to pass upward. The ball in the position in
which it was found was pronounced to be en-
tirely harmless. The spinal cord was found to
to be uninjured, although it had been
supposed to be lacerated New and
healthy tissues had formed in the place
where the pieces Of the fractured
August 8. Five joints of the spinous process
were disarticulated at the base Of the skull and
carefully dissected from the spinal column. A
further dissection Of the body developed the
fact that the brain, heart, lungs. kidneys,
spleen. stomach, and all the internal viscera
were perfectly healthy.
THEORIES As TO WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
The doctors refuse to discuss the case in view
of the probability Of the medical treatment be-
ing made feature of the trial In view of the
disclosure made by the autopsy that the spinal
cord 1ararafe6 he min 10 aIvsn
by medical man that the operation for re-
moving the fractured bones ought to have
been made before, and thus relieved the
pressure upon the spinal cord. 1t is agreed
lieved
One of the doctors, however, in talking Of
the case said that the question Of the time for
performing such an operation must be
determined tss eo,a,.i BY the physicians from
at the time. Whether the operation ought to
have been done sooner than it was he thought,
was an open question in view of the opinion
OF the competent doctors who had
charge Of the case. As TO the effect Of
tor said that some relief was experienced
but it should be borne in mind that the bony
process protecting the spinal cord having been
| fractured the spinal cord was left exposed and
did not understand why that pressure would
not be sufficient to cause and to continue the
f, paralysis.
The Inquest This Afternoon.
The inquest over the body of Maurice Adler
was held in the Office of Lieut.. Amiss at the
first precinct station this afternoon. This is
the fourth inquest that has been held there in
| a short time and each of them was held on q
Saturday.
Sergeant Shilling was entrusted with the
duty of selecting the jury. In order that
| there would be no grounds for complaint the
sergeant said that he would select such bust
ness men as would virtually represent both
Wards and Adler's friends.
THE JURY.
Armed with the usual writ Sergeant Shil-
ling went out and summoned the following per-
sons on the jury: James Lansburgh of Lans-
burgh Bros, No. 400 9TH street northwest; Au-
| gust Schmedtie of Schmedtie Bros. Jewellers,
| No. 704 7th street northwest: Henry King
Kings palace, No. 72S 9TH street northwest;
| John Enders dry goods dealer, No. 902 7th
street northwest; A b. Finney, druggist, No.
| 1913 18th street northwest, and Peter Grogan,
installment house, No. TAI 9TH street north
| west.
VIEWING THE REMAINS.
The members of the jury met Coroner Pat
terson at half-past o'clock at the Adler resi-
dence. All were present except James Lans-
| burgh. It was said that there was some mis-
| take about his summons or else he
would have been on hand. Mr.. S. II. Welsh was
summoned in his place. After viewing the re-
mains and being sworn the jury proceeded to
the first precinct station, where they were
seated in the Office of Lieut.. Amss.
THE HEARING OF TESTIMONY BEGUN.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Mr. A. S. worthing-
ton and Chaplin Brown, counsel for Mr.. Ward,
were present and also Mr. Mccormick, one OF
his bondsmen. Mr.. Ward occupied an adjoin-
| ing room during the main part of the hearing.
Mr.. William II. Smith took stenographic
notes of the evidence for Wards counsel.
NEUMEYER's ACCOUNT OF THE SHOOTING.
Mr.. Neumeyer, the proprietor Of the marble
saloon, was the first witness. He told how
Ward came into his saloon on the night Of
June IS and walked up to the bar and
asked for bottle of beer. THE witness rose
to his feet and helped out the descriptive pow
ers of his words by his gestures.l After drink
ing the second bottle, and while playing pool.
Adler came into the saloon.
Ward asked Adler to take a drink, and upon
his refusal he said, We'll take some settler
was approaching the bar witness saw Ward
draw pistol. The first shot was
| fred toward the floor and the second
higher up. Witness said that Adler was back
of him and he did not see how he acted All
he knew was that he saw Adler leaning against
a post. and when he turned again he saw him
lying on the floor. Witness faced Ward at the
| time.
When the witness finished his story the coro-
ner asked a few questions and the jury were
asked if they had any questions to ask. No
one seeming to wish to question the witness
further he was dismissed.
THE BAR KEEPERS STORY
James Ginnaty, the bar keeper, was the next
witness. His story correspondent with that of
Mr.. Neumeyer. He said that there was no fur
| Their conversation between Adler and Ward ex-
cept the questions and answers about a drink
Then the witness said Ward drew his pistol and
fred.
The witness said that he was conversng with
| Ward before Adler came in. There was no
quarrel between the two men at that time and
no attempt at personal scufie.
Mr.. Buckingham was next called, but
it was stated that he was
at present travelling and was not
in the city. de was an eyewitness Of the
tragedy.
DIR. scHAEFFER THINKS THE WOUND CAUSED
| DEATH.
DR.. Schaeffer, who performed the autopsy,
was the next witness. He spoke of the condi-
ton of the body, as described elsewhere, and
said that he found the wound in the neck
made by the ball entirely healed
He said that the special process about the
| fourth vertebra was fractured and that the
spinal cord had been covered over with tissue.
The ball was found back of the third yertebra