Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-19

1
he staggered, but did not fall to the door.
THE EXTENT OF THE INJURY.
DR.. g. G. Morris, who was called upon TO at
tend Gen. West, testified that there was
wound on the left side of the nose. The lip Of
the nose was cut so badly that witness had to
put In stitch at the base and one at the lip Of
| the nose. The wound was bleeding freely.
The general, he said, was very nervous. Wit
ness saw no symptoms OF conclusion OF the
fulness Of the wound. Two days later witness
redre ssed the wound. The patient was still
| confined to his room. His face was badly
swollen, as witness thought, from the blow Of
the umbrella handle. When witness was with
him the general related the story of the as
sault, which, he said, was not provoked one,
but was cowardly, as he was about walking
away when the blow was inflicted
WAS the nose broken2" asked Juror Moxley.
mo, sir" was the doctors reply.
Witness continuing said he thought the gen.
eral was confined to his room about a week.
He complained of a pain in his face.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE ASSAULT.
W. G. Davis who witnessed the assault, testi-
fed that he saw Gen. West and Ruffn talking
The former came from behind the counter as
witness thought to eject Mr. Ruffn from the
hotel. As Gen. West approached him Ruffn
struck him with an umbrella The general
told Rufin to leave the hotel, which he did in q
.What made you think that the general was
going to put Mr.. Rufin out?" asked the coro-
ner.
From his manner" replied witness. "He
appeared to be angry. l don't remember his
When fu.,her questioned witness said that
after the bxw was inflicted both men seemed
to rush toward each other.
"Did you separate them?" asked the coro-
ner.
mo, SIR" replied the witness, sit seemed to
me a: though they separated of their own ac-
cord"
In what room did the affair take placer" the
coroner asked
I'm the hotel office" replied the witness.
did they clinch before or after the blow was
struck"
''Atterward"
THE MEDICAL TESTIMONY.
DR.. D. 8. Lamb, who assisted in making the
autopsy. testified that the most important ap-
pearance at the autopsy was that Of the kid
neys. They were found to be in such a condi-
ton as is the result Of Bright's disease. The
examination OF the head showed no sign of in
jury except the scar on the head. My opinion
as TO the cause Of death would be-" said the
doctor, that he died OF Brights disease Of the
kidneys"
In answer to a question by the coroner wit
ness raid that person suffering from Bright's
disease may die suddenly; that is, within six
to twenty-four hours. Witness did not think
that blow such as was inflicted by Rufin
would hasten the death Of q man suffering
from BriRhts disease. The coroner explained
that he asked the question at the suggestion of
a friend of Gen. West.
Deputy Coroner Schaeffer testified to the au-
topsy and described the condition Of the wound
on the face. The wound was 80 completely
healed, he said, that unless Dr. Morris had
been present and pointed 1t out it would
have been difficult to have found it.
Witness thought that kidney disease fully ac-
counted for the death of Gen. West. Witness
ready debilitated patient would probably ex-
ercise an unfavorable influence over tie patient,
even though no blow was inflicted. 1t would
be impossible, he said, to say with certainty
that the assault had anything to do with Gen.
Vests death.
AN OLD COMPLAINT.
Surgeon General Hamilton testified that he
was at one time Gen. Vests attending physician.
Gen. West, he said came under his car. in
1885. He was then suffering from chronic
Bright's disease. He was at that time very sick
and witness hardly expected him to recover.
He got better and was appointed to position
in California, when witness lost sight of him.
The general afterward told him that he had
had recurren les of his trouble while in Califor-
mia. Witness was present at the autopsy.
The membranes OF the brain were per-
fectly healthy SO far as appearances
that death was the result Of the kidney trouble.
He thought that such a blow inflicted
would not have any bearing on the disease.
Excitement might precipitate commissions, but
II the commissions did not occur within five or
six weeks he would not think that the blow had
anything to do with the death.
GEN. wEsr's PARTNER.
Col. c. G. LGfer, who was Gen. Vests part
ner in the hotel business, testified that on the
18th Of June he sold small interest in his
business to Gen. West because he was
bright, active man. Witness went away and
when he returned the general was q total
wreck. Witness told Of the generals strange
actions about the hotel subsequent to his re-
ceiying the injury to his he6d He went to
Capon Springs and when he returned he had
to be assisted up the steps. One thing that
preyed upon the generals mind" said the wit
ness, was the statement made by Ruffin that
it only cost $40 to knock general down in the
United States"
DIR. Schaffer was again questioned and he ex-
pressed surprise that Gen. West lived az long
as he did, suffering as he was in 1885.
RUFFIN ExoSERArED.
The Jury returned q verdict in which they
found that Gen. Vests death was the result of
Brights disease Of the kidneys and they were
unable to connect the assault with the death.
Sterling Ruthn, the young man who assaulted
Gen. West and who was subsequently arrested
on q charge OF manslaugter, was not present at
the inquest.
The charge of granddaughter now pending
against Ruffin in the Police Court will probably
be nolle pressed, as the verdict exonerates him
Of the charge.
GEN. wEsr's FUNERAL
The funeral Of Gen. West took place yester-
day. Members of the Loyal Legion, the Grand
Army and other friends joined the funeral pro-
cession to Arlington, where the interment was
made. The service of the Episcopal church
was read BY Rev. Chas NJ. Pyne, assistant rec
| tor Of St. Johns church. The pail bearers
were Gen. Rosecrans, Col Hepburn, Gen. r.
D. Mussey and Capt Walker.
Her Father Stern Voice (from first landing,
| temp. 1910 q. m. S"Alice
Alice (softly)-"Yes, pa"
Voice with o threatening ring in it)-"Does
| that young man in the parlor take tea or coffee
for breakf@" ''Door r'-snd he was goneD
| Punch.
"Doesn't IL smbarrass you 10 be kissed By your
husband before car full Of people p
"Embarrsss me 2" replied the lady, who was
starting OF on journey, a. she seated herself
| in her seat and looked at the questioner. Ibid
John kiss me when he said good-by? declare
didn't notice it u my hat on straight,
Laura ?"-Soa FTancisco P0sk
California fruit growers, who used to throw
away their peach pits, are now getting e6 ton
for them. They are worth this Tor fuel They
make hot and aromatic ire