The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-06-13

hurt himself and desired to be put to bed. That
they then placed Combs in the crib. that beiug
the only bed made up in the wald at that time
(the ward was being cleaned that davl. and
asked IL he wished to see the physician. That
Combs saiI no. and Law quietly in beI, some of
the time apparently sleeping quietly until about
2:30 p. m, when they the attendants) found
Combs dead, and then notified DR.. Bowers and
the assistant physicians.
L examined the ward. The room in which
Combs was at work at the time of the alleged
accident contained two step ladders with
plank placed across the top. the plank sup
ported by the step ladders at the height Of
about six feet, the only other articles in the
room being an upright desk or wardrobe stand
ing on one side OF the room agalDst the north
wall a shelf projecting from it at u height #
about three feet. Of about six inches in width.
and a 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. l noticed no blood stains or any other
marks in the room where accident occurred. The
two attendants, Beckman and Peterson. con
firmed the above described story, detailed by
DIR. Bowers. as to the accident and subsequent
death. Two patients were pointed ou5 TO lie as
being the ones az work with Combs at time of
accident l could get no intelligent description
Of the occurrence from these patients. they
fusing TO answer questions, seeming to be inca
Iahle and demented.
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
lining the ward and attendants I went to the
dead room of the hOsptta al in the basement, and
examined the body Of Gombsss Dr. j.. u. 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 Appea-ance-Subject a negro skin
very dark, under middle age; strong, we'll de-
Veloped, muscular subject evidently having
been robust and healthy at time OF death
There was ~ a scalp wound on back OF the
head just to the right of occipital protuberance
N mr. in md aatI I've yfaOh hipy 70
the bone; also ~ hruise and swelling on the
back OF the lett hand, the skin being abraded,
the hrulse looking as II being the result OF q
blow, and (3l fracture of the sternum at the
junction of the upper and middle third, with no
bruise apparent skin over this fracture
Doctors Phelps, Randall and Collins made the
post mOrtem at my request, DR.. Bowers and
myself being present The scalp was removed,
showing slight ecChymosis beneath the scalp
wound, the wound hardly extending through
the skin, the SKULL being uniujured. The cal
varlum was removed and the brain was unin-
iured, with no congestion or unnatu. al condition
apparent. The neck was examined with view
to determine if it had been fractured, and the
conclusion arrived at that the cerVical
Vertebr@ ~, were not injured or mis-
placed. Tho sternum found fractured
completely off from before, backward at juno.
tion of upper and middle third in upper part OF
gladeatus. also one rib tthird) broken off on the
right side at this point. large amount of
clotted blood was found beneath the fracture in
the anterior mediastnum extending into TIE
cellular tissue and around the front of the peri
ternal hemorrhage being evidently the cause Of
death. The heart and lungs were found in
healthy condition. From the statements above
made 1t appeared at the time, April 2, 1889, that
the cause of the above injuries, which resulted
in the death of Taylor Combs was fail from
a scatfold in the room OF Ward g.
May 81. ls89-1t is now my opinion that
such a fall was not sufficient to cause
the injuries found in the sternum and
chest cavity. it being more probable
that the fracture of the sternum and the re-
Suting internal hemOrrhage was caused by the
knee or heel of the attendant or attendants
above named. There being testimony to
show violence used bY some party, conclude
now to empanel jury and to make further de-
velOEmentS of the case
June 3, 1889 On May 80 Noah Wilkins re-
lated to me that John Date had said that Combs
ChOked by the attendants. On the evening
OF this date saw John Date, who made the fol-
lowing statement: That he working in
with Combs and other patients, in the forenoon
OF April !, 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. chokcd him. and called on Ed Peter
SON. the other attendant. to pitch in: that Pc
terSOn seized cane and broke il 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 Beckman and Pc
terson) continued to assault Combs from about
quarter before II O'clock a. IN. to IL 80 a. m:
that at O'Clock p. 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 i'd JUS
t1ce l.. o. Benjamin, with the statement that |
would hold inquest May 81. On the afternoon
Of May 81 DR.. j. L. 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. p NosSE. NJ. ID.
Coroner