Wichita eagle., 1890-03-08
INQUEST CONTINUED.
The Jury's verdict--1he Autopsy-The Close
of the Investigation OF the Circumstances
Surrounding the Bxby's Death ON
the Santa Fe.


the Santa Fe.
The interest in the dead baby which was
removed from the Santa Fe train on Thurs
day was more intense yesterday than on
the day before. The bare facts in the case
were more generally known and every one
had complicated theory to build upon
very small foundation. Such morbid
curiosity was manifested in the develop
ments which were insanely supposed to be
SO startling, that the coroner found it con-
venient to hold the inquest in the seclu-
sion Of one of the rooms of the Sedgwick.
A sensation was wanted but none devel-
oped. An adopted child died on the train
between this city and Newton. and the
mother without fully realizing the situa-
tion abandoned it after it was dead
of the parties interested were
ruthlessly overha uled and hundreds of ex-
traneous circumstances were brought up
in the hope of adding them TO the distress
ing circumstances in the case in question
and making a sensation.
During the morning an autopsy was
held over the child remains by Drs. Foote
Purdy, Fabrique, McAdams, and Oldham,
and the result of this examination came
out in theinquest.
The inquest was resumed in the Sedg-
wick at 2 o'clock
THE INQUEST.
The first witness called was Dr. Foote.
who, being sworn. testified that he was
present at the autopsy. Found some con-
gestion; the stomach contained probably
e l.
the first stage ef Digestion: death resulted
from lack of power to assimilate food; the
food which the child received was lot
proper nourishment; the case was common
in children fed by artificial food.
The same thing might occur in an adult;
child may die of starvation and yet have
abundance of food provided this food is
not exactly suited to lis ability to assimi-
late it. Had made microscopic exami-
nation; found nothing but what could
naturally be expected under the circum-
stances.
ID. L. Dunbar being sworn, testified to
removing the remains from the car IN
coffin, the conductor having put them in
the coffiu: made no examination OF the re-
mains; did not know whether the body
was warm or not.
Dr. Purdy being sworn testified that he
was present at the autopsy and had found
the same conditions reported by DIR. Foote
and in short could concur in DR.. Foote'S
testimony; found no evidences of violence;
believed death resulted from inanition.
DR. Fabrjque being sworn, testified that
he was present at the autopsy and found
the same conditions reported by the phys
icians preceding him; the child's death re-
suited from the lack of power to assim-
ilate the food.
DR.. McAdams, sworn, testified he was
present tor a time during the autopsy and
could concur in Dr. Foote'S testimony The
mortality amongst children fed on arti6c-
ial food, was not large under favorable
conditions. DR.. Graham being sworn, had
his testimony of the preceding day read
and explained to the jury that the word
starvation as he had used it did not
mean absence of food, but simply
want of food that could be digested.
AT this point the attorneys were willing to
rest the case but the coroner and jury
were anxious to have the evidt nee of Mrs.
Burkett and her son.
Mrs. Burkett being sworn told sub
in yesterdays EAGLE. She did not vary a
particle on the salient points. The history
of the child from the time of its adoption
to its death was given in detail. She did
not know the exact moment of its death,
which occurred between here and Newton.
In speaking of her intentions regarding the
child if it had lived the witness was visi-
bly, affected.
Her son, f. o. Burkett, being sworn tes-
titled corroborating his mothers testimony
so far as he knew. There was a slight diff
ference on immaterial points and toward
the last he became somewhat embarrassed
and contradicted himself This part OF
his evidence was not relevant to the case
in point The apparent contradictions were
the result of auachronisms III regard to
conversations held with his mother at
different times.
This concluded the evidence and the
jury retired for fifteen minutes, bringing
in verdict that the child's death was
caused by want of proper nourishment,
aud took place on the train, between
Wichita and Newton.
This verdict, of course, released both of
the prisoners
Mrs. Bnrkett waited in the sheriff's Of
flee to learn if she was wanted any fur
ther, and In about half an hour the coro-
ner swore out "A warrant before Justice
Keenan,, charging the abandonment of
child. The case was set for two weeks
was given.