Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-10
A REMARKABLE CASE.
Singular Circumstances Attending the Death
Of Prof. Geo. w. Rsnfro.

Singular Circumstances Attending the Death
Of Prof. Geo. w. Rsnfro.
The case of Prof. George W. Renfro, who was
killed last week in Alabama by cold chisei
which was thrown at him. as published in The
STAR at the time, has attracted considerable
attention in medical circles, and many pbysi-
clans in the state do not yet believe the truth
in regard to the wound inflicted and what fol-
lowed. Prof. Renfro was native of this city
and was a member of a talented family. He
was a graduate of the literary and scientific
courses of Howard University. The killing of
Prof. Renfro, as heretofore published, took
place at the Alabama State Normal School,
about three miles from Huntsville. The
professor had charge OF palmer Hail."
where the boys dormitories are located,
and on Tuesday of last week he found
it necessary to punish one of the students,
Ebenezer Kahn. sixteen-year old boy from
Gadsden. The boy was stubborn. and when he
ran out the door from the professor he closed
the door behind and the professor followed
him to the door. Just as he opened the door
Kahn threw the chisei at him and the small
piece OF iron struck the door. The boy had
the chisel in his pocket and had been carrying
it some days, because it was the product Of his
first labor in the blacksmith shop, where he
was learning his trade.
After striking the door the chisel glanced
and struck the professor on the forehead, in
ficting, as was supposed, slight Hesh wound.
The chisel could not be found, but no one sus-
pected that it had entered the professor head.
1t had, however, penetrated the brain and the
skin had closed over ii, making the wound APP
pear slight. The wound bied freely and was
given an ordinary dressing. After the injur d
professor retired his room mate. Prof. Ross,
taa1 hat hA
gave him dose of morphine. wednes-
day morning he was almost in a stupor
and did not get up at the usual time. 1t was
then thought that he had taken an extra NOR
phine pellet, as the box Of pellets had been left
in the room, and for that reason Prot. Coun-
getting up. When he arose he walked into the
next room, but still there was a dullness about
him which he could not explain. These
symptoms increased during the day and about
o'clock in the evening Prof. Logwood ex-
amined the wound and found hard substance
under the skin, which he thought was probably
fracture Of the bone.
POINT OF THE CHIsEL IN THE BRAIN.
This discovery alarmed his brother professors
and DR.. Lowry and Col. Fletcher, the latter
chairman Of the board of trustees, were sent
for. The doctor answered the summons
promptly and to his amazement no found the
hard substance to be the end Of the chisel
which Kahn had thrown. 1t had imbedded
itself in the brain and when taken from the
head small particles of the brain came with it,
The professor stood the operation without
showing the slightest signs Of pain. This was
twenty-four hours after the wound was in
hicted.
The patient retained consciousness all the
while and conversed with the doctor and others
as nationally as though nothing had happened
to him. The case WAS watched with peculiar
interest by the Huntsville physicians as we'll az
by members of the medical profession in other
parts Of the state.
DEATH ArTER FOUR DAYS
Saturday morning the professors mother was
at his bedside and he was brighter than he had
been for a day or two. Even tho physicians
thought he was better, but during the after
noon he became restless. and at o'clock there
had been such radical change in his condition
that the doctor gave up all hopes Of his recov-
cry and told his friends TO prepare for the
worst. His condition continued to grow worse
until few minutes after o'clock, when, after
lingering four days and remaining conscious
all the time, he died. The following day Dr.
Lowry and several other physicians in Hunts
vile made an autopsy and discovered that q
portion of the left side Of the brain, which was
covered with pus, had decayed and caused
death. .t
The instrument which caused his death is now
in the possession Of Mr. Henry Lacey, q garbage
inspector in this city. The chisel is about three
and half inches long. ,..