The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-01
THE INQUEST.
The Coroner's Jury Returns a Verdict in
Accordance With the Facts.

The Coroner's Jury Returns a Verdict in
Accordance With the Facts.
STOCKTON, July 31.-At the inquest held
tonight over the remains of Robert Allen
OF Sacramento. who was robbed and fatally
beaten by robbers in May, there were pres
ent from Sacramento District Attorney
Ryan, Coroner Clark, County Physician
White and DR.. Simmons. District Attor-
ney Ryan said that charges of murder will
be preferred against the prisoners, although
one of them. Harry Gordon, has been found
guilty of robbery. An autopsy was made
tonight by Drs. Rucker and Hoisholt of
the State Insane Asylum, Coroner Clark of
this county and DR.. Clark, at whose place
Allen died. the Sacramento physicians being
present The top of the skull was taken off
almost as big as ones thumb in that part
of tho skull which was removed. 1t had
been made with the small end of a black
smiths hammer used by Haley, the robber
who struck the blow.
Miss Annie Allen, daughter of deceased,
testified That on the morning Of May 11th,
about O'Clock, she went to the door of
Aliens residence and found her father hat
less, bleeding and bruised. The right side
of his head was wounded. and his hands
were covered with blood. There were
marks on his neck, as if he had been
choked. He was assaulted half a block
from his home. She found at that place at
4 O'Clock, bunch of keys and the hammer
near pool of blood. Her father said he
looked back and saw two men following
him. That was all lie remembered.
w. j. Davis, Sacramento court reporter,
related confession of Gordon, telling how
he and Haley watched Allen when he
closed up and went home. The plumber
amounted To $500.
DR.. Asa Clark testified that Allen came to
him month ago with fracture of the pos
terror part of the parietal bone on the right
side, which was the cause of death. The
hole was little more than an inch long aud
about an inch across. The bone was crushed
down on the membrane of the brain, though
the membrane and brain were not pene-
trated. His mental power seemed to be
very much affected The injury was such
as might have been inflicted with hammer.
DR.. Hoisholt testified that indications of
Inflammation and congestion were observable
in the brain. This condition was caused by
the fracture. He was one of the surgeons
who performed the trepanning operation on
Allen. There were no indications of other
wounds at that operation or at the post
mortem. He was asked if the fracture were
necessarily fatal. lie sfid it would be hard
TO answer that question, but the cause of
death was certainly this wound.
DR.. Simmons of Sacramento testified 10
the condition and appearance OF Allen after
the assault. Alien had curious deiusion
regarding his wealth. DR.. Summons opinion
was that death resulted from the effects of
the blow, which was given with an eight
pound hammer.
Dr.. Smith or Sacramento and DR.. Rucker,
Superintendent of the State Insane Asylum,
testified to what the autopsy revealed. The
jury'S verdict was that deceased was ma
tive OF Ohio, aged about 90 years, and that
he died from the wound inflicted with
hammer by persons to the jury unknown.