St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-02
A BROTHERS. HORROR.
Aid. James Melady Returns
From a Most Heart-Rend-
ing Mission.
His Brother Alleged to Have
Been Butehered by Bogus
Doctors.
Lured to a Hospital to Be
Cured Of a Distressing
War Wound.
Medical Operation Bungled,
Medical Operation Bungled,
Died and Buried in the.
PottepS Field.

| Alderman James Melady returned
from Omaha Sunday morning after
having performed the sorrowful duty of
transferring the remains of his beloved
brother, Richard, from potters' field to
the consecrated ground of the Cath
olic cemetery. The story of the death
of Mr.. Melady is most tragic and horri-
flying.
Richard Melady was farmer of con-
| siderable means. and lived near Stew
art, little burg about 100 miles from
| Omaha. Though he had a number of
relatives, he preferred to live alone the
monotonous life of bachelor, and. be-
ing by nature Of retiring disposition,
there were few. if any, whom he took into
his confidence. He served through the
war in one of the Minnesota regiments,
and carried with him as legacy after
wards Disagreement of the foot. caused
by rifle ball or portion of shell.
This shattered member caused consid-
cradle pain and annoyance, and few
weeks ago, without saying word to
any of his neighborS, he packed his
satchel, locked up his house, and started
for Omaha, where he entered medical
and surgical institute of that city. This
So-called Institute proved to be snare
and deluslon. 1t was managed by
three or four alleged doctors, and who,
1t Is now claimed, knew nothing what
ever about medicine or surgery.
What tranSpired at the hospital is
now for the first time known. An op-
Grafton was decided upon, and the re-
suit OF 1t was that poor Mulady was
bntchered to death. The doctors" aft
erwards threw the remains into box,
and transferred him as pauper to pot
ter'S field.
The horrible deed would never have
been known but for one of these prov
idential interventionS that follow in the
wake Of the taking of human life.
1t appears that Melady had sent for
Father Bruin while in the hospital to
make his peace before undergoing the
operation. After spending short time
at the hospital Father Bruin retired. but
instructed the doctors to send for him
again just before the operation was
made. The priest went away, and after
several days had elapsed he began to
think it strange that no message came
from Melady. So he went to the hos
pltal, and was astoniShed beyond meas
ure at being informed by one of the
doctors" that the operation had been
performed and that the
Patient Had Died
under the knife. Suspicion was aroused
in the priests mind, and that same
evening he called OH the coroner, and
conveyed to that official his misgivings
that foul crime had been committed
The matter was placed in the hands of
the police, and the next morning at
very early hour descent was made ON
the hospital. The various papers and
books of the concern were seized. and
the doctors" placed under arrest. The
books showed that Melady, during MS
sOJOurn at the hospital, had paid S419,
and in addition to this the ''doctors"
had $201, the rest of the money he had
brought with him. The coroner Or
dered the remains to be exhumed,
and an examination was had which
showed plainly that the mans foot
was mengled most horribly.
The body was wrapped in an old piece
of whittier muslin, evidently the same
that had been used on the diSsecting ia
BILE. In the meantime word was sent to
Coroner Quinn, who, in turn, notified
Aid. James Melady, of this city, of what
had happened.
The alderman left last Thursday for
Omaha, and arrived in time TO witness
the elimination. The body was re-
LuOfCQ llOn OlQ plil6 DOA III WHICH
it was laid by the bogus doctor, placed
in neat casket and quietly buried in
the Catholic cemetery.
Several weeks having elapsed and
| nothing having been seen or heard of
''Dlck" Melady, the villagers at Stewart
became apprehensive that something
was wrong, and search was instituted
for him. No trace of his whereabouts
could be found. The door of his house
was then broken in, and. after rum
| maging among his papers to see if they
would lead to his discovery, will
was found evidently lately drawn. In
it Melady bequeathed all his belongings
to brother in the old country. No
| doubt the deceased had related the
| story of his life to the doctors" at the
hospital, who. under the belief that he
was alone in the world, decided it was
| perfectly safe to take his money and
| quietly put him out of the way. This
they did in most cruel and heartless
manner.
The doctors" are now in jail, with
out bail, at Omaha, and the trial will
come off some time during the present
week. Sensational developments are
looked for.
Aid. Melady. who is one of the most
highly respected and best known citi-
Zens of st. Paul, will have general SYM
| pathy in the natural shock the loss and
| discovery gave him.