New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-29
CONDEMNED BY 4 CORONER'S JURY.
AMBULANCE SURGEONS DECLARED NEGLIGENT
IN THE ALMSBLAD CASE.

AMBULANCE SURGEONS DECLARED NEGLIGENT
IN THE ALMSBLAD CASE.
Coroner Levy began yesterday morning an invesii-
cation regarding the death OF wilfrM AImsblad, tho
swedish sailor, who died in Bellevue Hospital last
Friday night. Almsbad employed on the Ward
Line steamer Yucatan, and lived at No 40 Union-Nt
Brooklyn. on Thursday a week ago. he and a COM
pancn went ashore. When they returned to the ship
both men were drunk. Almsbad fell through an open
hatchway distance Of seventeen feet ana his com
paniOn fshed out OF the river when Aimsblad
was discovered by of the steamers crew he was
bleeding and insensible lie carried TO The wharf
and an ambulance summoned. Dr. stone at
tached 10 the Chambers Street Hospital. responded
DR.. stone gave the man hasty examination ana
declined to take him. The almost liiele>s form OF
The sailor was then taken 10 the Old slip station
Sergeant Schrier wa, at the desk. As soon as ne
examined the suffering man, he was satisfied inc ms"
he'd "A fractured skull, and rang for an ambulance,
surgeon Charles b. Fitzpatrick responded lie ioohco
at Almsblad for a minute then SAID 1t WAS Only
drunk and drove OF.
The sergeant rang for an ambulance secohu u'c.
Dr. FITZGERALD responded again. Again lie said IL
was only II "drunl7 and refused 10 take Aimsbind
who later died from fracture OF the skull. re''ef
day at the inquest Deputy Coroner jenkins testIfea
to the terrible fracture which the man had received.
Policemen Tully and Ware both told Of how they had
tried 10 get the wounded man taken to the hospltal.
sergeant sclrer Uf the old slip station, said that
when the case was reported to him he had the ap'-
lnlance sent TO the pier. Mter~atd AT "'-o
o'clock he telegraphed for the ambulance SIP
econ Fitzpatrick bandaged tie mans head bnt declined
10 remove him, declaring tlat IL WIS s"PS '"9o
OF drunk
Sergeant McDermott testified that he was in charge
~ the station when the ambulance call WAS sent out
tie next morning Dr. Fitzpatrick responded, but
again said there 10 reason why he should re-
move the wounded man. though he dressed his wounds
Ambulance surgeon stone, of the Chambers street Hos
pitaI then took the stand lie answered the hf>t am
hulonce call 10 Pier rs. lie examined Almsblad. but
the man did not want 10 be looked over and began
cur,ing and abusive
lie came To the conclusion that Alm.bad was not
seriously hurt and said the best place for him was the
police statCH. Amstlads brother was there ana said
he would take care OF him.
Ambulance surgeon Fitzpatrick testified to answer
ing the two calls for an ambulance ut the Old slip
station one on the night OF January II ana the
other on the next morning. lie examined Alm>biah
carefully and had him brought ont in the front room
to the Light. lie washed the man, face with some
warm water. After the blood removed. he found
An abrasion about half inch square on the left
side Of the lie made careful examination but
found nothing that led him to believe that the mans
condition serious. Almsblad abused him alld Swo
while he was being examined. His reason for refusing
TO take Amsblad to the hospital WAS that he did
net think he hospital case.
The Jury, after celebrating about half honr
returned with the following verdict: We find that
Wnid Almsblad Ia his death January -.
S02 in Bellevue Hospital, in consequence Of Injuries
received by falling down into the hold of vessel
nj Pier rs. East River. January FL 1892. We find
that although the Police authorities did their entire
duty in this by calling ambulance three times,
great negligence and carelessness were displayed by
the surgeons Of Chambers street Hospital In their treat
ment Of this case especially I'm their repeated refusas
to take the injured man TO the hospital We recon-.
mend that I'm where there is any doubt whether
nm injured person is suffering from alcoholism or not,
the same should under all circumstances, be taken 70
a hospital for thorough examination