Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-24
DIED IN A STATION HOUSE
Edmund Barry, an E1-Policeman, Expires
in Cell.
INDIGNATION Among His Friends-The
Case May Re Invests
gated.

There was sad death IN the nlHtn pre-
cinct police station at an early hour this
morning, and the peculiar circumstances
under which the death occurred may call
for an investigation. The man who died
was Edmund J. Barry, an ex-policeman.
He had been drinking, and it is supposed
that the combination of liquor and warm
weather caused his death. According to
the report of the police, DR.. Cole. the ply
stefan to the poor, whose office is on II
street, was sent for, but he refused to re-
spond and ease the sufferings of the dying
man. Dr. ]. R. hewitt, one of the police
surgeons, was sent for. but the man had
been growing worse all the while, and he
died soon after DR.. hewitt arrived.
Edmund j. Barry was well known In the
neighborhood of Maryland avenue and 9th
street northeast, where for number OF
years he was employed as clerk in McAllis-
ters grocery store. Later he went on the
police force, and did duty for a short time
in the third precinct Then he returned 20
the grocery store. Mr.. McAl!ister died sud
denly about a year ago, and Barry mas
since clerked for the widow.
He had not been at work since THURSDAY.
Mrs McAllister was told that he was sick,
but people who knew him say that he was
drinking.
Policeman Archambault made the arrest
three hours after Mrs. McAllister says she
saw him perfectly sober. The officers said
that a citizen made the complaint against
the man. and he arrested him on 9Th street,
opposite Mrs. McAllisters store.
when found him." said the policeman,
''he had the Jim jams from drinking
whisky"
Phced In Cell.
A charge of ''intoxication" was preferred
against the man at the station at 11:3o
o'clock and Barry was placed in a cell fur
nished with an iron bed. Four hours after
Barry was placed behind the bars he had
a spasm, and he was in such intense agony
that one of the men in the station was
sent for DIR. Cole, and he returned with the
information that the doctor refused to
respond Then an. effort was made to get
DIR. hewitt, one of the police surgeons, and
he responded without delay but the pr1s-
orer's condition had become SO serious that
there was no hope for him. and he died
about 5 o'clock. The body was placed in
the morgue.
Word of the mans death was sent to his
aunt who lives near ith and b streets
southeast, and also to Mrs. McAllister, and
other friends, and most, if not all of them,
are indignant at the treatment he received.
They think that when the unfortunate man
was taken to the station he should nave
had the services of a physician when the
officers said he was in such serious con-
dition, and should not have been thrown
into a cell, where he had not even pillow
on which to rest his head.
DIR. Coles Statement.
Dr. John T. Cole, who is the physician
to the poor who the police say refused
to attend the man, said this morning to
Star reporter that he was called up on the
phone during the night and asked by
policeman to go to the station house and
attend a man who was drunk. He an
swered by asking why the police surgeon
was not called, and stated that DR.. Wood
ward, the health officer, had given in
structions that the physicians to the poor
should not be called upon in such cases
unless it might be matter OF plain hui
manity for them to attend patients I'M
der charge of the police. He therefore de-
clined to go unless the man was In great
distress or needed immediate attention,
which the policeman at the phone said
was not the case. DR.. Cole says that ne
asked If there were any commissions, and
was answered in the negative. He then
told the policeman to get some bromide
from the medicine chest that Is Kept IN
each station house and give the patient
a tablespoonful. If this did not quiet him
to give another similar dose with a little
brandy. Having thus prescribed for the
man. he says, as well as though he had
gone to the station, he retired once more.
He saws that if the prisoner had been
suffering and in need of Immediate atten-
| ton he should have gone, though the case
was not properly under his jurisdiction.
No Inquest Necessary.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook saw the body
today. He ordered no autopsy or in
quest but concluded that alcohol caused
his death, and gave such certificate. The
body was then turned over to Undertaken
]. William Lee to be prepared for burial,
and word of the mans death was sent to
his brother in Jersey City.
! Health Officer Woodward said to Star
reporter that he had received no official
information concerning the case. So far
as he knew, he said, there was no rule laid
down concerning the treatment of prisoners
in the police stations but he supposed that
the police surgeons would be the first call
ed upon. The physicians to the poor, he
said. have a great amount of work to do.
although he thought in case of emer-
gency any one should respond. So far as
DR.. Cole was concerned, he said, the doc
tor had always been very obliging and
ready to respond to cases. Before passing
upon the merits Of the case, he said, he
would wait until it comes to him in an
| official way and then, If it should come,
| he will make an investigation.
L