St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-14
Jim 0'NEILL'S ARM
Legislatures Abortive At
tempt to Make q Sensation
Out Of 1t.
HIS RIGHT ARM CUT OFF
But 1t Was Done to Save the
Life Of the Young
Man.
AND HE GAVE HIS CONSENT.
New Machinery Purchased for
the Prison Binding Irvine
Plant.
AND HE GAVE HIS CONSENT.
SneciaI to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
STILLWATER, Mimi, April 10
A GLOBE correspondent called at
the prison today for the purpose of
ascertaining the exact facts in con-
nection with the amputation OF
James O'NeilPs right arm, and found
the patient comfortably seated in
one of the large sick cells in the hos
pital enjoying a paper. He had
very little to say about his condition
except that he is gaining flesh and
blood, and feels much better since
his diseased arm was amputated.
He was not suffering from inf1amma-
tory rheumatism, as was incorrectly
reported, but from tuberculosis of
the joints. DR.. Boleyn, the hospital
steward, said that itw at first sup
posed to be rheumatism, but that a
soft spot soon put in an appearance
at the elbow, and when this was
opened some weeks afterward it
was discovered that the bone was
diseased. The matter was taken out
and the bone was cleaned, but it
did not seem to have the desired
effect, and DR.. Merrill, the prison
surgeon, finally decided that an
operation was necessary in order to
save O'Neill's life. He was told of
his condition, and agreed to undergo
the operation. Dr. Merrill at that
time thought it possible to remove
Af
but when an opening was made he
found that the joint was rotting
away, and that the bones were hon
eycombed. The socket at the elbow
was entirely gone, and the bones were
in diseased condition all through.
Under. those circumstances he de-
cided that an amputation was neceS-
Sary, and the arm was removed. Dr.
Merrill and his assistant both say
that everything possible was done
to save the arm, but that nothing
would help. O'Neill is now suffering
from tuberculosis of the left leg at
the ankle. Tt has been encased i'm
a plaster of paris cast, and nature
may restore the condition of the
limb, but it will take time to tell.
O'Neill says he believes that the
prison surgeon acted as he thought
best, and that he consented to an
operation.
NEW MACHINERY PURCHASED.
The board of prison managers
held meeting at the prison today,
and, aside from granting paroles
and transacting other matters Of
minor Importance, listened to re-
port from the committee appointed
to go East to purchase new binding
Irvine machinery. The committee
reported that complete set of long
line machinery had been purchased
In New York ait a cost of $19. 500. and
that part of the machinery is al
ready under way, and will be. in
operation within thirty days. The
balance of the machinery is to be
running within sixty days. The new
plant will manufacture Irvine from
sisal and MANILA, and will have a
capacity of 10000 pounds per day.
Inc purchase price includes freights
expert work and carriage, and is
SUBJECT to the approval of the hoard
OF managers when the machinery is
IN operation. The committee also
purchased several thousand bales of
MANILA and sisal to be delivered az
required 90
Panoles were granted to the fol-
lowing convicts yesterday: Leslie
P1kkarainen, St.Louis county. -.
nalter' ottertail county; George s
france Freeborn county, and Jacob
t. Johnson, Mower count,