Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-25
AN INQUEST HELD
Jury Listens to Testimony in the Barry
Case.
The Mans SufferinEs Might Have Been
Relieved, Says the Verdict
Alcohol Caused Death.

Deputy Coroner Glazebrook held an In
quest at Lees undertaking establishment
this morning at 10 o'clock upon the body
of Edward ]. Barry. the ex-policeman who
died suddenly at the ninth precinct from
an attack of delirium tremens. The jury
summoned to hear the evidence and give
verdict consisted OF Messrs. A. s. Wilson,
c. c. Langley, Geo. G. OFT. l.. A. Latch
ford, Jos. Daley and Harry Smith Station
Keeper BushalI testified that the deceased
was brought into the station Sunday night,
and charge of irtoxication placed against
him. He testified that when the man was
placed in a cell he became noisy and cried
out that Things were after him. Shortly
afterward he quoted down and apparently
went to SLEEP. Some time afterward. about
3 O'Clock in tie morning. he became Eio-
lent again, and a little while afterWard he
tBushalD found the deceased writing
upon the floor. He saw at once the man
was In precarious condition, and was
about. to wake one of tho reserve to send
for doctor when he noticed Officer He
brew passing. Quickly calling him, he dis
patched him for DIR. Cole, telling the officer
to bid the doctor to come at once, as the
man was in critical condition. When Of
ficer Hebrew returned he stated that Or.
Cole refused to come, and DR.. hewitt was
at once notified to come, and the latter re-
sponded Immediately.
Refused to Come.
Officer Hebrew testified that he rang DIR.
Coles bell three times before getting any
response. That he explained the case to
him, and stated that the station Deeper de-
sired him to come at once. He also added.
in reply to question from DIR. Cole that
there was a charge of intoxication against
the man, whereupon DR.. Cole refused to
respond, telling him to go to the medicine
chest in the lieutenants room at the sta
ton. and there he would find bottle la
teled bromide of potash. and to give the
man a teaSpoonful dose, to be repeated in
half an hour if the man still suffered. But
not knowing anything of medicine, and be-
ing afraid of getting the wrong bottle, he
had refrained from following these direc-
tions. Several witnesses testified that the
dead man had been chronic drinker, and
during the past few months had been
drinking to excess.
DIR. Cole was called, and testified that the
officer walked him up and stated that there
was man at the station suffering from
delirium tremens. That he was feeling IN
we'll, and told the officer what to do. He
did not consider the case one of emergency.
II he had. he would most certainly have
responded.
DR.. ]. r. hewitt. police surgeon. testified
that he was called to attend the case short
ly after o'clock Monday morning and re-
sponded Immediately, but found the man
dead when he arrived.
The Verdict.
During the testimony it was brought out
that there is a regulation in the police
manual which requires police surgeons to
respond to cases in the stations, and there
was some question why DR.. hewitt was not
Immediately notified.
The jury then retired. ard, after consid-
ering the case for some time brought in a
verdict that the man came to his death
from alcoholism. and that his sufferings
might have been allaviated by prompt
medical attention, and. while we further
believe that the responsibility should rest
upon some one, yet the evidence is of such
conflicting character we cannot fix the
blame on any one. but recommend that in
all such future cases the police manual be
more strictly adhered to and the proper
medical authorities be summoned at once"