The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-24
IN A wRETCHED STATE.
A Prisoner An the County Jail Suffer-
ing from Necrosis.

ing from Necrosis
In felon's cell at the county Jail a
poor mans life is rapidly and surely ebb-
ing away. He cannot live much longer,
bat no treatment is being given to
lengthen out his unhappy life or make
his last moments as easy as possible.
The man is Edward Mcdonald, one of
the men accused of burglariZing the
Howard store. He is probably not over
40, but his wasted form and hollow
chest and cheeks make him look much
older. His bones are decaying and it
cannot be long unless something is quick
~ done until he will have passed from
the jail to the world beyond. The Jail
authorities have done what little they
can to make Mcdonald as comfortable as
possible.
The accused burglar is suffering from
fatal disease, necrosis. or decay OF the
bones. In each shoulder the bones are
dead and rotting and the external ap-
pearancs over three places on his should
ers is something frightful.
Holes are eating their way through his
flesh and he cannot raise his hands to his
head.
A JOURNAL reporter called on Melon
aid this morning in the county jail hos
pital, a little room in the southeast cor
ner of the third floor of the jail, which
is not made of iron and is therefore bet
ter for invalids. His patience is wonder
ful He seems to be man of some
education, for he speaks quite correctly
81 was hurt by timber falling upon
my left shoulder in the mines near
Cripple Creek a year ago last fall, he
said. A'My shoulder was dislocated, but
il was never correctly set and ia still out
of place. l was in the hospital In
Wyandotte last fall, and there oae of the
bones of my shoulder was removed"
tsWere you discharged as curedF"
ord aV16
that's where l made my mistake. l
should have stayed and become COM
pletely cured. l have never been able
to raise my left arm to my head since
my shoulder was dislocated, but since
have come here my right shoulder has
become so bad that / cannot now raise it
there. either"
As he said this the reporter noticed
that the sick mau's hair was neatly
combed and parted. 1t looked like a
fraud had been discovered. but on inqui-
~ from Jailer Sheehan it was found
that one of the TRUSTEES does this for
him.
''Mr Kepley wanted me to come up
TO this room long before / did" contin-
ued Mcdonald, shut thought 1 should
be away from everybody and lonesome,
SO put it off longer than should have.
! fear. Mr. KepIey has been very kind
to me. l think that that man has too
big heart to see anybody suffer, or mis-
treat them, if he could help them"
As the sick man was speaking of the
sheriff, tears came into his eyes and he
continued talking about him for some
minutes
There was no word of complaint He
seemed perfectly willing to accept what
ever fate is allotted to him, but that he
appreciates the seriousness of his condi-
ton and clings to the wild hope that he
will be taken to a hospital and have an
operation performed, could not be
doubted from the anxious tone OF his
voice.
I'VE must remember that this is
county jail.' said he evidently reading
the reporters thoughts lit is not no.
tel and we cannot demand anything"
Sheriff Kepley has made application to
the county commissioners to have Nc
Donald taken to the hospital at the coun-
~ poor farm for treatment or else set
free, but it has not yet been acted upon.