New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-31
EMERY AND BACKUS CLASH.
LETTERS PASS BETWEEN THEM BECAUSE
OF THE AUTOPSY ON THE BODY OF
MISS GALLERY.

Considerable friction developed yesterday be-
tween District Attorney Backus and Health Com
missioner Emery the fact that private au-
topsy was made on the body Of Kate Gallery who
died on Wednesday night. by Drs. Drury and
Jacobson at the direction of DR.. Emery. AS al
ready told Dr. Drury attended Miss Gallery for
several days before her death. and when he heard
that she had died he reported to DR.. Emery that
there suspicious circumstances attached to
the case 1t upon DR.. Emerys suggestion that
the autopsy performed without reference at
first to the Coroner with the result that Mr.. Back
us and Or. Coombs assert that II there was any
unnatural cause OF Miss Callery's death. the pri-
vate autopsy removed It so completely that the
Coroner's physician totally unable to discover
it, Yesterday the following correspondence passed
between Mr.. Backus and Health Commissioner
Emery:
Dear Sir: I am informed that your department.
II Dr. ;n Dry MAX MAKE s + Sasry
would like TO know whether your department did
80 "u'''f FOSTER Isl L. BAcikUs. Dlstrict-Attorney
Dr. z. Taylor Emery, Health Commissioner,
Department Of Health. Commissioners Offce
Hon. Foster L. Backus. District Attorney q %inss
County COUNTY Court H ro, Dd nroS wen
beg to State that Dr. Drury called at this Office
% an yonng Woman ' pat q his
who had recently died from perltonitis He stated
that ne ndd Deen CtIleu III tile case ulirt ~
Mosher. | think that he had communicated with
Or. Mosher and found that they had told him the
same story. that they had settled with him and
that everything appeared TO be all straight with
him. and he wanted 10 know II the certificate
would be accepted at this department. stated to
him that would be better to satisfy himself that
the case was straight by means Of post-mortcm
mortem in the presence OF competent witnesses.
and II anything developed OF a suspicious nature
TO turn the TO the Coroner. Trusting
the same will be satisfactory TO you, am. yours
very sincerely, Il. TAYLOR EMERY.
After the receipt of DR.. Emerys reply. Mr..
Rackus sent a long ;etter TO DR.. Emery. in which
he reviewed the facts in the and proceeded to
say:
This letter il not intended az criticism either
upon YOUR department upon Drs. Mosher, Drury
or jacobson. but 1t is for the purpose or having
established a regulation that will be understood
between your department the Coroner and the
District Attorney. so that we may hereafter work
in harmony with each other. OF course II seems
TO me the practice Of authorizing attending phys-
clans TO make autopsies In such cases might result
in obliterating evidences OF crime and in failure
OF proper official investigation I'D prosecutor
give certificate of dea tn. where there Is no doubt
and should report TO the Coroner where there Is
doubt and leave the body OF the deceased unmuti-
lated What Is to prevent a doctor who himself
has performed the criminal abortion, from calling
In n friendly doctor. operating ana destroying al
evidences of his crime. IL this rule Is 10 prevail?
7 will gladly meet you at your Office In consiilta-
zion with Coroner Coombs for the purpose Of hay
ing an Interview and arriving at a perfect under
standing between departments or course. II
MAJ, be that I am entirely wrong, and. II so, |
would like to be set right