The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-21
THECOL. ROBERTS AUTOPSY
j. N. BUTLER TO BE TRIED FOR
AUTHORIZING n.

C1sveIAnd's Minister to Cali said 10 Have Con-
nentea e q Post-R1ortetn Examination or
His Brnin-MnEistrnte Crano Objects 10
Heinz Addressed ns "Honr HiGhuesa."
DR.. J. N. Butler OF a. East Thirtioth street
was arraiRned in Yorkville Court yesterday on
tho charge OF having illegally authorized an All.
topsy on the body of tho late Col. William r..
Roberts, who was United States Minister TO
Chill under the first Administrations of Mr..
Cleveland.
Col. Roberts was estranged from his family
for a number OF years, and lived with the Sci.
bort family at 100 West Seventy sixth street.
He was sent to Bellevue Hospital on Aug. 9 and
died there three days later. DR.. Butler is Mrs.
Scibert's sonin-law.
The complaint was made by Lawyer James
Roberts OF Flushing. l. l., a son Of the dead
man. Ex-Mayor A. Oakley Hall appeared for
tho complainant and former Assistant District
Attorney Barlow s. Weeks represented the
doctor.
Mr.. Roberts testified that he called on DR..
Butler several days after his fathers death and
asked about the autopsy. The doctor told him
that he had known tho dead man since he. the
doctor, had married Miss Seibert, three years
ago. Col. Roberts had had paresis and had died
IN the last stages Of that disease. He had as.
sisted ut the autopsy. and had authorized 1t be-
cause 1t was a very interesting medical case. No
LESSONS WeTe Ounu III II DTNln, u thhb oIk1h
was in a watery condition. He did not know
why the death was not advertised 30 as to notify
the relatives. lie acknowledged having signed
the certificate for the autopsy as the nearest
friend" but said that was a mistake, and that
Mrs. Seibert should have signed 1t. He was
sorry the mistake had occurred. Mr.. Weeks
said the defendant took no part In the cutting
up and that the Bellevue Hospital doctors were
to blame, II any one was.
Mr.. Roberts said his father had lived In tho
West Seventy-sixth street house since his re-
turn from Chilli. He had not spoken to his
father since that time. but had passed the house
once a month, and had seen him sitting at the
window until he was moved upstairs. He made
several attempts to get in the house to see his
father. but could not. Tho Seiberts knew that
he. his sister, and his mother were alive. MIR.
Seibert had written to his mother at ITO West
Fifteenth street.
DIR. williams of Bellevue Hospital testified
that he and his assistant, DR.. Furguson. had
performed the autopsy. DR.. Butler. who was
present at it, had given a written consent. au'
thorizing 1t. A death certificate could have
been made out without an autopsy. Mrs. Seibert
told him before Mr.. Roberts's death that she
did not know where his relatives were. DR.. But.
Ter told him that the Colonel had had fourteen
apoplectic strokes, and he thought science would
be benefited by an examination OF the brain.
Only the head was opened and the brain removed
and dissected.
81 think It would be a good plan for hospital
doctors to make an effort to find tho relatives of
a dead person before making an autopsy" said
the Magistrate.
Mr.. Weeks said he know from experience that
II the hospital doctors could get any ones con-
sent they would cut up a dead person.
Yes" continued the Magistrate. hospital
doctors are frequently too anxious to cut open
the dead, either from motives OF curiosity or
love OF science"
Mrs. Seibert II any of the relatives could be
found. He did not think it necessary.
Rouerts had given a consent for an autopsy a
number of times before he died, in the hope that
1t would benefit humanity.
DR.. Terreberry testified for the defence that he
had attended Col. Roberts from 1889 to 1893
him two years ago that the Colonel had Consent.
ed to have his brain examined after his death.
think ink he he m msn ca apa bslei Of sivin as y Snah si q een se SG y
asked the Magistrate.
M NMel Macs ses' ~ we ssi fse an wSs then called. sb.
Is a rather good-looking woman, with a sprink-
ling OF gray in ner hair, She said she asked Col.
would consent to have his brain examined after
death. He consented. She again asked him
told DR.: Butler that he willingly consented.
The Magistrate said he thought 1t strange
nhe first met Col. Roberts in Pittsburg, Pa.
"Didy you go to Chill with him when he was
appointed Minister = Mr., Hall asked.
Have not you and your family been living
on him for the past nine years o.
We have been living with him, not on him"
D you ever visit the Colonel at his house
ut Huntington. l.. IL" Mr.. Hall asked.
Yes; with my husband and son" was the
answer.
And didn't his son turn you awayr'
mo, sir"
Mr.. Hall showed a letter written by Mrs.
Seibert's daughter to Col. Roberts's wife to
show that the Seiberts knew where the relatives
were.
The Magistrate said the Seiberts should have
made every effort to find the dead mans rela-
tives before consenting to an autopsy. THAT
was a sacred obligation" he said.
But, your Highness, we interrupted Mrs.
Seibert.
No Hlghness. If you please" rejoined the
Magistrate.
But, your Hiehness. we looked in tho direc.
~ am no Hlghness.'" Magistrate Crane said.
"and l wish you wouldn't call mo SUCH"
EXCUSE her. Judge" explained Mr.. Hall.
"She Is accustomed to South American ways
more than to ours
The Magistrate held DR.. Butler in $500 bail
for trial