The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09
MORGUE KEEPER ON TRIAL.
Hrs ILLEGED TR<FFIC IN BODIES
BEING INVESTIGATED.

The Commissioner, OF Charities Beei. the
Hearing OF Testimony In the Case OF
Albert Napoleon Observation-Disclosures
Murpby OF Bellevue on the stand.
Albert Napoleon White. the keeper OF the city
Morgue. did not appear yesterday when his
case was called for trial by the Commissioner
OF Charities. White is accused of trsficking in
dead bodies. Ten charges were made against
him nearly two months ago. and since then no
has been under suspension. Several adjourn
ments have been granted him, but. notwith-
standing this, his counsel. William Lane o'Neil.
asked for further delay yesterday upon the
strength of . doctors certificate that White
was Ill.
Corporation Counsel's Assistant Farley. who
appeared for the prosecution, opposed further
delay. and the Commissioner ordered the case
to proceed. Thomas +. Murphy, superintendent
OF Bellevue Hospital. was tho first witness. Mr..
Farley, who said that the record Of deaths was
kept In q large book that was in charge of tho
Morgue keeper. whose duty IL was TO see to the
administration OF tho Morgue and to keep track
of bodies from the time OF their admission until
their final removal. asked Murphy:
what disposition 10 made Of such bodies a.
20 to the Morgue -
"Soms are claimed by friends. others are
buried In Pottcr's Field. and others. according
to law. are distributed among various colleges
for dissection"
The superintendent then explained how the
bodies wero allotted TO the different colleges.
He said that when n college demanded It's share
OF unclaimed bodies he referred to the ana
tomical book" kept by the Morgue keeper. and
then made the selection that would best moot
the demand. In regard to tho body of Rosa
Klein. tho spesinc case upon which White is
being tried. Murphy said that IL was received
~ the Morgne from tho Montedoro Home on
the body had been sent 70 III. Poiyciinie Hoe.
pitsi; but there was nothing 10 the register kept
record mns of the 3 ' @an 4. iH aispo ssit@e' IN MI tho . asnso any
cal book. Murphy identified q burial permit
sisnsd by r.; :: Trsesy; register OF the Board Of
the Department of Outdoor Poor. It was dated
Oct. IA, 1896. directing tho keeper Of the city
Ro.. Klein; who died q pSthisis at the
look in the death register and see what record
you have Of Cornelius Walsh. who died in the
1.-THE only record / hnd here is that tho body
wa, received at the Morgus Nov. 10. 1885,"
WHEN did you first see tho body p"
About a week after. IL WAS sent TO tho
MorRue. ! found It had been removed TO Bur-
ton. undertaking establishment on University
What was Its condition 2"
1t locked as If an autopsy had been per
Mr.. Murphy also testified that ho had given
no direction Tor the nnal disposition OF the body
OF Mary Smith, "a years old, who died at tho
almshouse, on Nov. 20. 1896. The body was ro-
ceived at the Morguo the next day. He had no
further record OF It. There was an entry in the
register to show that Adelaide Marks, 62 years
old. had died In the Manhattan State Hospital
on Nov. 4, 1906. His deputy. Capt. Rioketts,
had assigned this body for the use of tho stu
dents In Bellevue Hospital. but White had sent
II to the HOMEOPATHIC Hospital.
Mr.. Murphy read from y receipt book. marked
In ink outside "3ith street" that the body OF
MARI Mclean, received At Tho, Mor9uo from the
Almshouse on Nov. g, 90, had been sent TO DR..
Burton shaw At the Polytechnic College on Thirty
fourth street, and was signed for by Il. Vaughan,
the porter who handles the dead there,
This body had been assigned by Mr.. Murphy TO
the University College, and II was without his
knowledge or consent that II was sent to the
Polycliinlc. On Nov. Is the body of Mary
Q. 80. was assigned by Deputy superintendent
Ricketts, to the University College. but the wit
ness testified thst II had never reached there.
How were the bodies removed from tho
Morgue TO the various colleges?" Mr.. Farley
"Generaily in an express wagon. They were
done up In hampers made Of wicker work and
lined with zinc"
Did you ever state: 1t has been proved to
our abstraction that the tranhc In dead bodies
has been going on for some time. and White has
been suspended p"
well. there was ground for the belief, and IL
is possible l made such a statement"
Did You ever say: W. have rot three
checks which were paid to White for dead
get morc'I"
II don't remember saying SO. but IL I did It
was true"
Tho case was adjourned until to-day.