The San Francisco call., 1898-04-29
WHAT CAUSED
 HIS DEATH? Mystery in the Demise of an Employe of the
 Racetrack.
Henry Wright Died Twenty One Days After Being
 Beaten.
Dr. Clark of the InHrn1ary Is Sure Death Was the Result of
 Consumption.

Henry Wright, a colored boy, who was employed at the racetrack exercising horses, died Wednesday at the Alameda County Infirmary, and there is a sus- picion that his death is not fully account ed for by the doctors certificate, which gives consumption as the cause.
 Last Tuesday Trip" O'Neill, the base ball player, who is a deputy sheriff at the racetrack, brought young Wright to the Receiving Hospital in a buggy. He turned him over to the care of Steward Tobin, and stated that Wright had been in scrap at the track and had received a beating. ONeill also stated that the colored boy had been kicked. Tobin put the boy to bed and from him obtained the same story. Wright was so sore on his right side that he could not lie upon 1t.
 While he was at the hospital" said Steward Tobin this afternoon, he was not attended by a doctor, as there was nothing serious about his sickness, and l understood that he was merely to be here until Supervisor Church could be asked for permit to admit the boy to the county intirmary. 1 did not examine him, but the boy said he had got into in the right side. Some time later a permit was issued, I believe, at the re- quest of Tip O'Neill, and Wright was learned that he died there yesterday.
 Yesterday morning Charles Boots, the well-known horse owner and racing man, reported to Jailer Lane at the County Jail that Wright was dead, and that he had heard that his death was due partly, If not wholly, to being beaten at the race track during row. MT. Boots said he had no positive knowledge of the fact, but he reported 1t as he considered it worthy of being investigated. Jailer Lane communicated the facts to Coroner Bald win.
 "As soon as I heard of the matter" said the Coroner, Il at once questioned Dr. Clark, the resident physician of the in firmary, who had signed the death cer- ttficate. pr. Clark told me that he had not found any bruises on the boy, neither had Wright made any complaint of ill., treatment The doctor assured me that as soon as Wright was received at the in- tirmary careful diagnosis of his lungs was made, which resulted in proving that he was suffering from acute consumption, and that there was nothing to indicate any other cause for death. AS pr. Clark is a very conscientious physician I con- sidered that there was no need to con- tinue my investigation.
 pr. Clark was asked yesterday after noon regarding any proof of injury, and said that although Wright was conscious right up to the time of his death he did not make any reference to any ill-treat- ment. Tn examining his lungs said pr. Clark, 1t was necessary to strip him be- low his ribs, and l should think if he were suffering he would have let Ine know. It has been reported to me that one of his jaws was broken, but such . statement is false"
 Young Wright was buried yesterday afternoon from the undertaking parlors of McManus & Go. AS he lay in the casket he presented a very healthy ap- pearance, and the manager said that he certainly did not look like a consumptive patient. although there was not a bruise on llls body or anything to indicate that he had not died as the doctor recorded. The eNpt nses of the funeral were paid by the boys at the track, as Wright IS not known to have any friends or rela- tives In this vicinity. The boy was about c3 years of age, and had been around racetracks for few years.