The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-26
HOW He DIED.
Question About Death Of James
De. Yeamans.
Widow in Controversy With
Board of Health.
HEAR TFAILURE GIVEN
Asks to Have Certificate Show
Death From Army Wound.
City Authorities Refuse to Make
the Change.
HEAR TFAILURE GIVEN

James NJ Yeanans. an old soldier.
died in Topeka on august 80, very sud-
denly The certificate OF his death. filed
by the undertakers with the board Of
health. gives the cause of his death as
heart failure,
Dr.. J. G. Mulvane. who was the at
tending physician. was asked today TO
make a statement in regard to the case
He answered the request rather holly,
saying:
Well, sir. I am not on the witness
stand. and I don't propose to answer
any questions concerning this case
With that he turned on his heel and
left the room where the interview oc-
Cured
The suspicion Of the health officers Of
the city was first aroused by the per
sisJent efforts OF Mrs. YeamanS, the
widow. to obtain a certificate Of death
giving the cause of her hus band : death
as 'tgunsh0t wounds received IN the
civil war She wanted such an afh-
dayit in order to enable her TO obtain a
pension. She made two visits to the Of
fee Of the board. and made her state
ment to the board members Sanitary
Sergeant Vanderpool refused to give
any other affidavit than what was
shown by the records Mr.. Fanderpool
says
Mrs Yeamans abused her dead hus-
band and in substance admitted that
tanning his pension money when ne
died
Mr. and Mrs Yeamans were married
only a few months ago, IN Scranton
They moved 10 Topeka two weeks prior
to Mr. Yeannauss death. Mr. Yeauans
was an old man. and his wife was con
siderab bly, younger she was divorced
from her first husband on the ground Of
his drunkenness.
Yeamans was taken sick very sud
denly, and died before Dr. MuIvane,
who was summoned. reached the house
Mr. and Mrs Yeamans lived at Sixth
avenue and Van Buren, street
Mrs Yeamans has her case IN the
hands OF P H C0ney. pension attorney.
The health officials state that they viii
not make any affidavit in support Of her
claims not shown by the death certIfi-
cate There is an ordinance IN Topeka
requiring that doctors attending
patients who die must file q report Of
the death. giving the cause This or
dfnance- however. has been allowed to
become a dead letter, and it is very sell
dom that any physician makes such a.
report Mrs Yeanaus~ says that Dr.
Mulvane directed the undeFtakars to
certify that her husband died of heart
failure
Mrs Yeauans lives over the grocery
store at Sixth and Van Buren, She
said today. IN speaking Of the case;
Ny late husband was the dearest
kindesr man that ever lived and f rle
officials of the health department say
that I abused him. they say what is not
true T may have abused DIR. Mulvane,
and they understood me to refer TO my
husband. DR. MuIvane is the cause Of
al my trouble. because ne would not
certify that my husband died from the
effect of a gunshot wound Just the
stroke of his pen would have helped me
so much NY husband was hit IN the
head with a bullet during the war. and
received a pension of $50 d month He
was a painter by trade, and his last
Job was painting at the opera house
a. rs4F
pentfne. and complained OF having
pain in his head the day before he
died.
Mrs Yeamans Is the mother Of John,
Johnston. the adopted son OF Associate
Justice W A Johnston of the supreme
court John Johnston was a soldier in
the Twentieth Kansas Mrs Eeamans
also had another son in the Spanish war
who was killed. and she now has an
application pending for a pension on
his account