Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-02-13
ED. THOMAS DEAD
DEATH ENSUED SHORTLY AFTER
REMOVAL TO THE HOSPITAL.
An Attempt of Relatives to Have Legal In.
quiry Into trc Cause of Death Is Frus.
trated The Remains of the Unfortunate
Man Taken to Olympia for Burial.

Just before the HERALD went to press
last Thursday, telegram from the
Aberdeen General Hospital announced
that Edward Thomas was alive. and, al
though in critical condition, might
survive the accidental knife wound re-
ceived just before noon. But before the
edition was off the press, he was dead,
That person should bleed to death in
a city of this size, with the number Of
medical and surgical practitioners that
are at hand, was source of surprise to
the relatives of the deceased, as well as
the general public, and the air was filled
with all kinds of rumors regarding the
cause of the death.
That some OF the physicians of the
city practice code of ethics that one
might expect to find in use among the
keepers o. sa lor boarding houses in a
large seaport, but would scarcely look
for among the learned professions in a
civilized community, did not tend to di
minish or modify these ugly rumors, and
by nightfall the city was in fever of
excitement, and the relatives of Mr..
Thomas petitioned the coroner for an in
quest to inquire into the cause OF the
death. As Coroner Smits was connec-
ted with the case he was disqualified.
Justice of the Peace Pearson felt that
inasmuch as his brother, DIR. Pearson,
was one of the attending physicians, he
should not act, and County Attorney
Hutchinson was sent for to advise in the
matter. Mr.. Hutchinson came down
Saturday, and Justice Warren OF
Hoquiam was requested TO act as coro-
ner, and the inquest set for Monday,
and DR.. Watkins of Cosmopolis, and DR.
Rossiter of Hoquiam were appointed to
make the autopsy.
On Monday jury was impaneled by
Acting Coroner Warren, and everybody
supposed that an investigation into the
causes of death would be had. DIR.
Scamell was represented by Lawyer
Bridges, and DIR. Pearson by Judge
Pearson. Attorney Cross was present
on behalf of the relatives CT the deceased.
After the jury was sworn, the coroner
ordered them to proceed to the mOrgue
to view the remains, accompanied by
Drs. Watkins and Rossiter, who were to
make an examination and testify the re-
suit. The jury reached the morgue and
the body was made ready for the eXami-
nation. but, instead of proceeding with
the autopsy, the doctors and lawyers
stood around in little punches, for all
the world like crowd of politicians set
ting up the pins at a convention, and it
soon became evident that great exer-
lions were being made from some quar-
ter to prevent the examination. County
Commissioner Davis was up from
Hoquiam, and openly opposed the hold
ing of the inquest, although his knowl-
edge of the matter was limited to the
rumors of the street. As the opposition
of Mr.. Davis was construed as a threat
that the commissioners would refuse to
allow the bill of expense OF the in
quest, it had some weight. Finally,
when the jury was becoming cold and
tired of waiting, the doctors entered the
morgue, and Dr.Watkins began prepara-
tions by donning the surgical robe At
this point DR.. Rossiter baked, saying
that he did not want to be mixed up in
a possible row; that they could not find
anything more criminal than possible
carelessness. DIR. Watkins would not 90
on alone, and the examination ended
without the doctors or the jury looking
at the fatal wound. The coroner and
Jury returned to the courtroom, where
Judge Warren discharged the jury, say
ing he considered an inquest unneces-
sary, the wound accidental and the
death from hemorrage.
To say that the large crowd in attend
ance was disguised with this travesty
upon the forms of legal inquiry into
sudden deaths, is drawing 1t mild. The
average spectator could not see where
the: justice had learned anything
about the case between the time of
swearing the jury and discharging
them. There had been no testimony
taken, nor was the wound examined.
and, so far as any official knowledge OF
the case was concerned, Judge Warren
might as we'll have wired up from
Hoquiam to dismiss the case without
taking the trouble to come up, or with
out going to the expense of empannel-
ing jury, and, when that had been
done, it was due to the wife and rela-
tives OF the deceased, as we'll as to the
general public and the medical gentle