The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-12
HOSPITAL TRAGEDY
Hearing Before the coroner's Jury
in the Death Of Hahn Resumed
..- - at Rochester.
DR.. Mayo the Principal Witness To.
day-All Attendants Under i
81 May Be Dismissed.
Special to The: Journal.

Special to The. Journal. . ... -.<-. -.sl,.,ss.. .
Rochester, Mimi, Nov. 12-The jury
summoned to Investigate the violent death
at the state hospital of George Hahn, a
patient from st. Paul, met again at II
o'clock this forenoon. Upon a general re-
quest the evidence of all the nurses in
the ward in which Hahn was confined was
read at length and considered very care
fully. -, w o.. s...-%
y There are eight Of these attendants,
Frank Davis, w. S. Cav, Melvin Bibbins,
A. M. Van Kirk, Clarence Miracle. A. J.
Leverage, Leo Date, and w. T.. Barnard
All are young men of good reputation and
except Cav and Davis, are experienced
nurses. having been in the institution from
two to five years. '-'.~
Cav, with whom Hahn had the first
serious struggle is but 10, and has been
in the hospital only since April last.
There is feeling here that the attendants
and authorities at the hospital ought to
be censured for leaving Cav, who was so
young and inexperienced, alone with
patient known to be so violent and des-
perate as Hahn.
The reading of the nurses evidence
which has already been outlined by T h e
j o ur n a ], took until noon and a recess
was then taken until 2 p. M Dr. w. J.
Mayo, at the head Of st. Mary's hospi-
tai, will be the principal witness to-day.
He will give. an exhaustive account of
will close the inquiry unless some of the
attendants are recalled to testify. 1t Is
expected the case will reach the Jurors
hands late this afternoon.
Judge Gould of Winona, of the state
board of control, is present and is having
all the proceedings taken by a special
stenographer.
The blame which was placed so strong
~ upon young Cav at the outset, has
been shifted to large extent by public
opinion to the nurses involved with him.
1t is clear that Hahn was fatally injured
either in the struggle with Cav or in the
encounter which occurred between the
patient and the attendants who came in
response to Caw's cries for help
1t has been shown that the cut in the
| scalp Of the patient was received oil the
night of Oct. 80, the second day, after he
| came here, when he had a violent spell
and hauled his iron bedstead about his
room and turned it over and over. The
bedstead was removed and his bed made
on the floor. About an hour later noise
was heard as If something or somebody
had fallen upon the floor. When the
door was opened he was found PROSTATE
with deep scalp wound. It was thought
he climbed on the radiator and jumped
or fell off. Some of HIS other injuries
may have been received then.
1t is said to-day by; hospital authorities;
that all employees under 21 will be dis
charged. If this is done, about e-ha1f
| of the employees will be affected
1t is generally conceded it will be, diff
ficult for the jury to bring criminal
! charge against any one concerned. The
verdict generally looked for will recon-
mend the immediate dismissal of all the
employees involved in the affair.
! Sheriff johnson of st. Paul, who took
Hahn into custody ion information of in
sanity, says he was. the most violent pa
tient he had ever seen and at times no
two or three men could handle him.,