The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-04-02
0ii.IISSION
INVESTIGATION.

TIE investigation, by Police Com
mission. into he death IF Howard
Mind!c, brought out no new testi.
monr. The man from the first was
regarded as plain "drurk.'
The Witnesses called before the
commission were not sworn. but
each was asked to tell all he knew
about the occurrence. The first
witness was Police Surgeon John
+. Wales. Alter explaining how
lie was called topolce headquarters
10 attend Windlc. he was questioned
by tine commi ssioners.
"Do you think if he had been Civ
en- immediate attention he would
have rccovcred!' asked Cominis-
sloner Jones.
"Well, there's always hope" re.
piled DIR. Wales. Its pretty hard
to say. Pant of the skull would
have had to be removed TO check
the hcmorrhage.
SIT you had seen him carly could
you have discovered The lraclure?'
asked President Clarkson.
That is also hard to say" re-
sponded the surgeon. "Thc con-
dltion like drunkenness might
prevent the discovery Of such an in.
jury. Ii it had been found in time
and the man taken to Il hospital lie
might have had chance. Win.
die had thin skull. and fall 10
the pavement, such as he is suppcs.
ed to have had. would not orii-
narily fracture mans skull. The
lack ol any external wound made
the case puzzlng. A fail rather
than blow from tis. probably
caused the injury
Captain Thomas y. Kane. who
was in charge when the prisoner
was brought IN. related that Ser
geant Rice said the man was asdrunk,
but he did no, hear the sergeant
cay that the prisoner had been
struck by Alfred Wright. Captain
Kane said that Sergeant Rice re-
ported that Wlndlc was unconscious
when arrested, and the captain sup
pissed 1t was due to intoX'ca,ion.
President Clarkson read Sergeant
Rice = statement that he had report.
cd TO Captain Kane that Peter
Stewart said Wright had struck
Nindlc. Captain Kane said that no
such statement was made to hlm.
II il had he would have taken I'M
mediate steps to have had Wind!e's
Injuries looked afte". Captain Kane
Sa.d it is the practice. when man
is brought in with any signs oil in.
jury to wash Inn. Ii the wound is
slight TO dress it al once. but if It
appears serious the police surgeon
10 called at once. lie said he was
not told that Windic had been bleed.
ins and nothing was reported to
iHiir4''4so lead him 10 regard Wind!c as
auy:oins more than an ordinary
''trunk "
President llarkson observed that
there is danger Of getting INTO
the habit OF res sArding men brought !
into the 20 Ice station, such as
WindIe, as cumnJn ",lrunks. Mr..
Jones thought every man brought
into the police station in Il slupllled /
condition should be carefully exam.
ineG
Mr.. Garrison added that if in suS.
pic'ous cases the police surgeon is !,
called in. the responsibility woulu /
be removed from the department.
President Clarkson had Captain ,
Kane called b.torc the commission ,
again, and explained to him that ,
Sergeant Durncy had stated that
Captain Kane ordered Sergeant
kcl'eher TO arrest AL Wright.
Captain Kane sad lie could eX-
PLAIN this. He said that when
coming on duty some policeman (he
coa'd not just recall whol, had tod
him that Windc had died, aud that
Al. Wright had struck the prisoner.
That was the first knowledge he
had that Wright had hit W;ndle.
Regarding Sergeant Rice's state
mcOt that lie had informed Captain
Kane that Wright slrnck the pr. son.
er, Captain Kane said he was pos
tive Sergeant Rice made no such