The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-01
STORY COMES OUT
The RynersOn COroner's Inquest
Begins Today.
Evidence About Bruises Found
on Old Man.
HE WAS RATIONAL.
WAS RATIONAL.
Appeared Sane When He Told
of Brutality.
Evidence That Bruises We're
Not Caused by Falls.

The hearing of testimony at the in
quest to determine the cause of the
death of Jacob Rynerson, the aged man
who was maltreated at Bedwell's asy-
lum, was begun this morning
Only two witnesses were examined at
the morning session of the inquest.
They were DR.. ]. A. Reed, of Tecumseh,
who was the family physician who was
called to care for the patient after he
was removed by his relatives from the
private asylum. The other witness was
DR.. S. A. Johnson, who was employed to
make an examination of the aged man.
He was assisted in that examina ton by
DR.. @. w. Ellinger.
In answer to a direct question from
Attorney w. f. SchQch who is repre-
senting the relatives of the dead man in
this matter DR.. johnson stated that he
would not undertake to make the claim
that the bruises which Jacob RyEerson
had on the left side of his body and on
his face. eyes and neck We're there as
the result of falling down or falling
against his bed.
DR.. Johnson was the second witness
who took the stand He described the
bruises which he found upon making
the examination of the mans body. The
description of the bruises was substan-
TALLY the same as was printed in the
State Journal at the time.
discrepancy between DR.. Johnson's
testimony and the stories as they have
been told before was in his statements
that Mr.. Rynerson told him he was
kicked in the right side by the attend
ant at the asylum.
During the examination of DR.
Reed by Mr.. Schoch, Attorney Otis
Hungate, who represents Mr.. Bedwells
interests in the case. objected to the
testimony relating to what Mr.. Ryner
son had told him regarding the treat
ment he bad received at the hands of
the attendants at the asylum on the
grounds that the testimony was incom-
petent, it being hearsay. The objection
was sustained DR.. johnson, however
in telling the jury the story of his trip
to Tecumseh and the examination told
portion of what Mr.. Rynerson had told
him in regard to being kicked and
struck by the attendants before Attor-
ney Hungate and Mr. Bedwel made u
sign to him not to give the testimony.
DR.. Johnson's testimony was to the
effect that the bruises and the discoloI-
ing on his right side extended down
dence that the black and blue spots on
his side could not have been from a fall
in which his hips struck the floor first
The testimony brought out this morn
ing showed that there were no bruises
on Mr. Rynerson's elbows or arms at
the time he was taken from the asylum
which would indicate that the stories
that he received his injuries in falling
to the floor were unfounded
Dr. Reed was the first witness. He
was first examined by Coroner Hoge-
boom. He gave the jury the dates on
which he examined Mr.. Rynerson, and
the days on which he visited him In
answer to a question as to Whether he
found any of the ribs broken, DR.. Reed
said:
Il was of the opinion at the time I
made the examination that three of his
ribs were broken and [ so expressed my
self, but guess I was mistaken
DR.. Reed testified that when he first
visited Mr.. Rynerson after he was taken