The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27
DIES IN CELL
FROM FRACTURE
Prisoner Supposed to Have
Been Drunk Actually Suf-
fers From a Broken Skull
FALL CAUSE OF FATALITY
Injury Is Found When the
City Physician Holds an
Autopsy on the Mans Body
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
Ills Broadway. Dec. 2s.


Ills Broadway, Dec rs.
Richard Sibrian. IS years old. resld-
ing at 1924 Oak street, Alameda. was
found dead at s o'clock this morning
in cell at the City Prison. where he
had been taken at $50 o'clock last
night apparently in a stupOr from ex-
cessive drinking. A fracture Of the
skull caused by a fall before Sibrian
was arrested induced a slow hemor-
rhage that brought death to the pris-
oneT His actual condition was not dis
covered until after his body had been
examined at the Morgue by Health on
Ger DR.. z. A. Won Adelung.
Sibrian had been drinking yesterday
and about z o'clock last evening fell
down a sidewalk stairway at Christen-
sens saloon, southeast corner OF Sew
enth and Washington streets. Soon
afterward the young man. who showed
signs Of liquor, was taken in the police
patrol wagon to the Receiving Hospital
by Patrolman Forgie to be treated for
broken finger. At that time appar-
emily the injury to the head had not
manifested itself. Steward Harry BOr-
ebert set rhe fractured finger and the
sufferer was discharged.
According to BOrchert and Policeman
Forgie, the patient exhibited no unus-
ual symptoms There was nothing
about his condition to attract special
attention. But because he seemed to
be slightly under the influence OF liquor
BOrchert advised his patient to go
home. Sibrian said he had no money.
so Borchert gave him a dime and sent
him on his way, expecting the young
man would take car fOrh Alameda
Sibrian did not go home. Within an
hour after he left the hospital Police
men Bert Brown and John COckertOn
saw him leaning against a piano box
at the southeast corner Of Broadway
and Thirteenth streets. He was IN -
stupor and to all outward appearances
was suffering from a heavy overindul-
gence IN Christmas beverages.
Sibrian was taken to the City Prison.
there registered as drunk" by Jailar
Henderson and put in the cell in which
he died.
When Jailer Flynn was making his
rounds at s o'clock this morning James
Flood. who occupied the cell with ST.
brian, notified Flynn that the young
man was dead. Health officer Won
Adelung was called at once, but could
only pronounce the man dead
The body was removed 10 the
Morgue, where an autopsy revealed the
fatal fracture on the right side Of the
head. extending from the ear to the
base Of the brain. 1t was a break such
as might have been caused by fall
Police investigation uncovered the
facts concerning Sibrian's fall. AMI it
is believed his skull was injured at the
same time his finger was broken.
The fracture was of such a nature
that it was practically impossible to
discover 1t by external examination.
There was no depression of the skull
and no external hemOrrhage to give
warning Of the fatal injury. Coroner
Mehrmann will hold an inquest Tues
day evening. In anticipation Of that
inquiry, an independent police investi-
cation will be made concerning the u,
facts surrounding the case. SibrianN
leaves parents. a sister and a brother
residing in Alameda