New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-14
WARDS ISLAND MEN HELD
CorOner,s Jury IN Knack Case I'm
pHcdteS T7cO of Them.

Coroner Brown held inquest yesterday into
the cause Of death of Ludwig Knack. which oc-
Cured March 2S at the Manhattan State Hos
pital for the Insane at Wards Island. At the
time Of the mans death certificate issued
that death was caused by pneumonia, but Cor
oner Brown found that twelve OF the mans ribs
were fractured and his breastbone broken.
Yesterday Dr.. Knapp. OF the Manhattan State
Hospital, who attended Knack at the hospital
admitted that he had made out the death
certificate, showing that Knack had died of
lobular pneumonia, chronic myocarditis and
senile dementia. Nothing written in the
certificate at that time, he said, with reference
TO the fact that some Of the patients ribs were
broken. Later after consulting Superintendent
Mcdonald, stated the witness. he inserted the
words, fracture of sternum and ribs"
Thomas Riley at Wards Island.
testified that he had had no experience as a
nurse before he went to the hospital He had
driven an ash cart prior to that time he said.
Catherine Dyer. of No 2O29 Third-ave..
stepdaughter of Knack testified that the day
before Knack died she visited him at the Man
haitian state Hospital Sitting at the side OF
his bed, she said. she saw that his head had
been battered; that his body was bruised; that
his hands swollen to twice their normal
size; his eyes blackened and bis breastbone
knocked in. He was awful sight" she said.
Her stepfather perfectly sane and conscious
at the time. she asserted. and when she asked
how he received his injuries. he told her that
two men had jumped him the previous night
and had struck him the head with a club.
The jury returned this verdict:
That the said Ludwig Knack came to his
death on March 2S at the Manhattan State Hos
pital Wards Island. by pneumonia, TEAMMATES.
peritonitis fractures OF ribs right and left
side and fracture of sternum and that said tract
ures were sustained I'm said hospital on the
night and morning Of March 20 and 81 while
the deceased was in charge OF Hospital Attend
ants John Shea, Walter s. Reilly and Thomas
II. Reilly.
We recommend that more care on the part OF
said hospital authorities and employees be exer-
cised I'm filing proper death certificates and IN
keeping more accurate daily records in said in
stitution.
Shea and the two Reillys were held IN $500
bail each
Dr. Macdonald. OF the Manhattan State Hos
pital, was out OF town yesterday. but the first
assistant, I'm commenting on the verdict, said to
a Tribune reporter;
No proper account was taken OF the condition
OF this patient when he came to the hospital
II must be remembered tina: he restless and
violent. one OF the hardest patients to manage
We have ever had He was forever rolling about
and falling on the floor. When old and emac
lated. as he was IL is no uncommon thing for
patient to fracture his bones In this way. We
are confident that this patient received every
care possible and that the attendants in %
vestigation follows this verdict. Ia threat
ened very we'll We feel confident that the hos
ptal will be eXonerate1 from any charge OF
cruelty or remissness In the care of patients.