The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-12
Thorough Investigation Made BY Cor
oner Jordan.
THE BODY DIsINrERRED TWICE
Jury After an All Day S<s-
sion Returned the Verdict Already
Observation-Disclosures i'm the Case Is
soiuiHinou--Prblic Interest Lea the
Whole Case is Aroused.
Especial to The Messenger.)

Hei J. VI JOFuGus WOO mas nad charge
OF d investigation of the death of The
patent Nall at the hospital for IN
sane here, and who has devoted a Num-
Der OF days to a most thorough investi-
CATION of the case. was specially inter-
viewed by your correspondent today
and gave out the first official statement
concerning certain phases of this most
important case. which has now become
OF state-T vide notoriety and interest.
DR.. Jordan said regarding his inves,i-
ito that on last Saturday he was al
Vised by a resolution passed by the
jury and endorsed by the counse, 10
go to Chatham, have the county phys
clan make a proper autopsy in Ills
presence upon the remains. Not hav-
ing information as to the real where
aboutS of the burying grounds, and Us
to who was the county physician in
Catham, he proceeded to Pittsboro 10
ascertain those facts. He learned
there that DR.. J.. n. Turner of Bynum,
\. c.. was the county physician. He
communicated with him by phone AID
arrange for the autopsy al Sandy
Branch church, some Is miles south
west OF PittsborO, arriving there about
II O'Clock. The remains were disin-
TERED and a thorough investigation
into the cause of the death made. The
greatest Indignation prevailed all
through the county. he was told, and
he heard plenty Of expressions show
ing this. The body was we'll preserved
and there was no difficulty in ascer-
tanning the cause of death. The autoc-
sy was begun in the cemetery at the
church, and before it ended the eXDe-
rience was n not to be forgotten. A
thunder storm came up with a ire
mendOus rain, and it "a necessary
for them to remove the remains 10
a schOOlhouse to continue their inves-
tigatiOn. which lasted about three
hours in all. AbOuta dozen people We're
present, including Nails brother,
his father being old and feeble and 0
caring to be present, but having given
his permission for the disinterment Of
the body.
The father is an ex-Confederate SOL
der and a man we'll liked in his COM
munity. His age is II, and he has a
wooden leg, and is a nan very moder-
ate in means. The body was reburiet,
and the grave filled up nicely, it be-
ing the intention Of Coroner jordan
it should so remain, in all probability.
The coroner returned here Monday
morning, and at once laid his report
on the autopsy before the county at
torney, Solicitor Jones of this district
being out of the ely. There was no
meeting of the coroner's jury Monday.
and none was held until yesterday,
when there was a long session, BE-
ginning at 10 and lasting to 5 O'Clock.
The developments of the autopsy be-
ing reviewed by equity n%attOrney on
Monday, and the seriousness of the sit
uation impressing that official, after
a consultation with the solicitor,
which was held by DR.. Jordan over the
phone. Solicitor Jones being at Lilling-
ton. Both the solicitor and the county
attorney advised a second disinter-
ment, and the bringing of the body
here, that no legal questions might
arise about the proper manner of hold
ing the inquisitiOn. The original view
Of Coroner Jordan had been that the
body should be brought back to Ra-
leigh and the investigation and the
accompanying autopsy be made mere,
and ON looking into the law it was
found that this early view of his was
the correct legal one, and both the so
licitOr and county attorney advised
him to return to Chatham and bring
the remains here at the earliest posi-
BILE moment. DR.. Jordan left here
Tuesday morning and went from here
to Bears Creek, had the body disin-
tered and accompanied the remains
to Raleigh, arriving here at 2 O'Clock,
having previously arranged with In
dertaker Strickland to take charge OF
the body upon it's arrival in Raleigh.
The coroner convened the jury At 10
o'clock at the undertaking establish
ment Of Mr.. Strickland, where Dr. j.
N. Taylor, in the presence OF the jury
and the coroner reviewed in full his
autopsy of the Sunday before. He was
then called before the jury to explain
his autopsy before them, and after
having examined other witnesses,
among them the two u~ndertakers who
em3almed the body, and TO h extent
the embalming process employed bear
ing upon the autopsy, he gave
subject the jury returned b verdict
which has already been announced.
this being that Nails death was due to
the treatment given MIN by the o
attendants against whom the jury mas
made its findings. IT did not take the
jury but a little time to find the facts
as to these men, but there were other
matters which it considered and which
kept it in it's secret session for an hour
or more. The strain on the coroner
and upon the jury during the long pc
Rod of investigation has been very
great, as many things might have hap
pened which would have very greatly
embarrassed officials interested, but
everything wen we'll and was carried
to a most complete conclusion.
The record, in the case, which viii
be typewriter and especially prerar-
ed, will make a number of columns n
a newspaper. The coroner until this
appears declines to go into details re-
garding the result of the autopsy, OUT
your correspondent has been able to
oivo oIcouhor Soma nf the facts which