The Washington herald., 1907-09-04


killed in a fall from Sibley Hospital
window. is finally closed, rests with the
Office of the district attorney
If that Office has reason 10 believe that
Browns death was the result of GRIM
inal negligence, an investigation. inde-
pendent of that of the coroneTs office,
VIII be undertaken, but this will not be
decided upon until the official papers in
the case come. by routine way. from the
-eoroner's Office TO that Of the district
attorney.
Under the laws Of the District OF Co
lumbis, criminal negligence, resulting in
deata is manslaughter. but it is said
that the objection TO such proceedings
Is based on the fact that it is invariably
almost impossible to fix the responsible
ity
That Brown died as the result Of a
cerebral hemorrhage, caused by a frac-
ture OF the skull sustained In a fall.
and that the fall was possible because
of the negligence Of the Sibley Hospital
authorities. is the sum of the verdict rem
dered by the coroner's jury in the inquest
held yesterday
CriticIses Hospital Authorities.
In addition the verdict seriously criti-
cised the hospital authorities for not
having taken such precautions as would
have prevented the delirious typhoid
fever patient from making his way TO and
through the window, and closed with the
recommendation that the windows in that
part OF the hospital where delirious pa
tients are confined be grated, or screened.
SO far as Coroner hewitt is con-
cerned. he says the investigation into
the death. which took place Friday
morning, is closed. but he heartily
agrees with the verdict OF the jurymen,
Charles Grant. James Cunningham, W.
4 Foy, J. Harry LeOnhardt, and r. T.
Birmingham, that the hospital should
take such steps as viii preclude the
possibility of a second similar accident
Members Of the family OF William
Krall. father Cf Browns widow
say they are not yet certain they
VIII file suit for The recovery Of dam
ages from the hospital. but 1t IS quite
likely they VIII take such steps.
Widow stnI Frustrated.
Mrs. Brown is IN a very preearious
condition as the result OF nervousness.
said her brother yesterday afternoon.
.'and until she is better. we viii take
no further action. We believe. how
ever. in the light Of the verdict rem
dered by the ccroner's jury. that we
have grounds for a suit, and that In
case one is entered upon. we viii be
successful in collecting damages from
the Sibley Hospital authorities While
Mrs. Brown is not penniless, she has no
income. and since we hold the hospital
responsible for Mr. Browns death. we
think there would only be justice in
getting damages.
Thursday night, DR.. II. NJ Price
who was Browns physician. said taat
he believed Brown had a fair chance
fer recovery, and the verdict OF the cor
oner's jury shows specifically he did
not die from typhoid fever.
The failure Of DT. Price, superintendent
Of nurses; Miss +. A. Havens DR.. George
II. McGee, and Nurse Genevieve Tree 10
report the occurrence 10 the cOToner's Of
nee. Immediately upon learning that
Browns death was due 20 a fan. will not
be further investigated by the coroner.
Their defense is lack OF knowledge Of the
law 1t was brought out in the inquest
that Brown lived for some time after he
was found fifteen feet below the window
from which he jumped.
Hardly ExeusabIe, Says Coroner.
such negligence hardly seems excu-
sable. said Or. hewitt yesterday, but in
view of the verdict Of the jury, I think I
shall take no further action. That the
hospital people should have made ar
rangements or provision TO preve4. such
an accident. there is no question in my
mind"
rs II not the custom. in caring for
delirious patients. 10 confne them so they
cannot harm themselves or others?" the
/ coroner was asked.
1T is. A patient seemingly on the verge
of death from typhoid, in a delirium, often
exerts the strength Of half a dozen men
! This should be well known to people
whose business il is to handle such cases
l should think"
Rev Dr. Charles ". Gallagher, super
intendent OF the hospital. was away from
the institution when the accident hap
pened, but was informed Of it at once
upon his return. He. with the other off,
ciais OF the institution. declare the win
dows of the ward where delirious pa
tients are confined, will be so screened at
once that there will not be another such
tragedy,
DR.. Gallagher Issues Statement.
IN one Of the public papers, I was rep
resented as affirming that DR.. Price. the
physician OF Mr.. Brown. was informed
OF all the circumstances attending his
death as early as Friday evening, but
did not issue the death certificate until
Saturday morning. did net make either
statement. I knew that Dr. Price did not
know OF the circumstances on Friday, and
knew nothing of the death certificate.
While Miss Havens, the director OF the
hospital, early Friday morning under
took to telephone to Dr. Price in such a
way that he would be impressed that
| something out Of the ordinary had occur
red In connection with the death of Mr..
| Brown, and asked him to call at the hos
pital on Friday, DR.. Price did not under
stand the message In any such way, but
at the same time called on Friday Tn
| fortunately, Miss Havens was out at the
/ time, and ne did not see her, but asked
/ for her. For this reason he did not learn
/ Of the exact circumstances on Friday
! evening.
Il did not send for DR.. Price on Satur-
| day morning, but determined with Miss
/ Havens that he should be informed OF all
the conditions at once, and IL he did not
call. he should be sent for. He did call
on Saturday morning at the hospital and
WAS fully informed of every particular re-
garding the case Of Mr.. Brown IN this
/ Te~ Trf- -.
part Of an honorable and reliable phy-
sician, and in no way has undertaken TO
evade responsibility or conceal facts. was
absent myself at Harpers Ferry until FRI
day evening. and was not informed of any
] trnlaInln In the hnsnital until Satllrdau