New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-22
THUGS KILL DOCTOR.
CASE PUZZLES POLICE.
Broohtyn Physician ASSAULTED IN
Harlem Street

"hlle on his way to attend a patient in Har-
le'h' Dr James Edwin Russell of No. 132 Bed
Aolu avenue, Brooklyn brutalIy assaulted
anu roooed OF his money, jewelry and medical
case He was picked up early yesterday morn
ing by the police, and died last night In the
Harlem Hospital.
before he dropped off into Inconsistencies
Dr Russell made statement 10 Coroner Acr-
ten which the latter believes will help him
10 earth the assaants. One OF the peculiar
features Of the was the statement by DR..
Russell that he had been attacked between 1
and 10 p. m, at 129th street and Lexington
avenue. on Friday night. and had wandered
around in dazed condition until he was found
yesterday morning. Both his statements to the
police and to the coroner agree In general. al
though there few differences In the details.
Alexander Jones. who lives the third floor
OF the house at No 122 East 120th street STUN
bled over DR.. Russell in the vestibule when he
was going out at 3 O'Clock yesterday morning.
DR.. Russell groaning, and seemed to be in
great distress. The physician said to Jones:
"Od man. get me doctor. Pm very sick.
awful sick. and in pain"
Jones around to the East 10th street
police station and informed Lieutenant Walsh.
who sent Patroman Henry Ressmeyer To the
physicians assistance. He called an ambu-
lance and had the man removed to the Harlem
Hospital. Detectives Sheridan. Dunn and But
Ter went to the hospital to get some clews from
the physician. He was able 10 make a brief
statement after restoratives were administered
DR. Russell told the detectives that at 10
o'clock on Friday night one of six men. all OF
whom appeared to be between the ages of
twenty and thirty years. offered him n drink
from flask when he became faint and sat down
the stoop of house in 10th street. He de-
clined the offer to drink. he said.
"I told the that I wanted a drink OF
water" continued the doctor. after a few
minutes one OF the men returned with n glass
of water. which l drank few minutes later
was hit with some blunt instrument on the
side OF the neck and lost consciousness. Just
previous to meeting the men I had SID in my
pockets. consisting OF a note for $50, two SO
notes one of S. and 81 in change. This. to-
gether with my gold watch. chain. fob. gold cuff
links and bag Of surgical instruments. was
taken"
DR.. Russell could not remember what hap
pened after he was attacked. His mind was a
blank for the ensuing twenty-four hours. The
physician said he had suffered from dropsy. ana
accounted for his faintness on the stoop by
return of the disease while he was hurrying 10
a patient
Coroner AcritelH went 10 the hospital at D
D. m yesterday and took the ante -mortem state
ment Dr. Russell finished his statement about
half an hour before he died. The coroner SAID
the physician appeared 10 be clear on all the
points of his story and told IT in a convincing
manner.
Mrs. Catherine Russell. wife OF the physician,
went to the hospital before he died She said
she had not seen her husband previous 10 finding
him in the hospital since he left home
At the hospital II said that the abrasion
on the physicians neck did not look like a black
Jack wound. Detective Murphy. Of the Central
Office was ordered TO assist In the investigation
OF the case Detectives Summers and Sheridan
do not think the physician was attacked. but
are inclined TO believe that he had been drinking
Late last night DR.. Albert T. Weston. coro-
ner's physician, performed an autopsy on the
body of DR.. Russell. which showed that death
was due to strangulation. Coroner Acritelh'
in speaking of DR. Westons report. said:
Or Weston said that death was due solely
TO strangulation. The abrssioE on the neck,
which at first was thought TO have shown that
the skull was fractured. proved TO be finger
marks.
That the physician was garroted as ne SAID
he was is positive. There was profuse hem
orrhage at the base of the brain and in the
arteries of the neck. which showed that the
physician was Strangled by the six men.
''Dr Weston also reported that there was no
trace of drugs. The manner In which the phy-
scian said he was assaulted in his ante-mortem
statement is borne out entirely by the autopsy.