Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1907-08-16
Hospital Escape Dies in Hotel.


been patient in the Amador county
hospital for couple weeks, died in
room at the Globe hotel on Satur
day last. He came over from Suffer
Creek, about three weeks ago. At
the hospital they we're in need of his
services as painter, in which line he
was an adept. The superintendent
set him to work painting aud removal
ing the place, and allowed him in
addition to board and room, 81 per
day. He worked some IA days; and
at the last meeting of the board was
allowed S2S. He was hard drinker,
and this money it is believed started
him on a spree that ended in his
death. Toward the end of the week
he became violent, and Friday night
was locked in the padded room.
There was window in this room,
and some time during the night be
made his escape. About 9 O'Clock
Saturday morning he appeared at the
office of the Globe hotel and asked
for a room. His appearance lndicat-
ed that he was a very sick man. He
was taken to a room upstairs, and put
to bed. Several times during the day
the room was visited to see if he
wanted anything. The clerk gave
him drink of water on one visit.
About o'clock in the afternoon his
loom was entered by Mr. Roberts, the
clerk, and it was found that he had
crossed the dividing line between life
and death. No inquisition was held
over the remains. He was buried on
Monday IN the jackson cemetery.
He was about 10 years OF age, and 1t
is said he WIS a native of England,
and deserter from the British army
A report was current that he served
in the Union army during the civil
war, but this is not verified.
From what we can learn the deceas-
ed after getting his pay last week
from the supervisors, started OF on
jag. For several days he continued
his spree, and the result was an at
tack of delirium tremens. He was
not an inmate of the hospital at this
time. AS soon as he got his money,
he attempted to SHIFT for himself.
During Friday night, still suffering
from his spree, he made his way to-
ward the hospital. He called at the
Devan residence near by, and alarm
ed the inmates by his actions. He
said he lived there, that he had been
working there, and it was his home,
and insisted upon remaining. They
sent for the sheriff, and that official
took him in charge, and placed him
in the insane ward at the hospital.
By an oversight one window was lett
unfastened, and he made his escape
through it and again got to town, and
died as above stated.
No inquest was held. Coroner
Potter did not know anything about
the matter until two days after the
man had been buried, and then he
was Informed in an incidental
manner. He was naturally indignant
at being ignored in matter over
which he had absolute control; and
started to make inquiries to find out
where the blame belongs. He could.
even at this late date, order the body
exhumed, and an investigation held.
liz Is not probable that anything of
that kind will be done. Still
the officer whose sworn duty it
is to inquiry into such cases, feels
chagrined at being thus ignored. He
is the supreme authority to deter
mine whether or not an inquest is
necessary, and no other person,
whether in official position or not,
has any say in the matter.
Deputy marshal Huberty took
charge of the body and the interment.
The remains were not removed to the
hospital, and the superintendent de-
'cIareu that it was not a case for him
to take in hand, as the victim was
not patient in the institution at the
time of his death.
The concensus of opinion is that
the coroner should have been prompt
ly notified, and an inquest held in a
case of that kind. The facts indicate
that he died from alcohol; somebody
piled him with it until nature gave
way under the strain. The coroner
is supreme in his particular line. He
and he alone has to say whether an
inquest should be held He is re.
sponsibJe to the public, and should
always be notified in a Case of sudden
death, so that he may exercise his
discretion.