The Washington herald., 1907-09-03


District Supreme Court by the family Of
James Brown. who on Friday morning
was killed by jumping from a window of
that institution while delirious from an
attack of typhoid fever.
William Krall. father-in-law OF the dead
man, said yesterday that following the
action OF the cOroner's jury. which Withhold
an inquest at Il o'clock to-day, prelimi-
nary steps VIII likely be taken 10 bring
TO the attention Of the court all the
circumstances surrounding the death Of
the patient. In view Of the delay in noti-
tying the family and coroner. the affair.
he said, in his opinion, demanded the full
est investigation.
Mrs. Tiila Brown. wife of James
Brown, though as yet uniformed as TO
the manner OF her husbands death, is
suffering from shock and the excitement
attendant upon the funeral services.
which were held yesterday morning at
1890 o'clock. when interment was made
at Glenwood. She tainted as the body
was lowered into the grave, and was
unconscious for some moments Fear
ing the effect Of the disclosure, news
papers containing an account Of the
tragedy have been kept from her. though
she constantly, inquiries as TO the details
of her husbands death.
Coroner VIII sift Case.
Coroner hewitt said yesterday that a
Gull sfcrre mill Ia, fv,e-
circumstances of Mr.. Browns death
While preferring 10 await the action of
the coroner's jury before expressing an
opinion as TO possible negligence on the
part of the hospital authorities, he said
that the facts surrounding the affair led
him to believe that more care might have
been exercised in the conduct Of the
case.
The fact" said Or. hewitt, that
Brown was delirious and that he had be-
fore made an attempt to leave his bed
! should have resulted IN added vigilance
on the part Of the physicians and nurses.
Notwithstanding. they were fully aware as
TO his condition, the nurse left the room
for several minutes, leaving the window
open There have been several instances
Of patients jumping from the windows of
hospitals, but in all. were shown more
precauton to prevent such a possibility
than apparently IN this case.
Plead Ignorance of Law.
DIR. Price. who signed the certificate
giving the primary cause Of death as
typhoid fever, acted, 1 believe, with the
best intentions, and my only criticism is,
that after learning that the patient had
jumped from the window he failed to
notify me of the occurrence until the fol-
lowing day. The first information I had
was received Sunday from Supt c. w.
Gallagher and DR.. Price, who gave igno-
rance Of the law as an excuse for not
notifying me Immediately.
1t was 1 who informed the family as
to the manner In which Mr.. Brown met
his death they having received no init
nation from the hospital authorities that
it was due TO his fan from the window.
do not wished to be placed in the light
of prejudging this affair. but in view Of
the surrounding circumstances. I am Of
the opinion that more care might have
been taken Of the patient"
DIR. NJ. II. Price Explains.
DIT. NJ. II. Price said yesterday that he
was first told Of the death Of Mr. Brown
by telephone at 40 Friday morning. The
nurse, Miss Ravens, asked him to call,
saying she wished 10 talk with him con-
corning certain features Of the case, but
said nothing to indicate the true state of
affairs. Arriving, therefore, at the con-
clusion that death was due TO typhoid. he
on Friday morning at o'clock issued a
certificate TO that effect.
Unaware that there We're any unusual
circumstances surrounding the death"
said Or. Price, 7 did not call at the
hospital until Saturday, and was then
made acquainted with the details by the
woman superintendent. Miss Havens.
Throughout the remainder OF the day I
vas busy with my usual duties, and the
next day, the legal aspects OF the case
occurring TO me, I called at the hospital
and advised DR.. Gallagher that the cor
Oner be notified"
superintendent Out of Town.
DR.. Gallagher was of the opinion that
DR.. Price was mado acquainted with the
facts Friday, but said last night that he
may have been misinformed as TO this
fact DR.. Gallagher was out OF the city
at the time Of the occurrence, returning
Saturday morning.
After being notified, I communicated
with DR.. Price" he said, ''but, not being
experienced in such matters, we did not
report it 10 the coroner until Sunday.
The head nurse communicated 10 Dr..
Price over the telephone. telling him there
were some peculiar circumstances in. con-
nection -with. the death, but evidently
failed TO impress upon him the necessity
OF his coming to the hospital at once. The
only fault / have to find is the failure
OF those IN charge 20 notify DR.. Price at
once OF all the facts"
BIames House Surgeon.
Mrs. Gallagher wife Of the superin-
tendent is, however. inclined to place a
portion Of the responsibility on DR.. c. Il.
MCGEE, house surgeon, who, she said. in
stead of at once bringing the matter to
The attention OF the proper authorities.
delayed twenty-four hours before sub
hitting a report
Asked as 10 this. Dr. MCGEE said last
night that Or. Price. the attending ply
sician, was the one 20 properly assume
charge Of the resulting proceedings, and
that he was told by the head nurse that
there were unusual circumstances con
nected with his patients death. The
doctor, he said, called Friday afternoon,
but saw neither Miss Ravens nor himself.
ne being in another part of the hospital
and unaware Of the presence Of the ply
stefan.
Dr.. Price, however, is authority for the