Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-23
REFERRED TO GRIND JURY
DEATH OF JOHN CRoWDER AT
FREEDMEN's HOSPITAL.
Verdict of Coroner's Jury Given at
the Inquest Held at the
Morgue Today.

John Crowder, about forty-five years Of
age died on the operating table at Freed
mems Hospital yesterday while being put
under the influence of chloroform to I'M
dergo a slight operation for varicose
veins coroner's jury this morning in
vestigated the cause of the mans death
and in it's verdict made a recommendation
that the grand jury investigate the case
No one was held by the jury as being re-
sponsible for Crowders death.
The inquest was held at the morgue
building on the river front at 10 o'clock
this morning, and DR.. Glazebrook, dep
uty coroner in the absence of Coroner
hewitt. conducted the investigation.
William E. yesterday. residing at the
Windsor apartment house, was the first
witness called. He knew Crowder well.
and had employed him as janitor for
several years. Witness knew that the
man had been suffering for several
months from some trouble with his leg.
The deceased drank somewhat. but was
an honest and faithful employe.
Statement by Surgeon Warfeld.
DR.. William A. Warheld surgeon in
chief at the Freedmen's Hospital, was
next sworn. DR.. Warfield stated that
Crowder was admitted to the hospital
November 10. He made personal exam
ination of the man and found that he
was suffering from varicose veins. and
that there was an eruption all over his
body.
The mans heart was strong and he
appeared in good condition. DR.. Wartield
stated that he signed all orders sending
a patient to the oper rating room. 1t is
q rule of the hospital, he said, that all
patients should be examined as to the
condition to take an anesthetic. He could
not say positively that a kidney examina-
ton had been made in the case. In the
opinion of the witness the man died from
chloroform poison.
DR.. William A. Jack, jr., was next sworn
and stated he was in charge OF Crowder S
case. He had sent him to the hospital to
be operated upon for varicose veins. Be
fore the chloroform was given the patient
Dr. Jack made an examination and as far
as he could detect. the man was In cond1-
ton to stand the administration of an
anesthetic. though he was drinking
somewhat affected the heart. He had or
dered the administration of chloroform as
it was the safer anesthetic to use under
the circumstances.
The physician said the patient TOOK the
anesthetic in good shape, and was ABOUT
ready to be operated upon;T when he
stopped breathing. Every effort was
made to rescuscitate him, but without
avail. The operation he was to undergo
was not capital one.
Other Testimony.
DR.. Roland Johnson, colored. was next
sworn. He was called upon by DR.. Jack
to administer the anesthetic. and was
directed to use chloroform. He corrobor-
ated the statement of DR.. Jack as to the
effect the anesthetic had upon the pa
tient and the efforts made by the physi-
clans to save his life.
DR.. r. w. Baker, acting deputy coroner.
performed an autopsy on the body of
Crowder at the morgue this morning. He
found that the lungs of the man were dis
eased, showing signs Of consumption. The
heart was also diseased, and there were
evidences of Bright's disease in the kid
neys. Chloroform poisoning, DR.. Baker
said, was the cause of the death of the
man.
In answer to question from jury
man the deputy coroner stated that q
trouble with the heart, as existed In this
case was difficult to detect.
The jury, consisting of Messrs. James
Cunningham, Charles E. Van Fleet, Fran
els Reside. Julius H. Albers, Thomas B.
LeCuyer and Levi Meredith after about
ten minutes of elaboration, returned a
verdict that John Crowder's death was
due to the fact that he had weak heart
andt that the use of chloroform as an an
esthetic caused his death. We would
recommend that the grand jury investi-
gate the circumstances of his DEATH"