The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-05
.NOPLACEFOR MAN IN
DESPERATE PLIGHT
Badly Hurt, Lyons is
Finally Locked In
Cell of Jail.
NO FACILITIES
AT CITY HOME
Police Commissioners Make a
Vigorous Complaint Against
Conditions-Mr. Gordon
Says Board Will Cali
on Courtif No Ac-
ton Is Taken.

LlOll ID dkcIl.
Is there no place in the city Of Rich
mond where a man In the last stages
of delirium tremens, and apparently
likely to die from injuries inflicted
on himself, may be placed, where he, at
least can do no further harm and can
receive proper medical attention?
George NJ. Lyons. q strapping white
man. said to be forty years old and a
resident of Washington city, came
staggering into the First Police Station
yesterday morning about o'clock and
offered to give himself UP to the po-
lice. being somewhat confused as to
what charge was against him. No
warrant was cut for the man, and he
was allowed to go. Shortly afterward
Policemen Bryant and Sherry brought
him In on the charge of drunkenness
IN an ndyanced stage, and he was
locked In a cell. Later in the day
Lyons developed pronounced SYMPHONIC
OF delfrium tremens. hurting himself
about in violent manner and doing
himself Considerable injury by strik-
ing his head and body against the iron
bars and the hard floor of the cell.
Refused to Take Him.
The city ambulance in charge of
| Dr. Hlnchman was called, and the. man
was treated and guieted for a time.
Late last night he became violent
again. throwing himself about in his
deIirium and becoming CHASTITY sight
| from bloody cuts over his head and
body The City Hospital was noti-
fed. but refused to take the man in,
the officials saying that they had no
place for a violent patient. Lyons rap
idly grew worse, and Captain Whit
lock- in charge of the station. became
alarmed as to his condition. No pro-
vision is made for sick prisoners at
the station house, and two men had to
be kept constantly in the cell To pre-
vent the man from dSing himYalf
harm. His condition vas growing
more and more serious. and 1t was
feared that he would die, Captain
| Whitlock again conferred with the CITY
Hospital. and Superintendent Davis
stated that he would take the man in
land do what he could for him and
| the ambulance was sent to the First
Station once more.
| After examining Lyons, DIR. Hinch-
man refused to carry him to the home,
| declaring that he had absolutely no
| place to keep patient who was in his
| condition. and who, IL not watched for
/ every minute, might hurl him out of an
upstairs window. DR.. Hinchman stat
| ed, however, that he regarded the
| mans plight as most critical, and that
1t was altogether possible he would not
survive the attack, which was becom-
Ing an unusually violent one.
| Finally Detective Sergeant Forrest
| Bailey suggested the padded cells at
| the city Jail, where lunatics are usually
| kept, as the only safe place for a per-
| scn in the condition of Lyons. Captain
1 Whitlock communicated with the jail
| officials, who refused to receive the
| patient without warrant of commit
| ment. 1t was then after midnight, put
| the officers at the station considered
| the matter SO serious that Captain
| Whtiock determined to call Justice
Crutchheld. and. with the consent OF
Dr. Hinchman, the stice was awaken
| ed and brought to the phone.
After a full explanation of the case
to the magistrate. in the course of
which Justice Crutchheld interposed to
express vigorously his opinion of the
| facilities at the City Home, the man
| was finally ordered to the city jail,
where padded cell was made ready
for him, and with the assistance Of
! several policemen he was taken there
by DR.. Hinchman in the city ambu-
lance. DIR. Blackwell of the force of
| Jail physicians was summoned. and
4 placed Lyons under treatment. His
condition is regarded as critical. He
has evidently been on a protracted
! spree, and in the opinion of the physi-
/ clans has taken some drug in addi-
4 ton to whiskey.
/ What Commissioners Say.
Police Commissioners Chris Manning
and w. Douglas Gordon We're at the
First Station last night at the time
| the prisoner became most violent
and both assisted Captain Whitlock in
/ procuring relief, 'phoning for several
/ private physicians who were not to be
found.
Mr.. Manning expressed himself
i frankly on the lack Of proper facili-
ties at the City Hospital, preventing
the removal there of man against
whom the police had absolutely no
Il charge, and who was evidently in im-
Iminent danger of dying from lack of
attention. Mr.. Manning said that the
present arrangement with regard to
1.-The criminal III was most cumbrous and
unsatisfactory to I he police board. He
A stated that when any ono was taken
4 Ill at the jail or at the station- house
4 and was taken to the City Home for
i Treatment, it became necessary for the
police department TO detail one or more
officers from their regular duty to go
to the hospital and guard the prisoner.
Il The patient might have fever for
weeks. or might have some contagious
! disease, but the present arrangement
requires an officer from the city police
force to be constantly on guard, how
a ever much his services might be needed
elsewhere, or however much the cost
: might be to the police board
Mr.. Gordon also expressed himself
J. with regard to the lack OF medical
, facilities provided by the city, and
| indorsed the proposition Of DR.. Ennion
4 Williams for city hospital, with a
ward or floor for the criminal Ill.
"Tte matter is all the fault of the
/, Council." said Mr. Gordon. The city
!, has spent 100000 on an annex to tho
!, City Jail for hospital purposes, but
t so far it has never been equipped
or put In use, The Counlil has done
nothing about the matter, and we have
\ |absolutely no place for the sick In
!, the station houses OF 1ail. The Police
81 hoard will certainly call the matter to