Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-04
EXP[ A|NED TO FR|ENDS|SUSPECT SK|PS b0NDS|
Why Autopsy Was Performed Two Men Arrested Following
on Hans Abrecht Suburban Robberes.
DISEASE A PULLING ONE ONE GETS SAFELY AWAY
Leg Scared Pocemans Horse and Runs
Graft on Another When Grip Released.
DR. NEWT MAKES STATEMENT TWO HOUSES ENTERED
of A.. l..
+.r Deserves w. Hilton
Why Autopsy Was Performed
on Hans AlbreCht.
DISEASE A PULLING ONE
But Doctors Used Part of Leg to
Graft on Another.
DR.. HEWITT MAKES STATEMENT
That More Has Been Made
of Hospital Case Than the Mat
ter Deserves.

ter Deserves.
No action is likely to be taken by the
friends of Hans Albrecht. for many years
a waiter at the New Willard Hotel, on
account of the autopsy performed upon
him at Georgetown University Hospital.
when part of his leg was taken off and
subsequently, grated upon the leg of an
other man. The thing is over and done
with. They are sorry about it, but do
not feel justified in starting an investi-
cation.
Most of Albrechts friends are the men
who worked with him here in Washing
ton. So far as they know he has no fam
lily connections in this country. and let
tiers found among his effects indicate that
what correspondence he had with friends
and relations in Germany after he came
to this country came to an end twenty
years ago.
When Albrecht fell i'll his friends had
physicians attend him. but he did not
improve it was decided to send him to
the Georgetown University Hospital.
After he had been there a day or two
some OF his friends suggested that 1t
would be we'll to have DR.. ]. r. hewitt
attend him. When he was called upon
Dr. hewitt asked if Albrecht were a pay
patient or in the ward. He was told that
he was occupying a ROOM for which his
friends were paying
DIR. hewitt explained to them that he
did not care to interfere. However. he
went TO the hospital at the earnest solic-
itation of one of the friends. The house
staff, when he told them the circum-
stances, Immediately invited him to AL
brecht's room. He went and looked AL
brecht Overland found him suffering from
internal diseases. Later DR.. George
Tully Vaughan of the visiting staff de-
cided that an operation was necessary
to determine the exact nature of the
patients trouble. Before making the
operation he told Albrecht's friends his
conclusions in the matter. They con-
ferred and advised Albrecht to submit
to the operation. since the surgeons Of
the hospital recommended it. DR.
Vaughan performed the operation, but
could not then arrive at definite conclu-
SiOnS.
Decided He Could Not Live.
1t became clear soon after Albrecht ar
rived at the hospital that he could not
live. Dr. hewitt saw that the end was
near when he visited Albrecht. When 1T
was seen that death was inevitable one
of the hospital surgeons telephoned to one
of Albrecht's friends at the New Willard
and told him they would Like to perform
an autopsy. The friend said he saw no
objection TO this, his impression being
that the autopsy was TO be performed for
the purpose OF an accurate ascertainment
| of the nature of Albrecht's ailment. That
the surgeons intended cutting away part
of the dead mans leg was not specifically
mentioned although the surgeon who tel
ephoned said he wanted Ito operate on
Albrecht's leg"
In discussing his connection with the
affair DIR. hewitt said today:
After / had examined Albrecht l told
| his friends that he was in most compe-
tent hands, and that l could do no good
l advised them to leave him in the care
| of the Georgetown University Hospital
| staff. Then l dropped the case At the
| hospital l was told that an autopsy
would be performed. and 1 expressed a
desire to be present, simply In order to
| understand the nature of Albrechts all
ment which was puzzling.
This autopsy was not public one
I such as would come under the jurisdiction
! of the coroner. Had it been, DIR. Glaze
| brook would have performed It, My con-
| nection with the case was not in my ca
| pacity as coroner. but In my capacity as
practicing physician. The case was a
| private one.
II was notified of Albrecht's death and
! invited to attend the autopsy. The body
| VAS covered over with sheet. except
| for that portion of it which was neces-
sarily exposed to permit Of an abdominal
| operation. DR.. Vaughan performed the
! autopsy. and we discovered the existence
| of a cancerous growth. The legs were
| covered up and l did not know that an
operation had been performed upon one
of them until l had left the hospital.
| when one of the surgeons casually men
| toned the fact to me-
Thought Matter Exaggerated.
! Continuing. DR.. hewitt said he thought
more had been made of the case by the
/ press than was necessary. He did not see
| how the case could interest the laity ex-
| cept in so far as it was part of an I'M
usual surgical operation.
| DIR. Vaughan and the staff at the
| Georgetown University Hospital decline
| to discuss the case in any Of it's phases.
except to say that George A. Kelly, the
man upon whose leg the portions taken
from Albrecht's leg were grated, is do
ing !su well L. 80, ,o,,oro t,or - ~
thing wrong said one OF Albrecht s
| friends today. While some of us were
not think. as has been reported. that
the hospital authorities allowed AL
brecht to die. nor do we believe that
part of his leg was cut away before
We would like to have had the matter
made perfectly clear to us beforehand"
The fact that part of Albrecht's leg
was cut away said Or. hewitt in
|
away land l cannot say that it was.
| because l do not know during the
autopsy. makes no great matter, since,
| if physicians in performing an autopsy
| find any part of the viscera they wish
| to keep for further examination. they
cut it away and keep it. This is what
an autopsy is for
| DIR. Vaughans operation is causing a
good deal of discussion among the phys-
| clans of Washington. Some say such an
| operation can he successful and others
say it is an impossibilty. The decision
| i'm the matter can be made only by the
| recovery or non-recOvery of Kelly.
| EIrr rrpr TN Nfcur poprS