The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-11

Circumstances surrounding the death Of
James f. Trimmer may be the subject
OF investigation.
Trimmer died in a Washington lnstitu-
tion last Sunday afternoon at o'clock
II Is claimed three Of his ribs had been
broken. his right eye dlslocated, and
there were finger marks on his throat
which would Indicate he had been choked
Trimmer was not right in his mind,
but he was harmless. He lived with his
niece. Mrs. w. H. DE Shields, at l23 Fifth
street northeast. Mr.. and Mrs. DE
Shields say they are confident Trimmer's
death was the result OF rough treatment
received after he was removed from their
home.
May Order an Inquiry.
When informed of the case yesterday,
Commissioner Macfarland announced he
would order an investigation by the
Board OF Charities.
IF the circumstances surrounding his
death are true. said the Commissioner,
1T Is the duty of the Board of Charities
10 furnish a complete report of the az
fair II sounds unbelievable. Alstreat-
neut. such as this. would seem 10 be i'm
possible. Unless the physicians can fur
nish some satisfactory explanation they
should be punished"
About three weeks ago Trimmer show
gu symptoms OF q nervous breakdown.
caused by excessive work and broken
rest, Incidental 10 constantly caring for
an invalid wife. Symptoms Of his nerv-
GUS disorder showed In a desire 20 talk
constantly and a disinclinatiOn 20 be
under restraint
Prior 70 this attack his niece says, he
had never given evidence of mental m
stability shortly after his first break
down. his desire TO be ia the streets led
his family 90 caH On Dr. Richardson.
Was Not Violent.
"He was well when I saw him. said
Ur. Richardson last night, except for his
mental trouble. lie was not violent. eN-
cept when others attempted 20 restrain
him. when he would resist them. Tn
der no circumstances would 1 say he was
suffering from a homcldal mania which
would lead him 20 attack another per
son without provocatiou. Neither did he
seem 10 be suffering from Authorizations
of prosecutions and enemies which some
time lead a patient % attack bis keeper"
After an examination Dr- Richardson
advised the relatives 90 have Trimmer
placed under treatment. The Fourth pre-
cinct police were notified and Trimmer
was taken into custody
Mrs DE Shields called upon him after
he was removed from the station and
found him I'm what Is known as a hot
press lie was moaning. she says. when
she came IN.
II noticed first the blow over his eye"
said Mrs De Shields, and the finger
marks on either side OF his neck He
appeared To be I'm a rational state then
lie begged me 20 take him away. and
when the doctor came in he ordered him
away. The finger marks on his throat
were deeply imprinted.
THE hot press he was ln. was bak-
ing him, he said, and yet the windows
IN the room were wide open. and il was
a cold day outside one of the nurses
came In and looked al him
Wen take the press Off now she
said, FOR fits been on two hours
Soon after another nurse came I'm,
and announced be would have TO remain
I'm the press an hour longer as he had
only been there an hour"
Day Before Death.
The last time Mrs. De Shields saw her
uncle was the day before his death. She
says she saw The burned spot then
slowly healing, and inquired Of the ply
sicians what caused H.
Their answers. she says. were evasive.
She was unable TO learn from them how
Trimmer received his injuries. Trimmer
was at that time I'm an irrational condi-
ton and unable 10 coherently answer
questions.
On Sunday she was called by phone
and told her uncle was dead The au-
thOrities said they wished 10 hold the
body for an autopsy on the brain Sup
posing ii was necessary 10 examine the
brain Of a patient dying while under
treatment, Mrs. De Shields consented
with the idea that the coroner would hold
an autopsy aftcrwaTd
Mr. DE Shields. I'm speaking Of the af-
fair, said
1T would seem 10 me that Trimmer
had been knocked down and stamped
upon. The wounds on the face and the
manner In which the ribs were broken
preclude the idea that Trimmer suffered
injury from falling across a cot. A mar
at his time Of life doesn't break his ribs
that easily"
Bruises Discovered.
Undertaken William Fl. Scott. Of Eighth
and G streets southeast. says he noticed
bruises on the side and over the eye when
he prepared the body OF Trimmer fol
burial, although at that time the body
was 80 badly dlscolored and the family
so imperative in their demands that Il be
given them Immediately, he was unable
20 make full examination
It IS significant that Coroner hewitt re-
ported IN the death certificate that three
OF Trimmer's ribs were broken In his
report he accepted the explanation offered
that Trimmer injured himself by "acci-
dentally falling across cot"
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