The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-09
Autopsy Fails to Reveal Posi-
tive Cause for the Death
of Baby
CORONER'S JURY TO
EXAMINE INTO CASE
All Organs Are Removed and
VIII be Subjected to
Chemical Analysis
for Solution

An autopsy performed yesterday
afternoon on the body Of Shirley Car
ter Nelson, nine months old. intensi-
fed the mystery lowering about the
cause OF the infants death
Coroner William II. TAYLOR, DR. c.
A. Blanton. Or. Il. II, Terrell and
Dr Greer Baughman performed the
autopsy at Memorial hospital in the
presence of several other prominent
physicians and members Of the nos
pital staff.
Al the conclusion of the examina-
zion. Coroner Taylor decided to pre-
serve the stomach that an analysts
may he made of its contents. The
liver also viii he preserved and
anaiyzed. The analysis probably viii
not he completed for several days
II is believed TO lie the only method
of ascertaining what caused the death
OF the babe.
symptoms of the hahys illness are
said To have Indicated he died from
Some strange brain trouble or poison
ing, probably opium. but the autopsy
failed to strengthen either of these
theories. As the autopsy did not show
these theories To be erroneous they
sttl are held b. Coroner Taylor AMI
his associates.
Examine All Organs.
Every organ la the body was sub
jected TO careful examination. which
disclosed several indications of varia-
tions in the health Of the baby. but
none OF these variations from a nor
mai condition was considered suffi-
cient to have caused death. They
were indications of unhealthful con-
ditinns common 10 infants.
Examination Of the brain failed to
aubstantate tho belief that death was
due to a brain trouble and failed to-
show conctusiveIy that the belief is
without foundation The exarn.na ton
OF the stomach showed no indications
Of poison. but the physician believe
that the only method of learning
whether the stomach contained poison
IL all analysis Of tho contents,
The analysis will be difficult as
eighteen hours elapsed between The
time the infant grew Ill and the time
he died. in these eighteen hours the
poison could have been suffused with
other contents Of the stomach 1t is
believed that If poison Killed the
child IL was Very small amount.
Physicians say one eighth Of 81 grain
Of opium would have been fatal TO
the babe. A larger amount of opium,
II Is stated. would have caused death
in less than eighteen hours. In tho
eighteen hours before death the In
rant was In stupor. though CON
scions until Just before death
To Hold Inquest,
After the autopsy Coroner Taylor
allowed the body To he removed to
the undertaking establishment OF JOS
Kahn. at 400 West Broad street. where
are being made for the
funeral 60 morrow. \ coroner's Jury
viii be sworn over the body this
morning and dismissed untl o'clock
in tho afternoon. when the inquest
Win begin
The Inquest Will he held In the
office Of Coroner Taylor in the city
HHh and probably viii not be com
pleted for several days. The jurors
cannot reach a verdict until after
learning the result of the ANALYSIS Of
the contents Of the stomach and
liver.
Shirley Carter Nelson was the In
FAINT son Of Mr., and Mrs, r. r. Nell
son. who reside q the Guerrant Hoo
tel. Third and Main streees, The
baby was taken out In n perambu-
latpT ABOUT . y cipCk MONDAY morn
ing and rolled about In the fresh
aif ard Sunshine until noon, When
tho nurse returned to the hotel with
the infant
Shortly after $50 o'clock In the
afternoon Mrs Nelson noticed that
the infant looked H. A pallor had
succeeded the usual rosy glow If his
face and the babe seemed to he In
4 stupor. Mira. Nelson Mt once sum
inoned pr. Blanton. of 900 West.Grace
street, and pr. Terrell. of 304 West
Grace street The physicians saw the
baby was In serious condition, but
could not diagnose the case. They
ordered the tiny patient removed TO
Memorial Hospital. Death occurred
It O'Clock yesterday morning.
nnIhI0 TAFT lI0hHr