New-York tribune., 1911-02-05
.BLAMES POLICE FOR
DEATH OF TWO MEN
Coroners' Physician SChuItze
Says They Were Confined in
Cells for Hours.
HELD FOR INT0XICATl0N
Later Prisoners Died in Hospital
will Give Facts to Cropsey,.
Says Doctor - Police
Deny Negligence.

Alleging that the police Of the oth
street and new West goth street sta
tions had been grossly negligent in that
they caused two men Ia be confined IN
cells for hours on charges OF intoxica-
ton. although au,opsies subsequently
rroved that one Of the prisoners had
died of n fractured skull and the other
cf a fractured spine. otto II. Schultze'
coroners' physician. declared yesterday
that he would lay the cases before the
Board Of Coroners He also said that he
woilId see that Commissioner Cropsey
was fully enlightened as to the facts In
both cases.
The men, who had been locked uu on
the ground that they were too drunk 10
be able 10 take proper care of then-
selves. were cast into cells. from "hich
thev were taken only after ambulance
surgeons from Bellevue Hospital had
examined them.
While DIR. Schultze would not say that
the life Of either man could have Deen
saved. even had he received promp'
medical attention instead of being
tbro,,u into a cell. nevertheless he init
mated strongly that the police we're III
q large measure responsible and he dio
not hesitate to place the blame on then'
According 10 the records at Bellevue
uospital. John Fitzgerald was put IN
coil in the 5th street police station on
Friday afternoon. Nine hours after he
bad heer arrested call was received al
po,avuo Hospital. asking that an amou-
lance be sent at once to the station.
mr. Bryson responded and when ne
entered the cell he found Fitzgerald IN
.,a,o of coma and apparently dying. lie
uas rushed To the hospital ana p'aceo III
tho nrison ward. still prisoner. me
l,.o,o,s of both the medical and surglcai
,,,,isions examined him. but could ar
,.i,., at no specific diagnosis. and at 80
o,,Iock Yesterday morning F1tzseraid
a., ,,.itbout rcgainng consciousness
Dr schultze's autopsy is sa'd 10 nav
r.roalcd the fact that Fitzgerald hau
49,, on the chin. another on the nose
- - fracture at the base Of the Skull.
osd,,ior no had been suffering from
lobar pneumonia a..
,ocording TO the police records IN the
81 s,reet station. Fitzgerald waIKen
i,,o tho station shortly after o'loch
vr;d.v afternoon and asked Lieuteh
I,doo 70 lock him up. He said. the
-. ,,,aintain. that he knew he was
intoxicated and was unable To take care
g himself He VAS placed in cell ana
went To sleep.
4, about 9.3O O'Clock the doorman
e1 hin, moaning and Informed the
lieutenant In charge. VINO caIled Ut
Ervson The ambulance doctor uIe
,olico declare. said Fitzgerald vas SUI
foripq from alcoholism. The latter was
- cor starter. married and lived AT No.
OK pleasant Valley avenue. staten ISL
nd c,ntain O'Connor vouched Tor the
-. ,old bv The records and his sub
ordnates.
rb. second autopsy performed by the
ccroncr's physician was on the BODY or
laeso Sterrett. negro. Of No. 9oi Grand
,.,..r,,a The Bronx. Sterrett had been
,.,t,.d mn on charge OF intoxication
.,1 ,Iared i'm cell of the old West
oo,t street station. where he lay for three
Iours until removed to Bellevue Hos
ri,aI II was found that he was para
i,,ed below the cervical vcrtebrae. He
died on Friday
Dr. Cowan. of the New York Hospital.
vino Was first called in the case Of Ster-
r,,, .ald last night that the negro COM
rl.dned of pain in his head. The
,hv.i.ian said hc knew that Stcrrctt
b,d rar,l,si.. bat thought u was not II
recent o,lurrcn,". and supposed the
lluuor had aggravated the malady.