The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-07-19
DEATH At THE ST.PETER
HOSPITAL T0BE PROBED'

Officials of the insane hospital at
st. Peter decline to discuss the
death Of Mr.. Hoffman. Superintend-
ent Tomlinson was not at the insti.
tuition today and his assistants de-
clined to be interviewed. They will
not talk until the inquest is held.
St Paul, July ii.-After confer
ence over the long-distance telephone
last evening with Attorney General
Smith, Coroner G. F. Merritt of Mic
ollet county decided to hold an in
quest over the death of William A.
Helfmann, $50 West University ave-
nue., at st. Peter as soon as con-
yenient. Helfmann died Saturday
at the state hospital for the insane
at st. Peter, and an investigation
was prompted yesterday when Cor
oner Jones of Ramsey county discov-
eded, he says, that Halfmann's body
was mass of bruises. -.. r
Il found bruises on Helfmann's
body also when l examined it" said
the Nicollet county coroner last even
ing, but came to the conclusion
that death was due to natural
causes, so issued certificate which
contained the finding. i did not at
tend Helfmann at the insane hospi-
tai and have nothing to do with pa
tients or officers there except when
l am called in to pass on question
able Deaths
Freeman Is Silent.
DIR. George A. Freeman, in charge
of the insane hospital at st. ePter
during the absence of DR.. H. A.
Tomlinson, the superintendent, re-
fused last evening to talk about
Helfmann's death. He declared he
did not wish to make statement,
preferring to leave discussion of
the case to DR.. Tomlinson, who is
expected to return to the hospital
today. ID. Tomlinson has been alb
sent from the hospital at st. Peter
since Tuesday.
The attorney generals office was
brought in to the case by Coroner
Jones OF Ramsey county to whose
attention the alleged bruised appear
ance of the body had been brought
Coroner Jones deemed an inquest
necessary but he was in a quandry
to know whether he could perform
such inquest or whether it was not
the duty of the coroner in the coun-
ty where the man died. He submit
ted this question to the attorney gen.
erals office and after investigation
the conference with Coroner Merritt
was decided upon.
Coroner Merritt's decision to hold
an inquest has rendered the legal
decision. unnecessary. The inquest
not later than tomorrow.
An Autopsy Was Performed.
The autopsy performed on Helf-
mann's body at the direction of Cor
Oner Jones by DR.. C. l.. Clarke, depu-
ty coroner, and DR.. A. d. Needs,
pathologist at the City hospital,
showed a hemorrhage on the brain,
due, according to Coroner Jones, to
external violence. In addition, there
were blood clots in the muscles of
the chest wall, due to external pres
sure. 1t was said unofficially by
physician who saw the autopsy that
this might have been caused by
some one kneeling on the chest in
an endeavOr to restrain the patient
when violent. u.s.. So
Mrs. Helfmann, the widow, who
lives with her aged father-in-law and
her two children at 460 West Univer-
sity avenue, was agitated yesterday
over her husbands death. She is
loath to believe he ever was violent.
Helfmann was seriously ill two days
at home before Dr. Tiesberg of the
City hospital decided he was insane
and should go to st. Peter. During
this time, Mrs. Halfmann said, he
complained of paralysis on his right
side and found great difficulty in
talking. During the worst of his
pain, she said, the most he did was
to walk up and down the room, but
never exhibited any signs of violence.
Less than a month after he was
taken to the hospital at ST. Peter
she visited him there, and he appear
ed to be improving and glad to see
her. Subsequently they correspond
ed regularly, she said and, while he !
was unable to write himself, he die |
tated letters.
Letters Mrs. Helfmann has in her !
possession are similar to the state |
ments, she says, that he was improv- i
ing and wanted to return home She |
said the telegram she received from |
the hospital authorities that he was |
dangerously i'll and likely to die was |
all the more of shock to her be- i
cause it was unexpected.