New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-04

W. akened. and by inc time that city
was reached he had made a full con-
fession.
In the confession Hickey freely ad-
mitted the Josephs and kruck crimes
After killing the kruck boy, he SAID
he went TO Boston, returning to New
York few days later on funds given
him by a Womans Christian Temper
ance Union leader to enable him 70 re-
join his friends. He could not tell how
many boys he had attacked, but ne
thought "about twenty" Though 1t had
been said he had admitted on a post
card that he ha6 killed thirteen, he IN
sisted that the Kruck and Josephs
boys were the only ones murdered by
him. Efforts to connect him with the
murder of other boys and Of Helen
Sullivan. who disappeared IN this city
June 1, 1910, failed.
When Hickey went on trial ne set up
insanity as a defence. The state and
the defence each called expert wit
nesses. those for the state asserting
he was responsible for his crimes, and
those for the defence that he was not.
In this situation Judge Charles b.
Brown called in an expert of his own
choice. This expert swore Hickey was
responsible. All Of the experts agreed
that he was abnormal
After the case went 10 the jury thir-
teen ballots were necessary to reach
decision, nine of the jurors voting for
first degree murder on the first ballot
and three for acquittal on the ground
of insanity. AS n compromise YER
diet Of second degree was reached.
This verdict Judge Brown denounced
as shocking"
Osborne Lauds Sacrifice.
When Thomas Mott Osborne, the
new warden of Sing Sing, was asked
by a Tribune reporter last night if
Hickey was not the man who has
offered to give himself up for expert
mentation. he expressed regret that
the convict's name had become public.
81 am very sorry" said he, that the
name has got out, for / fear that the
publicity the thing has had will spoil
the poor fellows chances OF doing
what he so generously offered. II is
unfortunate that the name is known.
"The man is sincere, and he should
be allowed 10 make the sacrifice on
the chance that if cancer is found to
be contagious he will be the means Of
saving thousands upon thousands of
lives.
81 intend to put the matter before
Egburt L. Woodbury., the Attorney
General-elect though when Hickey
made the same offer previously Attor-
ney General Thomas Carmody ruled
against its acceptance"
The question as to whether the state
can or should allow Hickey to be ex-
perimented upon in cancer research is
subject of debate among New York
physicians. The proposition to use
condemned criminals for scientific pur-
poses has been made here and abroad
al various times, but in every instance
public opinion has frowned it down.
DR.. L. ID. Buckley, one of the found
ers Of the Skin and Cancer Hospital
and its senior physician, thinks Hickey
should be allowed TO give himself up
for experimentation, but not for can
Ger
I'VE are satisfied at this hospital"
said DR.. Buckley. that cancer is not
contagious. If the prisoner is really
sincere and wishes 10 aid humanity in
this way he might permit himself 20
be inoculated with leprosy. Nobody
knows how long the period of incuba-
ton of this disease is, and such
knowledge would be of immense
value"
DR.. NJ. H. Foster, of the United
States Public Health Service. is in
cined to think the offer should be ac-
cepted.
of man has the right to give his
life for his country" asks the doctor,
"has he not the right to give it for
science and humanity"
physicians and army men have
given up their lives for the sake Of
medical progress" said DR.. L. L. Will
Jams. at is a noble thing. But in the
case of this convict the most careful
inquiry should be made before the
offer is accepted as 10 his reasons
there should be absolute proof that il
, is voluntary. And it would have to be
understood that there was to be no
promise of reward, or freedom, direct
or implied"
DR.. c. H. Lavinder, who is doing
cancer research work at Ellis Island
said the matter might be considered il
/ il was clear that some definite prog
ress in medicine might be made.