Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-17
PARDON BOARD TO
SUMMON DOCTORS
[Continucd From FIRST pagel

tSontinucu from First PaEe1
ognize every effort to continue a case
Its list would be Uttered with applica-
lions from one years end to another.
Counsel for Nelson. who was con-
victed at Tunkhannock of causing the
death of a fan named Sigler by stab
wounds, in October, 1915, declared
that he had been informed a few days
ago by Dr. c. c.. Thofson, of Scranton,
q surgeon. who had made an autopsy
that the dead fan had died because a
portion of his intestines had been al
lowed to protrude in dressing the case.
rms doctor had visited the man
shortly after the stabbing and had
found his condition so favorable for
recovery. he said, that he had not
taken off the bandages. When the
man died an autopsy was held at
which it was alleged that condition
evidencinG lack of careful treatment
was discovered.
District Attorney Surprised
District Attorney Farr, of wyoming
county, said that he believed the man
dled from wounds about the heart
and commented upon the fact that DIR.
thompson did not appear at the trial,
which was held almost a year ago.
Ihe Lieutenant Governor said that in
cases of reasonable doubt the Board
desired to give the benefit of investi-
CATION and directed the doctors to ap-
pear and attorneys to use their utmost
endeavors to get at the facts.
Nelson is sentenced to be electro
cuted in the week of January 30 but
Will be respited. 1t is possible that
his case may also be taken to the Su-
preme Court in an effort to obtain q
new trial.
The proceedings in the case were as
unusual as the plea made for a con-
tinuance. Never before in the history
of the Board has such a claim been
made as that the doctors failed to take
proper care of a wound And never
before has the Board summoned men
TO appear before it as witnesses.
Nelson's case is one of national i'm
portance. He stabbed Sgler appar-
entity without much reason and re-
tused to give his name, keeping every
one in doubt for days as to his identity.
Ministers and others have become in
terested in him and the case attracted
wide attention when tried. Now the
question of professional ethics has
been brought in. 1t is said that DR..
thompson communicated has findings
to authorities and even to the Attor-
ney General, but that counsel for the
condemned man never knew of the
vital report until Sunday. DR.. Thomp-
son is said to be desired to make a
privileged communication, but the
eNlgencies of the case will force him
10 make statement about another
doctors care of the case.
Callery's Case Heard
Application for commutation of the
death sentence of Patrick Gallery,
northampton, on the ground of insan-
ity was made in the presence of the
condemned mans sister and opposed
oy District Attorney f. B. McCloskey
VINO stated that he appeared by direc-
ton of Judge Stewart. of the North
ampton courts. Gallery was declared
by his counsel to have been pro-
nounced insane by five doctors, but
the State objected to the plea holding
that his actions We're not those of an
isane man, but of one addicted to ex-
cessiVe drinking. Gallery was de-
clared to have run amuck with a re-
VolNer and to have shot four persons.
killing one and to have opened fire on
policemen when they tried to arrest
him.
So much time was taken up with
the homicide cases that Lieutenant
Governor McClain limited arguments
In others to fifteen minutes each.