Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-25
Family OF mrs. B|NCHAM
SEEK CAUSE OF HER DEATH
Ask Permit for ELIMINATION of Rodv
Because They Believe Crime
Is Committed.
AUTOPSY RESULTS NOT KNOWN
statement by Brothcr-in-Law De-
ciares Course Is Justified by Facts
and Circumstances Relating to Her
Illness and Death.
tBy Associated Press1

tBy Associated Press]
WILMINGTON. n. c., September "a.
DR.. Charles r. Nesbitt. county health
o"icer' announced to-day that he had
issued permit for the elimination of
the body OF Mrs Robert Worth Bine-
ham. He told Mayor p. Q. Moore that
he would issue statement to the news-
papers later. and explained that the
reason he had withheld Information
was that he had been told by those
seeking tho permit that they thought
crime had been committed.
Following tho announcement by the
Superintendent of health. the local
county health board met in special SEES
sion this afternoon and instructed the
superintendent that in future all trans
actions OF his office must be at all
Times open to tho public. this following
sharp colloquy between the ex-oricio
chairman OF tho board, Mayor Moore,
over the suppression OF tho information
until this time.
Graham Kenan. first cousin and
o'other-in-law Of Mrs. Bingham. who
Is Wilmington attorney, issued a
statement to- day declaring that mem
oers OF her family" had had an autopsy
performed In tho usual and regular
way on advice OF leading physicians.
nc said they were justified in this ac-
ZION by the facts and circumstances
ieiatihs 10 Mrs. Bingham's illness and
ueath az disclosed to them" The re-
suits OF the autopsy had not yet been
made known to them. he added
Mr. kenan admitted that I'm addition
10 the physicians in attendance at tho
exhumation there were also nrescnt
Two women. a trained nurse and a
stenographer. but declined to give their
names. both being strangers to otbers
VINO were present at the disintermcnt
RESULTS OF INQUIRY
NOT YET MADE PUBLIC,
Mr.. kenan's statement says:
me facts and circumstances relating
TO Mrs. Bingham's illness and death
and as disclosed to members n, 49,
family justified them in. and made !,
their duty to consult leading physicjans
VINO advised that an autopsy he nor
Aormed. This has been done In tho
usual and regular way in the broad
open daylight by the best experts OBJ
tainable. but the results Of their in
vestisation have not yet been made
known to the family.
All Interested may be assured that
any investigation which has been or
may be made. has been and Will be con-
Quoted in proper and legitimate man
ner. and with absolute fairness to all
parties concerned.
the feelings of the family naturally
maze them desire to have as little pub
licity as possible given the matter
Il hope the public will be fair enough
not to jump at any conclusions based
on the facts now in their possession"
County Health officer Nesbitt also
issued statement later in which he
said he had issued permit last Tues
day for the disintermcnt OF Mrs Bing-
hams body at the request OF Graham
Kenan. who told him that the family
was anxious to ascertain IL possible the
cause of death. the matter not having
been settled to their satisfaction"
sTATEMENT MADE
ny DR.. NEsBIT'T
DR.. Nesbitt's statement says:
with reference to the issuance Of
permit for the disinterment Of the body
OF Mrs. Bingham. I desire to say that
! issued such a permit on Tuesday
morning. September is. at the request
Of Graham Kenan. This kind OF
permit is issued for the sole purpose
of protecting the public health against
possible danger that might arise from
the disinterment of body which
would disseminate disease. 1t had no
other status
Tho reason for this disinterment. as
stated by Mr.. Kenan. was that the fam
lily OF the deceased were anxious to
discover. If possible. the cause of death
the matter not having been settled to
their satisfaction. The statements made
by Mr.. Kenan were supported by his
family physician, who was present at
tho interview. and they requested that
refrain from giving any newspaper
publicity to the matter.
no person other than a newspaper
man has asked me for any information
concerning the disinterment of Mrs.
& Binghams body. excepting Shepard
Bryan. the legal representative of
Judge Bingham. to whom 1 uphesitat-
ingly told all the facts pertaining to
the disintermcnt OF the body that were
In my possession.
II was moi present at the disinter-
ment ami autopsy of Mrs. BinGham's
body. and have no personal knowledge
of that occurrence, and had no other
connection with the matter"