The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-03-16

held On Wdnesday, Coroner Lee de-
clared.
Kenosha is one of the centers of in
terest in the probe which is now go
Ing on at Resthaven, Waukesha, san
atorium for the treatment of veterans
disabled in the World war, by reason
of the fact that the death of Private
Leonardo P. Pedace, a Kenosha soldier,
is one of the three deaths under fire
in the investigation. The probe start
ed on Saturday afternoon when fol-
lowing the death of Walter Schumann,
Milwaukee veteran, Governor Blaine
ordered Coroner Lee and District At
torney A. F. Young of Waukesha to
make thorough investigation.
The official inquest has been under
taken because of the death within two
weeks of three inmates of the sanator-
jun following the injection of a we'll
known serum for the treatment of a
disease Of the blood. The investiga-
ton will be to determine whether
these injections were the actual cause
of death and whether the serum was
too toxic when administered.
Pedace First to Die.
Leonardo P. Pedace was the first Of
the three to die. He died on Sunday,
February 26th, and his remains were
sent to Kenosha. The death certificate
declared pneumonia had been the cause
Of the DEATH He was buried with mil
itary honors by the Kenosha post Of
the American Legion here.
PedRce had been sent to Waukesha
for treatment after weeks of local
treatment had failed to help his afflic-
ton. He had been at esthaven for
several weeks. His home in Kenosha
was at 800 Pearl street. Pedace's
death was not reported to the coroner.
Captain Roy Baker, aged 80, of Eau
Claire, died on the Wednesday follow
| ing at Resthaven after an illness SINH
lar to that of Pedace. When his death
was reported, the relatives objected to
an autopsy and under the circum-
stances the authorities acceded to their
request.
Third Death Brings Probe.
The death of Walter schumann,
however, early Saturday, caused Cor
oner Lee and District Attorney Young
to take immediate action. The cor
oner took charge of the body and, aft
er jury was sworn in, an autopsy was
ordered for Sunday morning. In adj
dition to DR.. Lorenz and DR.. Grove
Hardness, Waukesha, DR.. E. T. Barrett,
Sheboygan, state commander Of the
American Legion, will be present at
the autopsy. Coroner Lee purposely
deferred the post-mortem until Sun
day so that these men may be present.
Barrett Demands Action.
The governors attention was called
to the deaths by DR.. Barrett, after the
commander of the w. T. Murphy post,
American Legion, which is largely
composed of patients of the hospital,
had informed him of the situation.
Commander Barrett demanded a thor
ough investigation and the governor
promised to comply.
until the cause of death is definite
~ determined by the physicians, it is
impossible to proceed further with the
inquiry" said Coroner Lee. "How-
ever, it seems certain that the three
men received injections of the serum
and the unusual situation requires a
thorough inquiry"
DR.. Lawrence Kolb, head of the
Waukesha sanatorium, said Saturday
that it is possible that the deaths of
both Captain Baker and Schumann
might have been caused indirectly by
reactions to the drug. He is making a
personal investigation.
II feel certain that Pedace's death
was due to pneumonia and not to the
injection" said DR.. Kolb. cit may
also be found that Captain Baker and
Schumann also died of pneumonia.
However, there is also the possi-
bility that there was something wrong
with the serum. I have sent a phial of
it to Chicago for analysis and / have
asked the surgeon general of the pub
lie health service to send a personal
representative to Waukesha during the
investigation. Every assistance will
be given the authorities in the investi-
cation.
"Schumann became i'll about week
ago, apparently of pneumonia. He
was sick before that and his consti-
tuition was not such as could with
stand the ravages of that illness.
i Drug Used for Years.
eve have administered this drug
since the hospital was first established.
and have had no trouble The drug
was administered by capable and ex-
perienced physicians, men who have
had years Of experience in dealing with
it. If the deaths were due to the SER