The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-19
AUTOPSIESFOR
CURI0SITYLA|D
TO CORONER
Relatives Protests FIouted
in Allowing Dissection,
Is New Charge.
LAW BARS PRACTICE
Post MortemS Revealed in
Cases Where Death Was
From Natural Cause.
BY DICK MILLER

Coroner Fred w. Vehling, over
riding protests of relatives, has
ordered autopsies performed at the
city hospital morgue on bodies
where death resulted from natural
causes, and for which Vehling was
paid fee by the county, it was re-
vealed today.
From relatives or friends interest
ed in the cases, and from hospital
records, the story of the frequency
Of curiosity" autopsies is uncovered.
In addition, relatives of deceased
persons charge they were, forced to
surrender to Vehling's autopsy de-
mands, when he threatened not to
sign death records in the cases.
Under the state law, the coroner
only is to perform post-mortems
when violence or some other cause
which hints at possible criminal cir
cumstances results in death.
Curiosity" AutOpsies Banned
Post-mortems are not to be car
ried out for medical curiosity" and
information of internes, the coroner,
or students of an autopsy school, &C
cording to law.
In addition, it is charged that
many autopsies have been per-
formed in cases of natural cause
deaths, without asking permission
of relatives.
In some instances, allegations
have been made that hospital in
ternes, desiring to perform the eX-
aminations for their personal in
formation, but unable to gain the
permission of interested parties,
have called Vehling on the phone
and he has ordered the autopSieS
conducted as "coroner's cases."
Permits Are Available
The city health board has permits
which are supposed to be signed by
relatives Of deceased persons allow
ing performance of post-mortems.
Purpose of these examinations, if
approved, is to gain scientific knowl-
edge and study action of diseases
and ailments.
DIR. Charles Myers, superintendent
of the city hospital, and the health
board, have ruled that no post
mortemS can be performed in nat
ural cause deaths without this per-
mission. This is showed aside if
the coroner classes the act as a
"coronerS case"
An instance in which an autopsy
was performed without knowledge
of interested parties took place
when undertakers went to the in
stitution to claim the body Of Gill
bert Clampitt of TAI North Lynn
street. They learned an autopsy
was to be made, and were unable to
block the procedure, although hos
pital records showed death was
caused by pneumonia.
Fee Is Claimed
The operation was performed by
DR., E. j. Meredith, inferno, but the
$25 fee was claimed by Vehling for
a. deputy coroner. Vehling's post
mortem records said cause of death
was cerebral neUlOrIIdSG.
Entry of cerebral hemorrhage as
the cause of death following an al
legged unwarranted autopsy appears
on records in connection with the
case of Ola Lola Beckner, 81, OF
BOZ West Ohio street. Hospital
records say her death was from nat
ural causes and reveal no basis for
the coroner's inquest.
Failure of Vehling to sign a death
record is shown in the case of An
drew Higdon, 81, of SIS North Noble
street. the writ carrying the sigma
ture of DR.. Harry Rabb, then an in
terne at the institution.
Fails to Sign Record
Vehling also failed to sign the
death record in the autopsy case OF
Simon Ross Smith, Negro child, who
died from acute laryngitis. Although
hospital laboratory records reveal
the autopsy, country officials say
Vehling never filed for the fee.
Another of the alleged curiosity
inquests was held on the body OF
John Morgan, 40, of S45 West
Eleventh street He died of q
meningitis complication which was
not contagious, but the post-mor.
tenn was performed.
An alleged experimental post.
mortem, it is charged, also was per-
! formed on the body of William
Ryan, 1882 Newton avenue, who dice
in the medicine service ward. Dis
eases which caused his death were
natural and not unusual, doctors
say, and there was no need for ar
autopsy.
However, it was performed or
Vehlings order, according Il
records.