Evening star., 1946-12-01
Negro Congress Cites
Post Mortem Findings
In Scott Inquest Plea

Il
The National Negro Congress and
other organizations are mailing a
letter to the Commissioners today
requesting an inquest into the death
of Charles w. Scott, colored, and
for the first time revealing the find-
ings of post mortem examination
conducted by DR.. Robert Jason, head
of the Howard University Pathology
Department.
Scott died in District Jail mfr
mary November 2, the day after the
stolen car he was driving crashed
into a truck and fatally injured
Detective Harry Hamilton, who was
hanging to door of the car and at
tempting to arrest Scott.
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald S
report following an autopsy ascribed
SCOTS death to anaphylactic shock,
following administration Of anti
tetanus serum. Since then the Ma
tional Negro Congress has sought
an inquest after being turned down
first by DR.. Macdonald and two
weeks ago by the Commissioners.
The letter to the Commissioners
said the postmortem examination
performed by DR.. Jason and DR.
Warren S. wilkins Of the Howard
University medical staff on Novenn-
ber 5 revealed excavation or re-
moval Of part Of the bony structure
OF the external, middle and interna
ears and Of the upper mastoid cell.
Presence OF sutures Cited.
mo explanation is available from
any of the authorities as to wlel
these removals occurred, or thei
purpose = the letter said. There 4
responsible medical opinion thAl
such removal would have served nt
proper purpose as an incident K
the autopsy.
Moreover. lacerations and su-
lures (stitches) of both ears were
observed on the body when ex-
amined after the autopsy. None OF
the physicians who attended Scott
prior to his death reported any
decorations Of the external ears OF
reported applying sutures. No ex-
PLANTATION of this condition is in
dicated on the coroner's autopsy
card and no explanation of this
condition has been given by the
coroner"
The Congress and 13 other organ-
izations signing the letter said 1t
was apparent from their investiga-
ton that there are many circum-
stances attending Scott's treatment
and death while in police custody
which are not satisfactorily ex-
planned"
Eight Points Are Listed.
Outlining the investigation, point
by point, the Congress said 1t had
learned that:
/. Police officers removed Scott
from Gallinger Hospital about 10
I'm. the morning Of the crash with
out a court order and without per-
mission Of hospital authorities.
2. Although 1t appears Scott was
taken first to police headquarters,
there is no record Of what happened
from the time he left the hospital
until he was turnsd over to the
United States marshal at the Mu-
nicipal Court.
3. When Scott appeared in court
twice during the day, Judge George
Nelson ''is reliably reported" to
have ordered his return to hospi-
tai. Instead, Scott was sent back
to jail at 4::30 pm.
4. It was an hour after Scott
reached the jail that he was re-
moved to the inflrmary on a stretch
er. After administering the anti
tetanus serum and penicillin, q jail
physician left instructions to be
called If symptoms Of nter-cranial
injury developed during the night
S. Noting the patient "got worse
at about $50 pm.," an inferno con-
suited q Gallinger physician by tale
phone. The Gallinger physician said
he suspected a brain injury, and ad-
vised that the patient be watched
At $50 am. SCOTS condition called
for administration Of oxygen.
Unconscious Before Death.
6. At $50 am. Scott was un-
conscious. Jail and Gallinger physi-
clans conferred and decided Scott
was suffering from brain hemor-
rhage. Scott died at 2:30 pm. with
out gaining consciousness.
Z. An intern told police he had
given Scott penicillin and sulpha
drugs, although a jail physician said
he had prescribed only penicillin
and q narcotic.
william Tymous, orgsnizational
secretary of the Negro Congress,
said q group would call on United
States Attorney George Morris Fay