Charles Miller - Death Is Strange

MILLER, BECKER, MAGUIRE

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 3/26/2015 at 13:55:08

DEATH IS STRANGE
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Charles Miller, age 16, an invalid for the past nine years, died at pneumonia at the home of his parents, Elm and Sixteenth streets, this morning. The boy had no medical attendance during his lifetime and when Dr. Becker was asked by the father to issue a death certificate he refused to do so and notified the Coroner Hoar who impaneled a jury and an inquest will be held Monday morning.

The fact that the boy died on pneumonia and that his parents did not all in a physician to attend him during his illness had created no little talk in the neighborhood. The boy had been a helpless cripple since 1893 when he was run over by a wagon. He had been unable to walk ever since. On November 25, Dr. Becker was called to the house to attend Mrs. Miller who was ill at the time when there was asked to look at the boy.
The physicians found the boy was suffering from acute tonsillitis. Later the physician was informed by the boy’s father that he was alright. That was the last time a physician was called to the house.

This morning the father called at the office of the physician and informed him that the boy was dead. The father admitted that no doctor had been called in to attend his son during his illness. He said that he did not consider that the boy was very sick.

Drs. Becker and Maguire held a post mortem and learned that the boy had died of pneumonia.

Dubuque Telegraph Herald 1902