bones taken out of a grave which was alleged to be that of Robert Emmet, who it was alleged was placed in this grave some time in the year 1803.
The skull that was submitted to me I immediately stated was the skull belonging to an aged man and could not have been that of Robert Emmet, who had not reached his 25th year. The lower jaw fitted the skull and in my opinion belonged to the same person. In addition to these bones and which were found in the same grave were portions of a parietal bone of the skull of a young child, and portions of ribs of same. I stated to the above two gentlemen that I would far prefer, before I gave a definite opinion and report in writing, to have every bone that could be found in the grave removed therefrom and placed in order on a flat slab so that I could examine the skeleton as a whole and then compare accurately each bone separately of the skeleton submitted. Accordingly on Tuesday, August 4th, at the hour of 5 o'clock, I again attended at St. Michan's Church-yard, being accompanied by Prof. Alec Fraser, F. R. C. S., Pro- fessor of Anatomy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, in order that he should act with me in this important and far-reaching investigation. We then carefully examined the skull, lower jaw, vertebrae, and long bones of the limbs taken out of the grave and laid out in order as directed by me and we had no hesitation in saying that the skeleton belonged to an old man and one who must have been at least six feet in height and therefore could not possibly have belonged to Robert Emmet, who was a young man of short stature. I am therefore of opinion that Robert Emmet could not have been interred in this particular grave In St. Michan's Church-yard. I also certify that another skull was submitted to me which I was informed was found in the vault under St Michan's Church by itself, and for the same anatomical reasons already stated I adjudge that the individual to whom it belonged died at an advanced age.
(Signed)LAMBERT H. ORMSBY,
M. D., F. R. C. S., Kt.,
President Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. August 12th, 1903.
REPORT OF PROFESSOR ALEC FRASER, PROFESSOR OF ANATOMY, ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND:
HAVING been asked by Sir Lambert H. Ormsby, President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, to inspect and give my opinion upon certain remains in the church-yard of St Michan's, Dublin. I went there at 5 P. M., on the 4th of August, 1903, and in his, and in the presence of two other gentlemen, was shown.
First, a skull with lower jaw, the latter though separate belonged to the same head. From the absorption of the alveolar arches of the upper jaw bones, the partial disappearance of the cranial sutures, and from other characteristics, there was no difficulty in deciding that these belonged to the head of an aged male.
Second. Spread out on a slab, were seen the bones of the trunk, and of the fore and hind limbs, almost complete. There was no difficulty in determining from the length of the long, and the size of the trunk bones, as well as from other features that these belonged to a man over six feet in height. There were also seen here a few human bones which had belonged to a female skeleton and also some bones from the skeleton of an animal.
Third. A second skull was examined and there was little difficulty in concluding that it also was from a male past the meridian of life, although not so aged as the first skull shown.
(Signed)ALEC ERASER,
Professor of Anatomy Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. August 22d, 1903.
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SUPPOSED GRAVE OF ROBERT EMMET IN THE PROTESTANT CHURCH-YARD AT GLASNEVIN. THE UPRIGHT HEADSTONE INDICATES THE GRAVE WHICH HAS BEEN PARTLY BUILT OVER BY THE WALL SHOWN TO THE RIGHT.
