Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-07
The CITY Hospital.

SUPERINTENDENT STEWART GUILTY OF 'IMpRU-
DENcE, oNLy-THE HosiITAL NOT A HousE OF
ILL FAME.
At the meeting OF City Council, last evening,
Mr.. Pickels, from the City Hospital Committee
presented the following report of the investiga-
ton of the charges preferred against Hospital
Superintendent Stewart at the last meeting:
WILMINGTON, Aug. 4, 1874.
To u,e ity Council of Wilmington
Your committee, to whom was referred the
charge made against John M. Stewart Superin-
tendent Of the City Hospital, of conduct unbe-
coming gentleman, beg leave to report that
after careful investigation, they find that while
Mr.. Stewart was mprudent in his actions, yet the
evidence fails to sustain the charge made against
him,
II. +. PIoKELs,
THos. JOHNSON,
JOHN L. RICHARDSON,
ISAAC MURRAY.
Mr.. Pickels moved the adoption of the report,
when Councilman Lynch, the only member OF
the committee who did not sign the report, dis
claimed any malicious intention against Mr.
Stewart, in offering the resolution, he being a
gentleman whom he knew only by reputation.
He referred to the letter of DIR. Reynolds, an
inmate of the Hospital, an invalid wheeled about
in an arm chair, who wrote the letter to mem
ber Of the committee, giving information of the
conduct which led to the charges, yet
his intellect was not impaired, and
being an Intelligent educated gentleman his in
formation and evidence were given in such a
straightforward and intelligent manner az to
leave no doubt of the grossest immortality being
practised DR.. Reynolds, too, had the dsadvan-
tage of testifying in the presence of the Super
intendent, and of afterwards being subject to
his displeasure. His name Gynch's) was not
appended to the report for he could not sign
conscientiously without certifying to his disbe-
lief of the testimony of DR.. Reynolds. whom he
believed to be high minded, intelligent honor
able man, having forgotten more than the
whole of the committee, including himself, ever
knew.
Mr.. Pickels defended the report, and in reply
to Mr.. Lynch, said that the committee was not
of the star chamber ORDER where the accused
was prohibited from being present. He did not
defend Mr.. Stewart in all his actions, but the
testimony showed that all the witnesses knew Of
occurred in the presence of his wife and other
members of his family. In order to give the
City Council an opportunity to elect another
superintendent, and take the appointment out OF
the hands of the committee he had prepared an
ordinance for that purpose which would be sub
mitted during the evening.
Mr.. Richsrl lson defended the action of the COM
mittee and said that of ten witnesses examined
the only evidence adduced WAS that MIR. Stewart
was imprudent with female domestic, and not
guilty of any criminal act. He accused Mr..
Lynch of making misstatements, and of asking
DR.. Reynolds questions in the absence Of Mr..
Stewart from the committee room, which he did
not ask him while he was present His mind
was full of predjudice against Mr.. Stewart when
he rstheard of the affair, and he had very little
doubt Of the truth of the accusations but after a
full investigation at three different meetings OF
the committee, all he could sift from the testimo.
ny was embodied in the the report.
| Mr.. Hayes spoke against the adoption of the
report, for even in the mild language with which
| it is clothed, it shows Mr. Stewart to be guilty
of imprudence, which should unfit him for the
| office which he holds.
| After considerable further discussion between
Messrs. Lynch, Pickels, Richardson and others
the motion to adopt the report of the committee
was agreed to.