The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-13
LITTLE JonNvY's INoUiRIEs.
Shocking stories from thc Small-Pox iIospi
tai Questioning Coroner.

Shocking stories from the Small-PoS iiospt-
l-Qucstionins Coroner.
The Senate investigating committee con-
tinucd the Investigation into the Department OF
Charities and Correction yesterday. Mrs. Mar
garct X. Haviand Of Echy-nrst street aud
Third avenue swore that last winter her son
James, was taken sick with smallpox, and that
she employed physician. He promptly report
ed the case to the Board Of Health, but they
did not send for the boy for four days. The boy
WIS taken to the receiving room at the foot Of
East Twenty-si1th street, and kept there, with
no attention whatever. from eleven in the fore
noon until seven in the evening before he was
taken to Dlackwels Island. Three days after
ward her little four-year-old deughter was
taken down with small pox and she (witness)
went To the small pox hospital on Blackwclrs
leland to take care OF her. The girl was put into
a ward for women. and the mother remained
with her three weeks. In that time she saw no
care taken Of the Notwithstanding was given
to save life. She saw patient die for want of n
drop of water to wet the lips. She saw men and
women, too weak to take nourishment. treated
like swine. The physician, she said, went
through the wards twice day, but ne medicine
was gwen. There was one nurse Tor the ward az
night. and she was convict indeed all the
for anybody, and treated the patients shame
fully. once mother desired 70 KISS her child,
which was said u he dead; When the attendant
took the sheet OF the child II was stu breath
ing. but he took II away with him 10 the dead
house.
Her son James. lad Of eighteen. swore
| that while he was IN the smallpox hos
pital nothing was done Tor his relief and
| that he had no medical assistance except a
few pills when lie was sick al the stomach.
| Whenever he asked for drink of water the or
| defly cursed and abused him. and Threatened to
put him ia strait jacket II ne d'd not kee p
| quiet. When he could not swallow the water
| offered him the orderly abused him shamefully.
| There were sixty-four patients in one ward,
with only one orderly at night.
| Coroner Anthony Eickhun testified that he
| was elected in 1873, and before that was law
| yer hy education and AN editor by profession"
| The stated fees Of the Office were SO Tor view
| ing a dead body and holding an inquest, s. for
! ,mpancliing and swearing a jury. and - Tor
| making and filing the inquest. He never re-
! ceived IA cent beyond those regular fees. Ii was
always his practice to summon nine jurors at
| least, and sometimes as many rs fifteen. The
| law gave him power to summon jury when
| ever lac thought IL necessary. He know OF no
| case In " hich the names - fictitious jurors ap
Mr.. Davenport showed several inquest papers
! 81 inquests held at the Nprgue. on which the
uame Alfred Craven. lI.D.' and John W
Craven appeared IN the same handwriting.
Coroner EickhoR didn't remember DIR
| Craven" nor any Craven. and ditnt know oi
any case IN which the same surname had beer
signed with various differing gwen names by
one man. Ills attention was called to the namt
OF Charles SchweiE, which appeared ABOUT MT,
times. lie explained that Mr.. Schwelg was hi'
personal friend. and often went with him OF
Sundays and in the evening 10 inquests, ant
where jurors could not be readily obtained he
served The Coroner also said he sometimes al
lowed lis ID putty, Dr. Marsh. TO act Ms boti
juror and witness. RE further saif that his fee
amounted to about Sl3It0 per annun. and biz
ed about 5000 When 1t was sAld by the com
mittcc that tie fees were nearly three time
what they were formerlv. the Coroner said
q rather be an editor AT S5VOO than Corone