Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-03-26
A FreedmRn's Hospital Patient On
His Muscle.


On Saturday last John Brown, a colored
patient at the Freedman's hospital. was dis
charged by the surgeons as being cured.
Brown surmised that his discharge was made
because he had given some testimony i'm the
recent Investigations against the manage
the Secretary of the Interior and laid hi.
case before him. Brown was given a per
NIT for re-admissiOn to the hospital and state.
that ne Went there at once, and presented the
permit to DR.. PurviS who, instead of directing
and ordered him out. Brown deeming thai
he had right there under the permit refused
to leave the premises, and went to the ward
from which he was discharged. Purvis order
ed him out of the ward, and Brown says Pur
Wis advanced towards him, when he Drown,
opened fire on the Doctor from the medicine
chest, throwing several walls at him. Purvis
then went off and called Officer McGraw, who
after a hard tusSle, took Brown to the station
IN THE POLICE COURT THIS MORNING,
John Brown, who is a rather excitable col0red
man, and rather Sickly looking, was arraigned
on the charge of profanity and loud and bois-
ferrous language in the Freedman'S hospital
Officer McGraw, who made the arrest, and
DIR. PurviS gave testimony, after which fine
of s. was imposed.
DIR. PURvIs' STORY.
He was also arTalgned on the charge of as
SAUL and battery ON DR.. c. B. Purvis, who
testified that Brown had been an inmate and
had been DISCHARGED. He was there on treat
ment for loathsome disease; while, there he
leave, and otherwise gave the officers trouble
and as soon as he was well enough they had
DISCHARGED him. This was done yesterday,
and Brown Immediately went to the Secretary
OF the interior and had obtained permit to re-
turn to the hospital. He (witneSs) told defen-
cant that he could not take him in there again,
as he was not sick, and had been discharged
that he would acquaint the Secretary of the
Interior of the facts. Brown grew quite in
Sultlng and b01sterous, thereupOn he ordered
him TO leave the office, when ne refused. and
oOn1npt of
leaving he went down through the ward, ours
ing and abusing witness. He was so defiant
that he (witness) was Obliged to send for an
officer, WHICH he did, and Officer McGraw
came in and had considerable trouble with
him in getting him out, being obliged to hand
Gun him and even TO strike him.
Otfcer McGraW testified to about the same
effect.
BROWNS VERSION
Brown. who was in the dock, said he had no
witnesses present, but that lie was discharged
before he was able to go out. He was sick,
and nOtknOwing what else to do, came down
to Police headquarters and got permit from
The sanitary officer to see the Secretary of the
Interior: He had got an order from him and
returned TO DR.. PurviS to whom he presented
1t. DIR. PuryiS said he could not be admitted
there; that if Dr. Palmer said so he could re-
turn, but not otherwise. DIR. PurviS was the
first one to use prOfane language: he said he
supposed he had got to leave there on account
OF this Investigation, and was going to make
II hot Tor some OF the niggers out there before
him to leave, and he did not GO The doctor
then got very angry, and sent for the police
Oncer McGraW came in and used him Very
rough, catching hold of him and Handwriting
him, and struck him in the head.
DENIALS ALL AROUND.
Dr. PurYlS was recalled. and said. in the alb
Sence of Dr. Palmer he was chief officer there
Brown had been cured and discharged: when
the Of1lcer came in, Brown. instead of going
qnietly, went down through the ward, and
when the officer went towards him he grabbed
his stick and got hold of his coat and caught
some bottles, which he threw at the doctor and
officer.
Officer McGraw was recalled, and testified
that Brown made several kicks at PurviS, and
threw some bottles at him, swearing dread
fully at the same time: and here he was COM
PEELED TO put the nipperS on him.
Here Brown, interrupting, denied this, and
said both had hold of him and held him. The
Secretary OF the Interior told him that if they
would not admit him on that order, to come
back again. He denied throwing the bottles
and asked pOStpOnement, so as to have his
witnesses present
THE COURT SAID
he should have fair chance to be heard. and
would continue the examination. 1t was ne
cesSary to have rules 70 govern all institutions
and such regulations Were very necessary in
hospitals. The constituted authorities of hos
pltalS should be recognized and Obeyed. Dr.
PurVIS appeared to be legally in authority at
that time. and the Secretary of the Interior did
not pretend TO have supervision to the extent
to set aside the order of the physician based
upon his professional knowledge of the case
lie could have his case continued or paya fine
OF s. Brown said he would go down in de-
fault OF his fines, mOking twenty-five days, as
his witnesses were too sick to be called from
the hospital.