, 1879-05-04
COUNTY-HosPlTAL INVESTIGATION;

| The Special Committee Of the County Board
| appointed to investigate the Cook County Hos
| pital and its Warden, Mr.. Mills, met yesterday
| afternoon ut the committee-room, adjoining the
place for the meeting OF the Board, IN the build
ing corner OF North Clark and Michigan streets.
AL the members, Boese excepted, were present
Commissioner FitzS erald, in the chair, said that
he thought the first charge made against the
Warden--tl,at Of utter incompetency in the
management OF the Hospital-had been clearly
proven. The testimony had shown that Mills
had left the Hospital, taking his clerk with him,
aud bad remained away tn very late atntght,
out>a clerk and In the hands of night watch
u1an. In his absence the body Of man had
been cut up in the Morguc BY two Of the en-
ployes, whereas II Mills had been at honc at
tending to his business such q thing would not
hare taken place. And when the friends OF the
dead man had called for his body the next day,
Mills told falseDood in stating to them that
the body had been buried because it haddecom-
posed SO rapidly.
Commissioner Stewart said that allowances
must be made for man new to tile duties Of
the position which he occupied. III he had will;
tul!S violated his duty be- should receive the
reward due him, but hc should not be condemned
because he had been imposed upon BY two EN-
ploycs who thought ti1at they could make use
OF his freshness for their own benefit.
: Commissioner Fitzgerald replied that Mills
6nOulu h1DW more LNan 70 leave the% Hospital ut
that time Of night for SO long a time without
any officer In charge.
Commissioner Stewart said that the charge OF
incompetency had not bccu proven, because the
prepondevance OF evidence lay upon Mr.. Mills
side Of the case. The many members vi the
Medical Board had all agreed that the Hospital
was under better management than 1t had been
heretofore. and they oil rcgardcd the Warden as
q competent man in his position. - -
Commission Fitzgerald rctor,ed thAt tho evil
deuce OF the members Of that Board did not pus-
sess tic weight Of i feather. in his opinion, he
cause they all were dependent upon the Warden
for the privileges they enjoyed at the hospital,
and would ;say anythn. that would tend to
make Mr. Mills more favorab1y dsposed toward
them. Tilev furthermore were not 1T the inst-
tuition at tmcs when Mr.. Mills' character WAS
apparent, and knew nothing abou: him. EXCEPT
what they saW while they were making their
rounds through the wards. They wouil hayc
said the same things about Hugh Mclaughlin,
the former Warden, had they been asked, AMI
had not DR.. Ross, one OF the members OF the
Medical Board, .lobbied with all his tiuc aud
energy to keep Mclaughlin in tic position
After more Of such talk, the Committee ex-
pressed a desire to hear the evidence read, and
therefore adjournment was had subject to the
call Of the Chair. It may be added that the an
parent sentiment Of the Committee IS that the
lnrestigasion has shown nothing against Mr.. |
Mills. 1t is highly probable that all the mem
bcrs excepting Commissioner Fitzgcrald will
unite in IN immunity report, aud tlat tile Chair
will present recommendation for official de- |
caDitatiuu.