Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-09

Atn P3pAohe uHonty Oup IlU6ul mdkluS
FIVE dollars for each visit. he had
previously presented a bill for sixty
three dollars, or three dollas per visit,
but payment was declined on tho
ground that DR.. Nuttall was
paid by the Howard association, at
the rate at $40 per day, and
that the Howard payment covered
services rendered. DR.. Nuttall gave
testimony in the case, stating his
view of the contract under which he
was hired by the Towards. DR.. Mitch
ell followed, testify ing that he served
as medical director Of the Towards
medical corps. His understanding, as
expressed in a long explanation, was
to the effect that those under his
charge were engaged at $40 per day,
and that they were not to
be deprived of making charges
cases that come under the head Of
their private practice. He also stated
that it is the custom to make double
charges in times of epidemic, or for
contagious and infectious dis
orders, also that it is the
custom at points further south to
charge from fifty to FIVE hundred dol
lars in each case, according to the
means and ability of patients to pay.
Mr.. P. W. Semmes, of the How
ards, followed, aad testified that
he was a member of the
executive committee of the
Towards at the time DR.. Mitchell
was employed, and it was distinctly
understood that DR.. Mitchell was TO
be paid at the rate of SIS per day and
that he was to employ assistant medi-
cal force on terms formerly agreed
upon by the Towards, which
was $40 per day also, that their SER
vices we're to be exclusively devoted
to the demand of the society. The
resolution under which DR.. Mitchell
was engaged says he q TO employ his
assistants according to the terms pre-
viOusly agreed upon. Several ,physi.
clans were employed at this time.
DR.. Sol Green and DR.. INITIAL
aud others serving previous to
DR.. Mitchell being placed in charge,
He also stated hat the fund under
which the Towards worked was 4
charity fund, derived from the people
Of the entire world, and that it was t
be devoted exclusively to charitable
purposes. In the cross examination
by Mr.. 7. NJ. s. Rhett, the counsel fol
DR.. Nuttall, Mr.. Semmes stated that
the Towards voted themselves fhul
dollars per day for their own ser
vices, and this wa afterward modified
and raised to ten dollars per day, hi
receiving that sum throughoutthe ep
idemic. Upon the question by Mr.
Rhett: DO you call this charity?'
Mr. SemmeS appealed to Judge Pierre,
to be protected from irrelevant qucs
lions. He, however, stated in expla
nation that the epidemic imposed
extraordinary expenditures upon tn,
Towards, which they could not NEE
from their Irivate purses. TheiI
board expense was enormous, appeals
met them at every turn for aid, anC
money had to be paid out for many
things that could not b,
met except out of the SUI
paid by the Towards as salary
The Towards, he believed, wore
mostly poor men'snd could not sup
port themselves without an income
nor could they afford to labor fol
nothing. lie also stated that HI
boarded in a private family at tn,
rate Of $1,000 per month, AIT
he received his pay from the a%ssocia
ton all 10 a lump. He also paid hi
board alliu 4 lump, aud but little re
NAMED after sluaring sso3unts.
During tho testimony given by Mr.
Semmes, Of which this statement il
merely the substance, he stated tina
at the time DIR. Nuttall was employee
by the Towards q number of physi
CLANS had threatened to leav
the city owing, as the,
asserted. to the fact that it'll
else remained in the sity bOt a paupc
population who wero unable to payfo
medical attention. DR.. Nuttall wa
among tho class. aud be used bis iudu
enee to have tho doctor engaged b
tho ~osspciation, the upderstaedip
being that his vhslc time would b
secured 10 its interests.
Az. NJ gn,umoq anmnlntel hi