The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-21
WISHARD'S CHIEF ACCUSER.
DR.. Ridpath Tells His Story to the Coun-
Gil Committee of Investigation.
DIR. Eastman's Alleged Connection with the
Present InquiIy-A Characterization of
the Methods Of His Prosecution.

charges against Superintendent Wishard, was
Miss Emma Spaulding lately one Of the train
ing nurses. She was called by DR.. Ridpath and,
in direct examination. supported the former evil
dence of the prosecution. When examined
she told DR. Wishard that her discharge
said to have been caused by violation of petty
rules of the hospital but she denied that these
violations related to her social relations with
the house physicians She did not answer
question referring to warnings received by her
from the Flower Mission management previous
to her discharge on account of her associations
With DIR. Ridpath She denied that the latter
was in her room at the hospital at o'clock In
the morning or that any improper asso
citation ever existed between them.
She said that she was never told
by her family that her relations with Dr.
kidpath were such that marriage alone could
Improve them. Miss Spaulding did not think
her family was estranged from her on that or
any account, but admitted that it was through
Dr.. Ridpath's efforts indirectly she had secured
employment at Greencaste, the Doctors home.
After this the witness under the question
ing of DR. Rdpatn again and affrmatively an
swered interrogatories relative to Dr. Wishards
associations with Miss Hunt the lockless condi-
ton of doors of the nurses room, the use of
temporary fastenings thereon, and the fact that
Dr. Ridpath had been in those rooms innocently.
To DR.. Wishard she said house physician
might have legitimate business in nurses room
at 3 o'clock, but thought the superintendent of
the training school, who she said was Miss Hunt,
had no right to remain an hour and a half in the
room of the superintendent of the hospital.
She admitted that she and DIR. Ridpath
had been walking at night on the
streets together, but denied she
tried to avoid recognition by any one connected
with the hospital DR.. Ridpath again questioned
witness in relation to social incidents between
shem, one particularly which brings hammock
into the scene on a certain Sunday afternoon.
Miss Hunt saw them, and was very angry over
the innocent affair. Dr. Ridpath asked the wit
ness if he did not say they ought not to be there
together account of the rules regarding social
relations at the hospital She answered yes, as
she did all other questions of like Durport
Dr. Ridpath then took the stand and said that
in the beginning of his statement he disavowed
any political or professional antagonism in this
investigation. The Central College had nothing
to do with it, and the investigation, moreover.
had no relation to the old Eastman fight. He
was checked because this matter of de-
Tense and must come in the proper time. The
Doctor said the exciting cause OF the
investigation a newspaper article on
the 18th or 18th Of August. DIR. Wishard
charged him with the responsibility of the
article. On the 18th DIR. Wishard said he in
tended to call the next day general meeting of
the hospital staff and ask for the resignation of
every one who had any thing to do with the
article He disapproved of the management of
the hospital, it was true, but denied the author
ship of the article and, on the advice of friends,
declared to Wishar3 he would not resign Other
articles appeared in the Sentinel which Wishard
again charged to Redpath. and told him that his
resignation must be presented within the next
twenty four hours. He again told the superin-
tendent he would not resign, hence he dis
charged.
Coming to the charges preferred, Ridpath
said during his seventeen months stay at the
hospital Wishard never accompanied him
in his rounds Wishard. furthermore,
interfered with the treatment of pa
tients. especially at night He had
great difficulty in getting Wishard in consulta
ton account of his irregular habits, being out
OF the city and other causes. The supern-
tendent frequently leaves the city without CIV
ing word to the house physicians. Dr. Ridpath
called attention to the hospital horse, which DR..
Wishard always sent away when he went out of
the city. Dr. Ridpath had been subjected to
great Inconvenience on this account. Soon after
he went to the hospital, the witness said. the
superintendent warned him against DR.. Morrow.
representing him as very dlsagreeable man
and one hard to work with Some few months
ago printed rules were promulgated at the hos
pital without the previous knowledge of the
: senior and junior assistants, but Miss Hunt knew
all about their arrangement and adoption. The
witness then rehearSed previous testimony as to
removing house physicians into other rooms,
when the occupants were at expense to improve
their accommodations. while DR.. Wishard had
his apartments made comfortable at
the city's expense. The irregularity
of payday received attention. He said
Dr. Wishard imposed on his assistant physicians
by requiring of them what they ought not to do.
The neglect of sick employees was brought up
without developing any new features, so with
other specifications which have been referred to
in detail by witnesses for the prosecution He
claimed that Dr. Wishard is absolutely ignorant
of the wards, cases and patients. In his treat
ment of patients Wishard witness said is I'M
necessarily rough. and, in the government of the
!, hospital. arbitrary and unstable. He will make
a rule and be the first to break it, DR.. Ricpath
sad that the superintendent was addicted to
strong drink and intoxication. While he was
drug clerk he saw Wishard use whisky literally
for his own use and refill the bottles from the
barrels. He saw him on several occasions unfit.
through drink. for medical work. He knew ba-
bes 20 lie in the dead house in state of decom-
position and filed with vermln. The 10th of
April last baby died and not buried until
the 18th of the same month when it was buried
with another baby that died few days
before. In the afternoon of Aug. Is
John Dotson came to witness and told him
voluntarily of the dead babies in the dead house.
Without any compulson Dotson made aft
davit that he had buried two babies behind the
barn. He (witness) denied the statement
fixed up or that Dotson had been gued as
Wishard described it. There great deal Of
complaint about articles stolen from patients
which due to DIR. Wishards ignorance of
what is going Gu in the binding. DR.. Ridpath
claimed to be friend of the training school A
great deal of the present trouble has been caused
by DIR. Wishard uphoding nurses and nurses
whose characters are not beyond reproach He
claimed the difficulty between him and Wishard
was almost solely
manding Miss Willis, pet nurse, for drinking
beer ordered for patient
DR.. Wishard called the committees attention
to DR. Ridpath coming in with attacks on ladies'
who had no chance for defense. they being out of
the city and had never been summoned as wit
nesses He said: This lis the act Of a coward