The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-29
THE WISHARD INVESTIGATION.
The Rebuttal Testimony introduced by the
Prosecution Last Night.

The investigation of the charges against SUI
perintendent Wishard, of the City Hospital, by
the Council committee, was again taken up last
evening. DR.. Ridpath stated that in the rebut-
tai testimony that he would furnish he intended
to show these facts: That Dr. Wishards wit
nessee were not in possession of facts regarding
certain matters, because they had not been in
position to acquire them; that the testimony of
other witnesses was untrue; that, while there
was no conspiracy organized for the purpose of
obtaining Dr. Wishards official scalp there was,
on the other hand, on the part of DR.. Wishard,
an organized conspiracy to divert the attention
of the investigating board and the mass of the
people from the real issue.
Dr. Joseph E. Morrow was the first witness.
He testified at great length. He was assistant
physician at the hospital for two years. His APP
pointment was the result of a competitive exam
ination, though DR.. Wishard had the right to re-
Ject or accept his assistants. Dr. Joseph Marsee,
whose student he had been, had recommended
him. DR.. Marsee had been his friend up to the
time of the bringing of this investigation. He
did not consider it fact that he. the witness,
made trouble at the hospital He did not admit
eAoC Aio CSOtlSni, ao Su&lS0Q ny LII. w lSudFu,
was offensive to the visiting physicians old prac
ttioners to whom, it was alleged, he obtruded his
ideas in the conduct of cases. Dr. Marsee, when
this investigation came up, said he would do
everything in his power, if he (Morrow) took
part in it, to defeat and injure him professional
ly. DR.. Marsee said he had been scheming for
ten years to get the place he now holds, and that
if another man got DR.. Wishard's place physi-
clan from the other college would get his MAR
see's) place. He said it was a personal matter
with him, and interfered with his plans. He
didn't believe DR.. Marsee, as he is so much inter
ested, could give impartial testimony. Dr. Mar
sees position on the staff gives him an opportu-
lty to advertise himself. DE- Thompson was as
sociated with witness fen months. DR..
Wishard interfered with cases. Thompson
turned cases over to DR.. Wishard because Wish
ard had :nterfered with them. Drs Eastman,
Sutcliffe Long and Todd have nothing whatever
to do with this investigation. Dr. Eastman be-
leved that if he was allowed to have anything
whatever to do with the matter the force of the
charges would be broken as Dr. Wishard would
say it was renewal of the old Eastman charges.
DIR. Rldpath and the witness are the sole persons
responsible for these charges. If there had
been any conspiracy against Wishard the wit
ness would have known it,
DR., Wishard-I wish it understood that have
not charged, and do not charge, that DR.. Todd
Wltness-I had no conversation with East
man, Long or Sutciffe until these charges were
preferred. have had no trouble with the Wis
ting physicians there. They always treated the
witness as gentleman
Dr. j. B. Long testified that he had been prac-
tcing medicine in Indianapolis little more than
four years. He had taken no part in this inves-
tgatlon. lie was student of DR.. Eastman,
was his friend and frequently assisted him in
operations. DR.. Eastman had never consulted
q tnnC in wi 70 hoo &c
vestigation. Dr. Ridpath had repeatedly told him
that he was avoiding Eastman in this matter,
owing to Eastman and Wishard's previous
trouble So far as Todd and Sutciffe were con
cerned he didn't know that they have had any
thing to do with this investigation.
DR.. Wishard-I will ask you il you didn't have
fifteen or twenty interviews with Ridpath and
Ralph during the month of September
Witness-During that time Ralph came
round frequently l can't say how often
DR.. Wishard-Didn't you solicit Ralph for his
personal political influence with certain council
men in reference TO these charges2
Witness-I never asked him to see any man.
Dr. Wishard-Not Mr.. Sbeppardl
Witness-No; he made that suggestion him
SELF
DR.. Wishard-Why did you transfer your po-
litical influence from Mr.. Smith to Mr.. Dunn in
their race for the Council2
Witness-Because did not like Smiths work
at the primary in regard to the election Of dele
gates. Smith positively denied being friendly to
you. Mr.. Ralph's calls were not by arrange
ment, but of his own free will. A number of
times he converseda on political matters Ralph
always said the charges were grave and serious,
and ought to be investigated. He said he took
interest in this matter because he was a citizen.
DR.. Wishard-Didn't you think that Mr.. Ralph
gave you considerable taffy during those three
or four weeks?
Witness-You call it what You like.
DR.. Ridpath-I think it was very bitter taffy
for DR.. Wishard TO take.
DR.. Wishard-But you and DR.. Long were
taking the taffy.
The investigation then closed, to be resumed
tonight at o'clock
ADJUSTMENTS.