The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-27
EVIDENCE OF A CONSPIRACY.
The Testimony Of ]. W. Ralph Regard
ing the Charges Against Wishard.
He Gives Some Inside Information About the
Plot Against the Superintendent
and the Main Object of 1t.


city editor Of the News, was the first witness
called His testimony principally related to ar
article in mis- paper founded on personal inspec
ton of the hospital, and inquiries to the
charges against Superintendent Wishard. This
article was contradictory of the charges pub
lished in the Times. 1t showed the institution
to be free from the charges complained OF, and
referred to the changes in the wards, the removal
of patients from one ward to another He said
that he saw nothing of overcrowding of patients.
He was impressed by his visit to the institution
that Wishard had thorough acquaintance with
the condition of the house and patients
Dr. o. E. Holloway, of Knightstown, testified
to conversation he had with DR.. Ridpath in the
Uniogs Depot, at which time the latter claimed
that he did not have enough authority as senior
house physician 1t was his impression that
Ridpath wanted to be superintendent. He
understood that Ridpath believed that after fill
ing the senior year of house physician tie super
intendency ought to go to him. Ridpath said
the matter was being arranged, and that charges
would probably be preferred against Wishard.
DIR. Ridpath was still at the hospital, the wit
ness thought, and he did not understand that the
Miss Carrie Bell was recalled and said that
the nurses whom DIR. Morrow referred to in say
inc that he intended to make it hot for them
were Miss Willis, Miss Iddings, Miss Hurst and
herself. On cross-examination she replied that
she had no trouble with Morrow, but could not
endure him on account of his offensive egorism
Henry Lindsay has been at the City Hospital
three years, employed as janitor. He was also
there eight months as patient John Dotson is
his roommate. He remembered his sickness, and
49,. L.. L IL.
knew. DR.. Wishard was out of the city two
days when Dotson had to 60 to bed on account of
his sickness. DR.. Wishard. coming home. attend
ed to tne paJlentt He never heard Dotson com
plain of Wishards neglect In regard to some of
the employees buying coal, he said he knew more
about it than any one else, as he loaned the
money, bought the COAL and told them where to
put it. About ten bushels of coal were bought and
only three used. He only knew by Helen Me
Cormacks own talk that she came to the hospital
to see Dr. Ridpath. He never buried baby
behind the barn; and, said ne, Doctor,
cheek to ask me to do such thing.
I never buried any human flesh. buried dog
once He never heard employees complain about
the irregularity of pay. If he rightly under
stood the word spy" he did not think DR.. Rid
path acted in that character. but he knew of his
doing something similar in going about among
the employees, asking for statements against DR..
Wishard. THAT was before the Doctor took his
walking papers" The witness never knew of
longtime sickness among the employees. "They
were like horse-sick for three hours. and then
well again. This was in answer to a question
On cross examination, as was his reply that the
employees bought coal to give out that Wishard
would not let them have fires out of the hospital
coal When they found he did not object to
them using the hospital coal they did not con-
sumo what theyhad bought.
Charles Haugh, the councilman, testified that
he was chairman of the investigating committee
that had the Eastman charges under consider
alton. Ore night last January, after the inves-
tigation, DR.. Eastman said to the witness that
they would lay trap for Wishard
j. w. Ralph, master mechanic, said he be-
came acquainted with DIR. Wishard about year
ago. through Mr. Doyle. of the hospital board.
He first met DR.. Ridpath last August He called
upon Wishard to about the steam heating
apparatus. Wishard was sick that night. Two
young men, Drs. Earring and Ridpath, as ne
afterwards learned their names to be, came into
Wishard in friendly manner--the
other (Ridpathl did not. On his
wav TO the hospital on Sunday afternoon he met
sJohn d. Long, who asked him if he would do
h m favor The witness answered that he
would do an honorable one. Long then laid out
the scheme of charges to be preferred against
Wishard. Long said Drs Eastman Morrow
and Ridpath intended to formulate the charges
and carry them through. 1t was the understand
ing of the witness that this was to be done in
the party. He at first thought Dr. Long wanted
The place, but afterwards concluded it was one
Of the other three. DR.. Long gave him card to
Dr. Ridpath 1t was his impression that the
note was on one of Longs professional cards.
He thought DR.. Ridpath held the relation
of tool to the others. The witness
passed on. studied over the matter. and went in
to see DR.. Wishard, who was still sick in bed, to
whom he told the occurrence and his impress
sions. They were that plot was being formed
MI ~
quest. he saw Ridpath before he left the build
ing. Ridpath told him that some of the charges
had been prepared but others were to be ar
ragned. The witness said to the Doctor: "You
have gone about the business very shrewdly "
Ridpath replied that his family was known for
shrewdness. Other statements were made rela-
tive to Ridpath treating Wishard in an unfriend-
ly way in the presence of the witness. When
he met Rdpath and the latter called Lis atten-
ton to the charges and read them, he requested
the witness to leave the hospital by the back
door when he left the room. In reference to the
charges of intoxication. Ridpath told him he did
not think he could prove it. That evening he
said he had gone too far to recede. This was in
reply to the witness cautioning him to be care
full, and giving him the opinion that the charges
were fimsy Ridpath said he had good backing,
and mentioned Doctors Eastman and Morrow in
that connection. He said he would not present
the charges through the hospital board. During
the next two or three weeks he had frequent
Eastman, Morrow, Suteliffe and others were
mentioned as being interested in the charges.
They did not desire that Eastman should be
known in the affair, as it would weaken the
case. Eastman having been defeated in other
charges against Wishard. The witness went
with Dr. Riapath to Eas,man's house
IN Sunday afternoon. Dr. Ridpath intro
duced the subject Of the charges. Eastman
said Ridpath was too SLOW and if he Eastman
had the management of the charges he would
throw the whole bucketful of slime on the Conn
Il. at once. He would make it so hot fer Wish
ard that the latter would have to leave town in
Two days He further said he had some money
left 70 get Wishards scalp, and if Wishard aid
not look TO himself, he would take club and
beat his brains out Eastman said he stood be-
hind the curtain and pulled the strings in regard
to the Ridpath charges. On another occa-
sion, he told the witness that
be was paying attorneys fees and
other expenses. Ridpath told Ralph the pur-
/. pose was TO select another man for superintend-
ent but he tRidpathl would virtuallv exercise