The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-28
DIR. WISHARD'S TESTIMONY.
The Evidence of the Defense in the Hos
pital Investigation All In.
Superintendent Wishards Answer to the
Charges-The Investigation Still Drag
ging Along, but Nearing the End.

was another installment last night The frs,
witness was Otto DIPPED, wood-carver, who
lives at No. 90 Sullivan street He testified
that while going home in the cleaning, as he
passed along Virginia avenue, between the
Union and the Cincinnati tracks, he dimly saw
two men and overheard the remark, "Dr Wish
ard must be removed by some hook or crook.
Only this and nothing more
Preston Trusler, councilman, testified thai
just before just after the investigation of the
charges brought by Dr. Eastman against DR..
Wishard that DR.. Eastman mistaking his (Trus
ler'sl sympathy, had told him that he Eastman
had S., 600 to spend to get even with Dr. Wish
ard.
j. ". Ralph was recalled to the stand. DR..
Long, he said stated to him that he wanted to
get his (Ralphs) influence with certain council
men.
DR.. Ridpath-Do you remember telling him
you had great influence among councilmen?
Witness-T don't remember clearly about that.
Dr. Ridpath-What has Dr. Wishard paid you
for your services2
Witness-Nothing; nor has anybody else.
DR.. Wishard-Has not your impulse as an
honorable man led you to take the course you
have in this matterl
Witness-Yes sir.
DR.. John Oliver testified to four or FIVE sub
jects, partly dissected. having been taken to the
hospital at the time of the burning of the Indi
ana Medical College; that these remains becom
ing offensive, they were buried behind the barn
there, and one of them. or a part of one, was
afterwards rooted up by pigs and dragged off,
but was recovered and properly cared for.
Miss Abbie r. Hunt, superintendent of the
Indianapolis Training School for Nurses, testi-
fed that she was graduate of Bellevue Train
ing School, New York city, and was in Bellevue
Hospital from 1880 to 1882. She first had charge
of the emergency hospital, obstetrical depart
ment of Bellevue, and was there six months.
She was for time superintendent Of the st.
Louis Training School, and has been in charge
here since the 10Th of last December.
The management of the indianapolis Hospital
compares favorably with that of any she has
seem She did not know of any hospital where
the superintendent made the rounds with his
physicians. Have known Miss A. A. Traver five
years; was with her in Bellevue Training-school.
Roomed with her for six months after she
graduated She had known Miss DRYER about four
years. These ladies are above reproach. She
had never heard since being at the hospital that
Dr. Wishard failed to promptly answer calls.
The witness exploded charge of misconduct
on the part of the nurses in this way: Miss
Willis, Miss Shear and the janitor had ridden ov err
to the hospital on horse, ali on one horse, bare
back, from the pesthouse. 1t seems to have
been merely girlish prank, very undignifed of
couse, but unworthy to be dragged into serious
investigation.
DR.. Ridpath-Do you know anything about
Miss Willis's conduct at the Blind Asylum where
she had patientl
Witness-I know she received warm letter of
recommendation FROM there.
Dr. Ridpath-Do you not know she made
lemonade for patient after washing her hands
in the water?
Witness Indignantly DIR. Ridpath, you know
that know nothing of the kind
Superintendent Wishard then took the witness
stand and went through the charges and speci-
ficatons seratim. That the employees were COM
PEELED to eat in an open hall last winter a
fact, but they were not uncomfortable. That
he refused to furnish coal for employees
during the day was false, but that they
were not to have large fires between 8 and 10
o'clock in the morning and 4 and o'clock in the
afternoon was true. Fires were never entirely
out, except by negligence of employees. AS to
wages, the payments seldom went more than a
day or two over the time. He requested DIR.
Morrow and DR.. Ridpath to defer having their
room furnished until after the beginning of the
fiscal year, owing to the great outlay on account
of the new hospital. There was no neglect of
ooHh DotooA Ills AlluoSS Auo 6U-
perintendent defendedj the characters
of the several nurses attacked
by the prosecution. When he had changed
medicines he had always endeavored to do it
without showing discourtesy to the house physi-
clans in any way. He said, II never kissed Miss
Dryer, as Miss Susie Mccormick has perjured
herself in saying never was in
Miss Travers's room, except when there
on professional business, and never to
remain but short time. l never came out of
her room at Cor o'clock in the morning with
slippers under my arm. The charge is mali
ciously false and believe DR.. Ridpath knew it
when he wrote it."
The drinking of half bottle of beer by a
nurse the superintendent brushed away as too
trivial to be considered He had drunk lemon
ade with whisky in it. He had
needed it. and when he needed it he
would probably do so again. That he had ever
at any time been under the influence of liquor
was unquali6edly false. He said that Doctors
Morrow and Ridpath in their professional duties
in the hospital, did we'll enough but that they
were intriguers. gossipers and disturbing ele
ments DR.. Ridpath, instead of Civ
ing the cordial, honorable support
he should have given acted the
spy, and going to nurses, employees and
others manufacturing testimony against me,
and engaged in drumming up these base and
malicious charges. which have been the disgust
of this committee, of the physicians of the city
and of the public generally for the past six
weeks"
Dr. Wishard. with this closed his case Dr.
Ridpath's rebuttal will begin this evening
Amusement Matters.