The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-31
DISCLOSING A CONSPIRACY.
The Scheme of Dr.. Wishard's Enemies
for Blackening His Character.
The Story Told Last Night by One Who Claims
to Have Had Inside Information Re-
garding the Prosecution.

The Wishard investigation was continued last
night to a good audience. Councilman Doyle, of
the committee. who is evidently adding greatly
to his knowledge in conducting the examination
of witnesses, came out last night in a way that
evidently surprised himself and dazzled all be-
holders.
DR.. Charles d. Pearson, in his examination.
testified to the good character of DR.. Ridpath.
DR.. S. A, Butterfield testified that he did not
know that his name was in a list with the state
ment that he would support the charges. He
knew nothing of the charges and knew nothing
of any conspiracy against DIR. Wishard. DR..
Allison Maxwell testified that he knew nothing
of any conspiracy against DR.. Wishard. He had
something to do with the previous investigation
the one that did not become public-at the
hospital in regard to the Eastman matter.
Chairman Newcomb-I don't think we want
to go into that question.
Councilman Doyle-This is old-time business.
The board would have nothing to do with it last
night. That was hankered down then. l OBJ
jected last night and | object to night.
The committee and the doctors seemed again
on the ragged edge of something exceedingly in
cendiary. but escaped.
DR.. L.. L. Todd testified that he had no special
knowledge of anything connected with the
charges. He knew DR.. Eastman intimately,
saw him often, and if he had been in any con-
splracy against DR.. Wishard he would probably
have heard of it. He had told Eastman in re-
gard to the present charges that if he (Todd)
were Eastman, he would keep out of the diff
Guilty.
Prof. j. G. Ridpath, of Greencastle, brother of
DR.. Ridpath, one of the physicians filing the
charges, testified that the first he heard of the
hospital mlsmanagement was from his brother.
about the lst of September. That he had not
heard sooner was probably on account of his
brothers taciturnity. His brother at that time
said it had been a serious question with him
whether he had not better resign and go out.
He never had heard of DR.. Eastman or any other
physician having anything to do with employing
attorneys. That had been his brothers matter
and DR.. Morrow's.
Professor Ridpath told of the meeting at Dun
can, Smith & Duncan's office and the consulta-
ton with Mr.. Duncan. Mr.. Duncan was never
an attorney in this case.
DR.. Wishard asked to be allowed in sur rebuff
tai to introduce new evidence, which he had not
known anything about until recently. Chair
man Newcomb thought it right to do SO.
Councilman Doyle-l do not think 1t right to
go on now and introduce new evidence. Let US
have this-what do you call itf-Sarah Butler.
Much laughter.
John Alice was introduced to prove something
derogatory to the moral character of DR.. Rid
path. AS DR.. Ridpath is not being investigated,
the testimony proved of little Importance.
Prof. H.. b. Jacobs, superintendent of the In
stitution for the Blind, testified to the character
of Miss Willis. one of the nurses, whose name had
been needlessly smirched in the investigation.
Not only the Professor, but his wife, every one
at the Institution. DR.. Stone and others, recog-
nized Miss Willis as in every respect a lady of
high and unimpeachable character.
DR.. Ralph Perry testified that he was now in
DR.. Marsee's Office, and had never heard DIR.
Marsee make any remarks influencing him
against taking any part. one way or another. in
this Investigation.
DR.. Wishard-Did you have a conversation
with DIR. Eastman, in DR.. Todd's Office, shortly
before the evidence of Susie Mccormick and
Miss Moore was introduced in this case9
Witness-Yes, sir; | did.
DR.. Wishard-Did not DR.. Eastman request
you to compile the evidence, and did he not say
that he would send all the evidence derogatory
to my moral character, which was going to be in
troduced in this case. to New York, and that he
would have his brother there publish it, so that
nobody here would know where it was published,
and that his brother would returnit here, after
it was published, and have 1t scattered over the
city at night, so that nobody would know who
did it,
Witness-He did not ask me to do it. He
suggested it. He said he thought it would be a
good idea.
DR.. Wishard-Didn't he say he would pay all
the expenses of doing that himself2
Witness-Yes, sir; he did.
DR.. Wishard-Didn't he say by doing that,
scattering it in every dooryaId in the city at
night, that it would create such a moral senti-
ment against me in this Investigation that the
hospital board would have to report adversely to
me?
Witness-Yes, sir; he did.
DIR. Wishard-Didn't he say he would also nav
the expense of having all this evidence, or a por-
ton of it, published in the Saturday People. and
that he would have caricatures made OF the
dead horse, and of me coming out of the nurses
room with my slippers in my hand, and so forth,
and this to be done at his expense2
Witness-Yes, sir.
DR.. Wishard-Were you lot, at the beginning
of this investigation, owing to your feeling with
regard to the training school, in sympathy with
DR.. Rldpath. and DR.. Morrow, and Dr.. East
man, also DR.. Long and the rest of them in
bringing these charges2
Witness-Yes, sir.
DR.. Wishard-Didn't you tell DR.. Ridpath and
the others that while you we're in sympathy with
them, owing to the trouble you had with the
training-school You didn't want to mix in it, if
DR. Eastman was going to take a handl
Witness-I said if it was going to be a fight
between the Central College and the Medical
College of Indiana, / would not take any part in
it, and he might expect me to stick to my col
leee.
DR.. Wishard-Didn't you become convinced
that DR.. Eastman did have something to do with
it, especially in the last few days?
Witness-Yes sir; 1t looked that way. | had a
kind of a sneaking idea that was what was up.
DR.. Wishard-You have been in a position to
get at the evidence, and that is your honest judg-
| ment about it.
W~itness-Yes, sir.
DR.. Wishard-Didn't DR.. .Eastman's state
ments to you before the introduction of this evil
dence against my moral character, indicate to
| you that DR.. Eastman was in full possession of all
the evidence that was going to be brought against
me, and particularly the evidence derogatory to
my moral character}
Witness-He seemed to know a good deal
about it The evidence at that time was all in
affidavit form, The proposition was to take that
evidence, or parts of it. and publish it. The
meeting at DR.. Todd's Office was PHI accidental
one. l was hunting for DR.. Ridpath at the time.
The taking of testimony then closed. Areu-
munts will be heard on Wednesday evaninn