The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-07
THE FRIENDS OF THE GANG
Steward Hall Gives More Evidence as to
FayOrSullivan Had at the Hospital.
DR.. Fletcher's Testimony Details Interesting
Particulars of the Trustees Mismanage-
ment, and Their Fear of Political Bosses.

The steward of the Hospital for the In
sane, j. s. Hall. was again before the COM
mittee investigating the affairs of that
sadly mismanaged institution, yesterday.
de brought a number of books with him,
and after taking the witness-stand under
took to explain the system of issuing sup
plies to the cooks. The system, like snakes
in Ireland, is chiefly remarkable because
there isn't any. Supplies are furnished in
any quantities the cooks may ask, and
there is little or no record kept of these
orders, as no particular form of requisition
is In use. This state of affairs appeared to
indicate that, whatever Mr.. Hall might be
able to do, bookkeeping was not his espe-
cial gift. He testified that large amounts
of goods are delivered that have not been
contracted for; that it is common for a con-
tractor Favored as Sullivan was) to unload
q large amount of goods IN the
hospital at the end of the month that
are not needed that month, but will run
over n the next for which another con-
tract has been made; that Sullivan had
been allowed to do this more than any other
contractor; that the superintendent and
trustees buy things that are not on the esti-
mates and not contracted for; that the
superintendent sometimes has bought goods
for his own private use and they have been
paid for out of the hospital funds. The wit
ness reluctantly testified to the fact that
Arthur Jordan had called at the hospital
and asked to see the butter that Sullivan
was furnishing; that he had told Jordan
1T was all out, and that Jordan had then
opened an ice-chest and discovered several
tubs OF the Sullivan butter, and that JOr-
dan had called his attention to the brand
Choice Creamery" and had shown him
that 1t was common country butter. Mr..
Hall also testified that he had known all
the time that these extra purchases made
by the trustees and superintendent were
contrary to law, but had made no protest
against it.
Dr.. w. b. Fletcher wss next called as a.
witness. He explained that he was re-
moved from the SUPPLEMENTARY, he sup
posed, on account of antagonism between
caused by the trustees assuming the super
duties, and trying to compel
MN to swear that goods received were first
class when he knew they were not. He
resumed that the monthly reports he mad
10 the trustees after the investigation two
years ago were not to be found; they had
been either concealed or destroyed. The
supplies were bad, but had been paid for at
produces; meats and dry goods. The butter
was paid for as creamery but when but
Ter at all was country butter" generally
1t was butterine. He was asked if it could
be calculated closely, how much of either
article is used by each person in the hospi-
tai so that there need be no great variance
In the estimates. DR.. Fletcher said that it
could be done, and that when superintend-
emit he had done so. He then read a
SssS each Sf d tRe s amount saoh of ;Dm food
calculated with the precision of army eat
ers. He thought the amount of poultry
used In November, 1888. enough to supply
the hospital a year, leaving out Christmas
ana New Years. The witness, speaking of
the latter years of his superintendency at
the hospital, explained that the steward
would make out the estimate each month
according to his instructions, and then
right, he, as superintendent, would sign
the estimate. After this he would discover
that the steward or some one else would
add a great many items, thus making him
appear to have approved many things he
OF this he got little satisfaction. After the
investigation two years ago, Franklin
Landers sent forty-seven barrels of pigs
tongues to the hospital; they were dirty, and
/ more than half their weight was carti-
lage of the throat which had been
left attached. Everybody denied having
ordered these tongues, but they were paid
for Just the same. At another time Stew
ard Hall, without any authority from the
superintendent, had bought, as late as April,
a wagon-load of rabbits from John E. Sui
Ivan. They were soft and d~ecOmposing,
and witness ordered them thrown away.
He understood some of them were used in
the male department for soup. Sullivan
was paid for them over the witnesses pro-
| test.
DR.. Fletcher further said that Hall had
supreme influence with the trustees. Many
employees are there for whom there is no
use. These are friends and dependents of
the trustees, and cannot be got rid of.
Witness had never known Hall to purchase
things for his private use with hospital
funds, but Hall frequently had new clothes
G irms f hs saia which had 0es the re efothins sim f Sy
the inmates was purchased. Referring
to the number of inmates at the
hospital last fall, witness said a physician
at the institution had told him that the
1,4OO; while the books and testimony of
trustees placed it at 1850. DR.. Fletcher
cOrroborated the testimony of G. G.. Roth,
formerly assistant steward, in a number of
statements, among others that Mr.. Roth
had called on him late one night and told
him that Sullivan had said that Fletcher
had to be sent away; that he objected to
Sulllvan's supplies, and that he must GO.
Mr.. Roth mad also told him that DIR. Cal
braith was to be his successor. Witness on
the strength of this had asked the trustees
If Galbraith was to succeed him and they
assured him there wasnot truth in the story.
However, soon after this DIR. Harrison,
much disturbed, had called at the hospital,
and taking DIR. Fletcher aside, said
There's going to be trouble. Sullivan
says we must discharge you, and if We
don't he says he will impeach the board
Witness said that DR.. Harrison appeared
actually sick over this threat, and lay down
upon a sofa, where he remained nearly all
day. continuing to talk of Sullivan's threat.
At the next meeting of the trustees, inn
mediately after this, witness said he was
requested to resign. He had no doubt that
Sullivan controlled the action of the board.
DIR. Fletcher resumed the witness-stand
in the afternoon. He said he had not been
interfered with by any members of the
board in the management of the patients,
except that the trustees broke up the train
ing-school he had started for teaching
nurses and the school he had for a number
of patients who were teachable. The
schools for patients had two lady teachers
In the male and two in the female depart
ment. In the female department calls
thenic exercises, music, sewing, fancy
work, reading, writing, spelling and mathe-
matics were taught in the primary branches.
The purpose was to entertain q certain
class of patients, and at the same time in
struct them and improve their memories.
L Thra rraa ~.2a