The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-06
JUST SWIMMING THE FACTS
The Hospital Inquiry Reveals Factsthat
Should Be More Completely Exposed.
Witnesses Desire to Tell All About Extraya-
gances, Assessments and Habits of Off,
Gals, but Have a Dread Of the Outcome.

Insane, j. S. Hall, steward of that ~institu-
ton, was shown one of the check books
containing stubs marked "void." and with
the checks gone. Witness knew nothing of
the book. He testified that at one time he
had taken charge Of a political assessment
at the hospital; at other times these assess
ments had been managed by DR.. Thomas,
Mr.. Kyle and Mr.. Forest. He remembered
that q contract was once made with
Howard Duffy, of Columbus, for produce at
about one-half the bids Of Sullivan and
Budd. This was at a time when DR..
Fletcher, discovering symptoms of a COM
bine between Sullivan and Budd, took
matters in his own hands. Mr.. Hall testi-
fed that the articles furnished gave salts
faction, but that Mr.. Duffy was
not allowed to complete his contract, which
was annulled by the trustees, and
given to Sullivan. Witness remembered
that on one occasion Sullivan's bill was cut
down $500 because he had furnished Oleo-
margarine or butterine, q lard compound,
instead of creamery butter; the sum was
made good to Sullivan after the Gapen-
Harrison board came INTO power. He tes-
tined that he often swOre contractors to
the accuracy of their bills by telephone.
Witness asked for a private talk, at this
point, with the committee, and, with Mr..
Conn n Mr.. Hays, retired into a corner.
On returning to the stand, he said that he
wished to state that all the weighing and
measuring he had lone in the six years he
had been in the hospital had been honestly
done, and that his position had, since the
connection of Trustee Gapen with the poul-
try-house Of John Z. Sullivan, been very
embarrassing. He then read the following
copy of a letter written by him to Trustee
BurriIl in October, 1887, and sent to that
person at his residence at Brownstown:
Hon. B. II. Burrill:
While in the city yesterday I heard it reported
that Mr.. Gapen has been employed at the busi-
ness house OF Mr.. Sullivan. Ihave not seen Mr..
fear the report is true. II such is a fact, 1 think
MT. Gapen should resign his position immedi-
ately, or the business relations between Sullivan
and the trustees should cease at once. i GER
tainly think that such a state of affairs will be
sufficient foundation for public suspicion, and
will undoubtedly have a tendency to bring your
think this letter impudent or In any way q disre-
spect to O superior officer. 1 have an earnest
desire . to see you Wind up with a good record and
prompted to put this matter before you for con-
sideration. I submitted the contents of this to
III superintendent III ecut u copy 10 L.. hdT-
rison. With sincere regards, ! am yours respect
fully. j. 8. HALL.
His reason for doing this was that he
thought SO many contracts Were awarded
to Sullivan that it looked like favoritism.
and he spoke to the trustees Harrison and
Burrill) about it. They told him they had
consulted with attorneys about Mr.. Gapen's
position, and that tGey had been assured
they had no rigEG to take action against a
trustee for going into business with q
rdh ~ ILL.,
Wit-ess understood, however, that his
rstention in his position depended en-
tirely Upon his keeping in favor with the
trustees.
In the afternoon j. s.. Hall completed his
testimony, and then DIR. Sarah Stockton
came on the stand. Both these witnesses
were evidently in dread of the ruling
powers at the hospital, n were exceed
ingly cautious in their testimony. In his
testimony. the other day, G.. c. Roth. q
former assistant storekeeper, cited the fact
that the trustees always had it in for any
one" who disclosed the entire truth about
the hospital, and that of the witnesses at
the investigation two years ago those who
told the truth about Sullivan'S maggOty
butter and the conduct of the trustees had
one after another been discharged; and he
was of the opinion that only one of the
witnesses who testified to the whole truth
two years ago now remained on the pay
roll of the institution.
Mr. Hall was Intercepted as to the re-
ports OF superintendent Galbralth, whether
his reports anywhere showed a recon-
mendation for an increase in the diet list:
except in one single month last spring, and
that for eggs. There had been no change
in the form of the requisition specifying
quantity, but an increased amount of Sui
ivan's produce had been bought. Witness
called to mind that in one of the monthly
milk. He was asked if he, who had been
at the institution nearly SIX years. could
give a reason why nearly 1000 pounds q
month more of butter should now be used
than at any time before up to within a few
months. He could not answer IL, except
that he knew more was used. A number of
Sullivan's bid were here spread. before
him, and he was asked to note the fact
that the writing and the figures were not
made in the same hand. He ackno wledged
rogatories said he could not say that the
figures ON those bids were either the hand
of Gapen or of Harrison.
Much stress has been laid upon DR.. Gal
braith's "enriching the diet" of the patients
during the past six or seven months to ac-
count for the big produce bills of the IA
vored Sullivan and the claim, on the
part of Harrison and Gapen, that DR..
Galbraith had made the purchases neces-
sary by insisting that the food supply
was not rich enough. In his connection
the subsistence report of superintendent
Galbraith for the month of November,
1877, will not be wholly without interest:
The food during the month" it set out,
has been very satisfactory; abundant in
quantity. excellent in quality, and sat
isfactorIly served"
DR.. Sarah Stockton testified that she had
| been a physician in the Insane Hospital, de-
partment for women, five years, the other
physicians of that department being DIR.
Waters, who came there the LIST of j anu
airy, 1889, and DR.. Perkaser, who came in
November. 1855. She was asked as to DR..
| Thomas's habits; whether In drink he did
not indulge to excess. She said she was
not in his department. saw him but seldom,
and could not say of her own knowledge.
| Asked as to DIR. Fletcher, she said she had
| heard comments upon hin as being a little
unsteady in his habits, but did not think
| they were such as to have at any time in
terfered with the discharge of his duties.
Witness had heard similar statementsmade
regarding other officers there, but could
not give them as reliable. There had been
some births at the hospital; some among
patients, and some girls who had been EN-
ployed there were sent away because
of their condition. The girls were not at
tendants, but employed about the hospital,
in the laundry and at other duties. Wit
ness knew nothing as to who were the cause
of their condition. Of the patients, they
were all married women and with one eX-
ception had been from their homes but a
few months; the exception was a patient
who had been at the hospital -four years but
her husband had been allowed to see her
once in the absence of attendants
Has there been any change in the Quan.
tity of food, or in the rations issued during