Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-07
HIS NEW FURNITURE SOLD.
Warden Wright Tells Why McPhil-
lamy is Confined in His Cell.
NO WORK FOR 125 OF THE CONvICTS
George Schwebel Anxious to Testify About
the Pen Hospital.
INSPECTOR KELLY TALKS SOME MORE

The report that Dr. B. B. Maharneke, the
suspended hospital steward of the River
side Penitentiary, had skipped the town"
was extensively circulated in the lower end
of Allegheny last evening. 1t was stated
that he had sold the furniture he purchased
few months ago to furnish house when
he was married, and had not been seen since
noon.
A reporter for this paper called at his late
residence, and inquired for the doctor, but
was told that he was not in, and could not
be seen. The fact that the house was occu-
pied by another family seemed to corrob-
crate, to a certain extent, the report The
new inmate said: 81 cannot for certain
reasons, say anything about the DOCTOR"
and the door was quietly closed.
Warden Wright was then seen regarding
the report, and said:
''The doctor has not left the town, and has
not sold his furniture. He has given up
his house, however, because the landlord
raised the rent from S19 to S23 per month,
and he sold the carpets to the new tenant
The piano was not sold, because he did not
own it. 1t was leased by him. and will be
returned to the owner.
IN THE HOUSE THEN.
"The doctor retained two rooms in the
house. which he is now occupying, and
will remain there until he can secure other
quarters. He has not left the town, and
believe he is at home now"
In order to prove his statement and show
that he was not deceived, the warden called
for Keeper Gerst and told him to call the
Doctor The keeper had not been gone more
than ten minutes, when the Doctor entered
the room and demanded information as to
why his slumbers had been disturbed. The
warden informed him Of the report that was
being circulated that he had left town, and
the Doctor said:
'This is the fifteenth time 1 have heard
the report, but have paid no attention to
it. l have been bothered all evening by
persons calling at my house and asking
whether had skipped the town. 1 have
no occasion to skip, and instructed the per-
son who answered the rings at the door
bell to saw that was not at home. do
not propose to leave the town until 1 am
fully vindicated OF the charges against me.
1 have rented house in another part of
the city and that is the reason l sold the
carpet and made preparations to move"
The Doctor was very indignant over the
rumor that he was frightened or proposed to
leave the town.
Warden Wright was present during the
interview, and said there was no danger of
the Doctor leaving until after the investiga-
tion closed.
TO QUIT IT FOR GOOD.
When the Doctor retired the warden said
he had told him he (the Doctor) would
soon engage in business, and intended to
leave the penitentiary, as the position did
not suit him.
The warden was asked why McPhillamy
was kept under surveillance and not per-
mitted to leave his cell, and said:
HE is not closely guarded, but is kept in
his cell because we have nothing for him to
do. There are about 125 men in the prison
who are idle. and all are kept in their cells
We are not making any effort to prevent
MePhillamy from collecting evidence to
prove his charges. 1 do not look on him as
the prosecutor in this case, but merely as a
witness
''McPhillamy was i'll last July with
rheumatism, and the Doctor was absent.
DR.. A. J. Ourt, of the State Board of
Public Charities happened to be in the
prison at the time and he volunteered to
prescribe for McPhillamy. After examin-
ing him, he had him removed to the hos
pital and administered some medicine that
cured him. He was sick again in Sep
tember.
To-day McPhillamy asked me the name
of the doctor who had prescribed for him in
July, and told him. do not know what
use he intends to make of this information.
McPhillamy will not be hampered in any
way in the prosecution of this case"