The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-30
FoUNDLING HOSPITAL.
The Grand Jury Inquiries Into Its Re-
pnrted Mismanarement.

The Grand Jury Inquiries Into Its Re-
ported Mismanagement.
The session of the Grand Jury held last
night was devoted entirely to the San Fran
cisco Lying-in and Fou ndling Hospital,
situated at 913 Golden Gate avenue.
month OF six weeks ago some of the
ladies belonging to the Daughters of the
Good Shepherd visited this institution on
one Of their private detective errands aud
were very much surprised to fud it In what
they alleged to be miserable condition,
To assure themselves positively that there
could be no mist Ike in what they saw they
pushed their inquiries still further into the
concern and were Mortified at the disclos-
ures. Even then they were not salts
fed, and to fortify their discover
les they got Secretary HolbrOok OF
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children to join them in their inyestiga-
ton, or inquire for himself, as he saw fit.
He did so, and his report c0rroborated
everything said by the Daughters. The
place was found in shOckiDEly unclein
condition; the beds and clothing fairly
reeked with filth and rottenness, and all the
equipments for the protection and care of
fOundings were found to be rather for
their disposition. The physician profess
sional treatment was said to consist simply
of total neglect, and the matr0n seemed to
be controlled by the generally prevailing
inspiration of the institution that it is not
the right thing for the population to in
crease too rap Idly.
The exposure created quite stir, and the
Daughters of the Good Shepherd, believing
themselves in duty bound by the laws of
the Christian Mission to completely reform
such degenerate Institution, reported all
they knew to the Grand Jury. and the meet
ing last night was to hear the evidence
The waiting-rOOm OF the peoples inquisi-
ton presented a queer scene when all the
interested parties had congregated there
so entirely unlike the gathering of suSpi-
ciOus or suspected characters that usually
collects on the outskirts of Grand Jury.
The Daughters numbered upward of two
dozen, and they were all arrayed IN small
groups on one side oil the room. The usual
quiet which perVades that room was not
noticeable.
On the other side Of the room was another
group, consisting of the Matron of the hos
ptal, DR.. Burrell. the physician; Moses
Hopkins and c. S. Patton, Directors. and
two or three friendly ladies. the indisp0s-
ton OF the two distinct groups to mingle
was strongly marked.
Around the outer wall lowered Secretary
Holbrook and two or three of the Grand
Jury attendants. who for the first time in
their experience had witnessed a Grand
Jury wating-rOom, on the walls of which
''no smoking" seemed to be an unwritten
legend
The Daughters called as witnesses were
Mrs. Thesll, Mrs. Mahouey, Mrs. Grace and
Mrs. Sheldon. Secretary Hplbrook was also
called as witness against the concern, and
Mrs. Perry, who was at one time a night
nurse Of the institution. also related some
very damaging facts against it.
The witnesses called who were connected
with the hospital we're DR.. Burrell, the ply
stefan, Mrs Fowler, the matron, and the
two Directors. Hopkins and Patton. The
two latter said they really did not know
the condition of things inside. They
had supposed it in good. competent hands,
had never heard anything against it, and
took it for granted that it was just what it
should be. They could not explain how it
could be that four out of five of the infants
taken there died.
Several others, Directors, Daughters etc..
who were summoned, but for lack of time
could not be examined. were excused, and
probably will not be recalled. because it Is
understood that the jury has all the facts
desired in the testimony already taken.
To add to this. DIR. Cleveland, Chairman
of the Grand Jury Hospital Commi ttee, has
been out to the place. and given 1t thor
ough Investigation in person.