Telegram-herald., 1891-05-26
DR. PETERSON ARRESTED
he is Taken Into Custody and
Released on 5000 BAH.
He IS SUED FOR $4,000 DAMAGES
BY . Former Patient as 81. Msrk's hos-
pitAis Who Tells . srrong story Of
Crasiry-stAsemsnr or the Cass
by the Coaa apIainaat, A. 4.
GAmmASs.

mage, an insurance agent, MAS about 10
bring an action against DR.. Reuben
Peterson, physician in principal charge
of st. Marks Hospital, for damages to
the amount Of $50 900. for alleged NAL
treatment.
Yesterday afternoon such suit was
commenced IN a plea OF trespass on the
case, claiming the amount stated. A
capsas was issued at $50 and placed IN
the hands OF Deputy Sheriff Pulger,
who served the process and returned
Into court with the respondent, whose
hail was fixed by Judge Grove at 5000.
The bail was promptly furnished and
tie doctor was released from custody.
what the Amdavir shows
The plaintiffs affidavit. attached to
copies. sets up the particulars OF the
assault which Il IS claimed was made.
IL appears from the affidavit that
plaintiff entered the hospital as pri-
vate patient March 10. 1891, paying $40
a week for board and private room and
nursing. DR.. Schuyler G. Graves was
his physician, and the only person
authorized To treat nm medically. The
hospital until may 5; that during
nearly al of his stay there he was in
weak and prostrated condition;
that on the afternoon of Friday,
April II, without any provocation
whatever. and while plaintiff was
alone in his room "a nd Was III weak aud
helpless condition; DR.. Peterson entered
his room tringing tour able-bodied men
with HIM and also a straight jacket and
ordered the men TO lump on him."
that all five then violently selzed his
limbs and attempted forcIbly TO place
the straight jacket upon him; that IN the
struggle Peterson seized the plaintiffs
arms and attempted, with the aid of
the four men 20 oyerpower plaintiff !;
that in the struggle plaintiff right arm
was bruised, fractured and broken and
that he was rendered very sick and ex-
hausted and caused severe pain and
mental distress winch lasted several
weeks, and that his arm is still bruised
and helpless, and that he is unable to
Use It for any purpose watever.
Malicious Assault.
The plaintiff asserts III his affidavit
that the assault was malicious on the
part IF DIR. Peterson; that at the time
OF il. the plaintiff was IN his right mind,
harmless and lying quietly IN his bed.
The two nurses who figured IN the al
fair, have since been discharged from
the hospital, because, it is stated,
they made written statements OF
the matter which reflected
upon the conduct Of the hospital ply
sicians. 1t seems, although the papers
filed in this case do not show that fact,
that an unsuccessful effort had been
made 10 force the plaintiff to submit to
a delicate surgical operation, before
the affair occurred involved IN the
suit. and IT is limited that other physi-
Clans will be summoned into court on
account of their part in that transac-
ton and that before this litigation ends
the management of ST. Marks Hospital
will be quite thoroughly examined.
Palmer * stevens are attorneys for
plaintiff and McGarry & Mcknight are
put down as counsel for plaintiff.
The case cannot be tried until the
September term OF court.
Arthur r.. Gammage, an insurance
agent who came here about six months
ago from Buffalo. ". Y. vs.. DR.. Reuben
Peterson, physician IN principal charge
ST. Marks Hospital, action of trespass;
damage claimed, $50, 900; bail fixed by
Judge Adsit at 5000: capias issued and
executed by Deputy Sheriff Pulver; Ca
pias issued about $50 y. m.
Gammage Tells His story.
The complainant, Mr.. Arthur Gam
mage, Is staying with Mr.. George f..
smith, corner of Wealthy-ave. and
Paris-ave., where he was seen by the
TELEGRAM-HERALD lie related his
story briefly as follows: "March 10 last
7 went to St. Marks hospital as the
patient of DIR. ;. G. Graves About SIX
days after DIR. Graves suggested surgi-
cal operation, but refused to undergo
it. l asked my nurse. Miss Alice r..
Simmons, what she knew of an opera
tion. and she said that the operating
room bad been ordered by the doctor to
be ready the next day at 1880. The next
day Dr. Graves brought in Or. Edie and
introduced him TO me. and told me that
DIR. EdIe would assist him IN the opera.
ton. When Or. Edle went cut / said.
'Dr. Graves. you are too hasty
In telling him all about that.
| told Miss Simmons also that the
operation should not take place. The
next day Drs. Graves. EdIe. Emmanuel
and White came to my room together.
Dr. Edie suggested that now WAS just as
good time as ever. By the way,
want you to state that | bave nothing
to complain of the course of any other
doctors than Graves and Peterson.
Soon after boy wheeled in "a operat-
ing table To the side OF my bed.
They Chscroformed Him.
DR.. Emmanuel was about 20 chloro-
form me. All the doctors came IN;
orders were gwen for an orderly to
assist. They got cone such as II used
in administering chlorofortn and put IT
on my bead; threw It to the other side
of the room. They repeated the opera
ton several times and held my hands
and legs. Graves yanked my head
shout very hsrshiy and said gruffly,
"Now pour e IN to him."
Hereupcn DIR. Emanuel said:
"Graves, that iz too brutal for me" /
was sick and soon felt the influence of
the chloroform snd resolved 10 strug-
gle and did. They threw Their bodies
on 20 me and Graves suggested that a
rore wCald hoAd me much better !
cut out of the ted. and sick ss I was ]
cleared them out OF the room NV arm
was broken at the time. When the
nurse came in she saw my torn shirt
and nv badly hurt arm. rs was
swollen very large. vas Or. Graves
patent but even at request Z he
refused 10 examine my arm. and told
M,ss Strrulons 20 pat on wsrus water,
though she toid him it was brokea.
ws.ia Net rs~ss Him.
lie even stsppes coming q zee r1s
for several DAYS asked for another.