The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-10
Wanted SODA CRACKERS
Eut Gould Not Get Them Unless BE
Paid for Them Himself.
SAYS A SOLDIERS HOME INMATE
The Investigation Continued at the
state House This Afternoon-severri
Members of the Home Give les
timony.

The committee on the investiga ion Of
affairs at the Soldiers Home, Bristol,
resumed its hearings this afternoon In
the senate chamber The time was set at
10 o'clock this morning. AS only one
member was present recess was taken
until noon, but the hearing was not COM
menced until few minutes past
o'clock. David S, Ray presided.
Michael O'Nel was the first member
of the home examined. He had been
there two years and was one OF the sign
ers TO the petition for hearing. lie had,
at a certain time, asked for soda crackers
and Captain Hall would not give him
ang because he could not afford 10 buy
any. At this time ne was In the hospital
at the home aud wanted the cracKers to
eat with his tea as he had no teeth. lie
had what he wanted to eat now and had
had what he wanted since last July. He
was satisfied with his treatment now.
John l.. &, Zzens was the second man
called. He lives in Newport aud had
been member of the Soldiers Home, but
was now because he had fuss with
Sergt. Bartlett. lie hal been discharged
from the Home becaus. he would not
apologize u him. lie received pension
of Sl2 pr month aud he said the Home
took So lie n'sl no iault to find about
e food he received
John W. Rothwell, who lives In this
city, testifie that he had been employed
aU the home four or five months rs engi-
neer. DE stared To tell how he had
been crowded" oIt OF his position,
Tut this was thought irrelevant
lie demanded tn he be heard,
and stare to tell Attorney Alleu
III It he wasn't "a soldi r, never had been,
etc., but Chairman Ray stopped him and
FOL IN m
no give the inIor,ust Oh desired. There
upo Mr.. Rothwe told what he knew o
@ln old man named Thorpe, VINO
was 80 ye rs of age. Thorpe was
sitting in the reading room singing a
song which displeased Captain Hall, who
turned the old man cue at ignt. 1t
wasn't because he sang the song tnat the
old man was turned out but because a
pair OF shoes had been lost.
When cross-examined Mr. Roth
well said thai the man was
not drunk but had been drinking
Captain Hall that he was "a id cow
ara and had resigned mis- commission III
front of the enemy"
Attorney Oven read from chapter 733,
section l3, stating that honorably d's-
charged soldiers aud sailors OF the latt
should be Preferred
In giving posi,ious at the Home, and
asked il that would change the commit.
tees mind in regard to hearing Roth
welus claim that he had been crowded
out. The committee decided not TO hear
him. :,
Joseph Covell, the next man heard
ated that during the last quarter in
1892 he had been granted an increase OF
pension.
Phillip Chase, secretary Of the board
had held it, aud refused 10 give 1t to him.
Covell said he asked for the papers and
chase would not give them to him.
Coyell left the Soldiers Home because
his increase had been taken away from
| him. lie was dishonorably discharged
| because he would not give the money up.
| lie was a nurse and received 81 week.
| Previously he had made 50 night. lie
rad TO WORK night and day and The hos
| pitai was not properly provided
with appliances. He had washed
| out sheets because he could not
get clean ones for a change. Tn,
slck men did not get the food they ought
| TO have received. The hrst man who
| died was William Barbour. There was
no clean cloth TO use ia laying him out
| Cov.il said that he tore up clean shiri
| 70 use. After he had worked there they
| took two undershirts TWO outskirts and
TWO pairs OF stockings away from him.
Mr.. Covell found no fault about the
food except that the mutton was rather
touub. aud the clam chowder was rather
moor. being without clans. Before his
nension Was increased he got - aud the
| Uome took "a He had assis I'd his viii,
| Ali he could. Sne was paralyzed and
| needed ais support