Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-16
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
Report on the Charges Against the
Freedman's Hospital.
The WITNESS DISAPPEARS.
List Of Streets Needing Resurfac-
ing This Year Reported
ORDERS ISSUED TODAY.

This afternoon the Commissioners re-
ceived from the superintendent of charities
his report upon the charges filed with the
Secretary of the Interior relative to the
alleged abuses at Freedman's Hospital.
On August Q Alice Crawford called upon
Commissioner Ross and told him story
of the wrongs she suffered while patient
at F.eedman's Hospital. The complainant
was directed to put her charges in writing
and submit them to the Secretary Of the
Interior, under whose direct supervision the
institution came. This was done, and the
following charges were made, and later
sent to the Commissioners for investigation
and report:
The Honorable. the Secretary of the Inter
Sir: I write to complain Of and call your
attention to abuses at the Freelman's Hos
pitai. ] was admitted on the 2lst of July,
1893. and left on the I'd of August. 1882 The
colored attendants used obscene and insult
ing language, medicine was improperly ad-
ministered. the food, while good was badly
cooked and dirty. White patients were par
ticularly ill-treated. In all, during my stay.
the treatment was brutal and life made
almost uncomfortable. / particularly, com
Fisher; the latter has been woman Of bad
character and is now employed in the hos
pital; also of personal i'll treatment by Dr.
Purvis. chief surgeon. I am the widow of
a soldier, my husband was in company G.
twenty third Infantry died at Leavenworth.
Kan. on the 23d of January, 1889. refer
bour of 712 I'd street northwest, and Mr.
F. w. Hodge of the United States geologi-
cal survey. Begging that you will investi-
gate these matters, yours very respect
fully, ALICE CRAWFORD,
No. ~ I'd street northwest
Report Charges.
The superintendent Of charities was called
upon to investigate the matter, and today
handed to the Commissioners his report
which is as follows:
August Is.
To the Commissioners of the District Of
Columbia
Gentlemen: have the honor to report as
follows regarding the complaint of Alice
Crawford respecting certain matters con-
nected with the management of the Freed
mans Hospital: visited the hospital and
after inquiring into the circumstances Of
the admission and discharge of the COM
plainant, as shown by the records and by
statements of the surgeon in chief, exam
ined the hospital attendants who had charge
of Mrs. Crawford. questioning them mi
nutely and at length.
The allegation that Attendant Ella Fisher
lis a woman of bad character" is borne
out to certain degree at least. by her own
admission that she has been twice arrested
and fined for disorder in the streets, and
that the occasion of her going to the hos
pital was the breaking of both her legs
while jumping out of the window of a house
as DR.. Purvis informs me. a regularly EN-
ployed nurse. but is temporarily engaged as
night attendant in the absence of the reg
ular nurse. She has been SO employed for
some time, Mrs. Crawford, who was under
her charge, having left the hospital on the
second OF August.
Ella Fisher was admitted to the institu-
ton about six months ago and she is well
spoken of by the physicians and nurses as
having rendered good service in her present
capacity.
From information received from Dr. Pur-
Wis and from statements of Nurses Marion
Banks and Bessie Lawson IT appears that
Alice Crawford was a patient on three &C.
casions: that each time she came to the in
stitution apparently suffering from the ef-
fects of drink. and that when she left il the
last time she had been told that complaint
of her conduct would be made to DIR. PUr-
Wis and that thereupcn she left suddenly.
/ visited 712 I'd street northwest, the ad-
dress given as the residence of complain
ant, Alice Crawford, and was informed
there that she had left a week ago withoI:
giving any information as to where she was
going. l am therefore, for the present de-
prived Of opportunity to examine the CON-
planning witness and so obliged to make
partial and imperfect report.
Yours respectfully. JOHN TRACEY,
Il