New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-16
THE WARDS ISLAND INQUIRY
DIR. RAB1NovITCH CRoss-ExAMINED
suE INSISTS THAT HER MOTIVE IN REVEALING
THE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS WAS TO
IMPROVE THE TREATMENT AND
SURROUNDINGS OF THE IN
SANE PATIENTS.

SANE PATIENTS.
The investigation by the state Lohacy Commits
sion into the abuses alleged 10 exist in the lily
Asv,uno for the Insane at Wards Island was re-
sumed yesterday morning at the Park Avenue no
%, DIR Louise RablnoVitch recalled 10 the
stand and cross-examined by A. H. Mastin' counsel
for the Commissioners Of Charities and Correcuon'
The latter asked her what her present occuPi''o"
was and she said that she was engaged IN private
nractice and had two or three patients Wheh SIZE
first went 10 B,ackwe..s Island she saiu' ~ Ne"'
o ssignel her to her duties as DR.. Stednah as
stefan, bnt he ala no; give her detailed advice
mr. instructions When she was afierward pro"o'eu
to be a senior physician her position was one u
greater responsibility but she still dd not receive
advice from Dr.. Dent When in April Iast 'He
catients were removed to Wards Island she ac-
companied them and remained there coupe Of
weeks before resgains her pace Dr DENT IN
siructed her 10 see that the attendants obeyed the
rules of the institution. She reported the ihPos-
sbCitv Of enforcing the rules TO DR.. Dent. anu ne
appeared surprised. lie said Il MAS the hrs' '"He
he had heard about anything being wrong VII" the
food Mr. Mastln appeared annoyed at these I'M
expected references TO the bad food ana "o'heu
hard 10 keep all such illusions out OF the testimony
She frankly admitted that IL impossible at al
times 10 follow the rules. but maintained 'h'' sue
had been guided by them as far as posslo'e. Nne
said that during three years she spent on BACK
wells Island she had seen DR.. A. f. Macdonald
n
once. 49,.
Mr. Mastin then began to question her as 10 no"
she came 10 testify before the Commission She
said that she had been caled by Duncan fo"dIuS'
Mr. Mastin particularly anxious ~
find out in what manner Inc We" io "
Herald" became aware OF the md'eIiai Al
the witnesses possession. She said that II
was through her acquaintance with a
"IIerald' reporter TO whom she had related some
of her experiences Some of the revelations that
appeared in The Herald" had. she said been
written by herself. They were compiled from hoteS
which she had made during her term on 'he
medical staff under DR.. Dent. 1t had been her
original intention to embody these notes In worA
70 be published in volume form. The witness here
used an unfortunate expression. She said that she
had intended to write a work Of fiction on the
subject Mr.. Mastin was not slow TO seize the
point.
81 think you have done IT," he said looking
around the room triumphanuy.
But the next moment he was met with disap-
pointment.
sOf course YOU received some compensation from
THE Herald after parting with your notes? he
said insinuatngly. Not cent" replied the
witness very emphaticaliy. 49,
..But Won expect 20 receive something, don't YOU?
he persisted. Not one cent" repeated the witness
with heightening color. Il neither received nor eX-
pect 10 receive cent
Mr. Mastin looked Disconnected and took new
tack.
The witnesses notes. she said. had been
written in book. which she had gwen
DR.. Dent many opportunities for perusing
She said that her motive for making the revelations
was the desire to improve the deporabie condition
of the unfortunate inmates of the asylum.
"A purely philanthropic motive eh?' said Mr..
Mastin
lyon may sheer If you like" returned the wit
ness holly but that my sole motive
Mr. Mastin then asked a comprehensive question
as TO the particulars in which she considered the
MANAGEMENT Of the asylum defective. She made a
categorical answer, substantially repeating her
former testimony about the buildings being danger
GUS the inadequate accommodation, the Dad lOou'
improper medical treatment. etc:
Mr.. Mas-in al once took up that portion OF Mtl
answer in which she alluded 70 the qualN 81 .He
food having been improved since me oprl'tls ol
present inquiry. and asked who were her .niornai'
informants Mr.. Mastin then worked back 70 br.
Rabnovtch's connection with The hera!d. A ~.
the Information that It was through her brother
Joseph that she bad comm qnicaed the iac'S !" Ne'
On the opening Of the afternoon session It was
announced that the witness had seen one Oh tme
S s,bsaonanfiy s5e said that Or Cheney the four
senior physician on the staff Of the asylum was
one Of her informan,s The Of the others
compensation her brother had received for his work
&Sn FOR .I5 9e exboiare but the witness was un
able 10 satisfy his curiosity on this point
Were you reprmanded by Dr. Dent foi
neglect OF duty?" said Mr. Mastin. suddenly
Never" replied the witness, promptly; but
am aware that DR. Dent has been hunting up the
records trying to find something against me.
''Who told you that|
at was DR. Cheney He told that DR.. Dent
and DIR. Tyler had been hunting up all the old MS
tories Of patients extending back over three years
trying to find something TO my detriment 1t i
a task that must require good deal OF energy
''You don't think DR.. Dent would try 10 manu-
facture evidence against YOU?
"Oh. no; he gave me splendid recommendation
when left. and he would not Ike 10 be so incon
sstent"
on the whole. the effect Of the cross-exs minatoT
was 70 strengthen. rather than weaken DR.. Ra
binOvitch's original testimony.
At o'clock the inquiry adjourned until mex
Wednesday morning.