The morning times., 1896-04-21
YOs1's SHOT ACCIDENTAL
Col. Tracey's Official Report Of
the WOrkhOuse Inc dent.
KEEPER WAS SHOOTING BIRDS
Criticism of the Delay In Reporting
the Affair to Intcndent Stouten-
burg-President Kelly of Butchers
Protective Association Ma akes
Charges of ExtortiOn.

Col. John Tracey, superintendent of char
tiles, spent Saturday afternoon ut the work
house investigating the charge preferred
against Albert Yost overSecr OF the fe-
male department, of having shot Sadie
| Carter an inmate, under such circumstances
as justified tie suspicion that it was reck-
| lessly done, and today made report to
| the Commissioners stating as his conclu-
! sion from the information received that
| the unfortunate occurrence was acci-
| dental, the owe rseer being engaged in
shooting birds at the time.
Col. Tracey adds, however, that the
! intendent was not informed Of the intended
use of the gun-a cat rifle borrowed, with
which to shoot birds-or of its being in
the possession OF Yost, by whom it was
| borrowed.
The overseer, he says, whatever he may
have thought OF the importance OF the
| occurrence, or Of the character or the
| injury inflicted, he should certainly have
reported what lad happened Immediately
! TO tie office of the intcndent and the
/ hospital, with both of which the femaie
workhouse is connected by the 1nStitL'
| tonal telephone line.
The shooting happened Tuesday evening"
| at Z O'Clock, and was not reported To Dr.
| Mcdonald, the resident physician. until
| shortly after l. Early next morning, Dr.
| Mcdonald says, he explored for the shot,
| but was unable to locate it.
DIR. BOvee, the visiting physician, took
! the case in hand, but the ball has not yet
been found. DR.. Mcdonald further said
| that the patient is doing well and there
! are no serious symptoms.
Yost explained that he did not report
| the shooting at once because he had other
fTeI IEx.
additional reason that he did not believe
| the woman was much injured.
For his tardinesS lie expressed much re-
| greet Col. Tracey says. explaining that
the affair happened while he was so very
busy with regular duties" Since the ''af-
fair happened" according to his own
statement, while he was shooting birds, it
is presumed that occupation Is made part
of his daily avocation.
| Col. Tracey's report covers the evidence
given by the victim of the shooting and
four Others, including Yost, the overSeer
All agree that the shooting was accidental
Yost is also given the reputation Of
careful man, though new to his duties
of his present position. He has been
four years an employ of the institution,
but in charge of outdoor workmen, and
never before had q charge made against
him. He has been in the regular army,
serving twelve years.
The Commissioners yesterday submitted
10 Chairman Babcock OF the House Dis
trict Committee copy of letter addressed
10 them by Health Officer Woodward, in
which lie passes upon the merits of House
bill 1877, 10 incorporate the Washington
Homeopathic Medical College, the opinion
being in the main adverse TO the enact
ment.
In their report upon the bill the Commits
sioners disapprove of the measure and refer
1 ,r"c Hi,,r,- ion
setting forth reasons why the proposed
legislation is not advisable.
DR.. wOODWARD'S VIEWS.
DR.. woodward says ii is his understand
ing that the bill under consideration was
| drawn TO meet the objections presented to
a former measure introduced for the same
purpose, and he adds that it does in fact
meet the chief defects in the original bill,
| but that one sentence of his report upon
| the or ginal bill will still apply, and that
is that while purportiug TO be u homeo-
paihic institution, there is not a homeo-
pathic physician among its incorporators,
nor does il receive recognition from the
| representative body of homeopathic prac-
| titioners in the District
| Health Officer Woodward adds tha unless
there's some general law by which the terms
| of the proposed charter can be enforced.
and violations punished. a clause should
be added TO the bill to enable the Commits
sioners or other officers to secure that end.
President John R. Kelly of the Butchers
| Protective Association recently addressed
a communication to the District Commits
sioners, in which, in behalf of the asso-
citation. he charged that the members are
occupying stalls in the Washington Market
Company's building, known as the Center
Market, under rates arbitrarily imposed
| by the company, which, from being so
eXorbitant. will practically deprive them
OF a profit upon their business, and tie
Commissioners are asked what, ifany, steps
have been taken by them to carry out the
requirement imposed by section ,, OF tie
Market Company's charter.
This section relates to the adiustme mt
by the Commissioners of rents Cor stalls
and stands, and the Butchers Association
asks that action he taken at once. in the
belief that the authority to control and
establish "a ties. fair and equitable 10 both
| the company and the dealers. is conferred
upon the District authorities.
President Kelly says the association
has appealed to the company for relief
but without avail.
. The letter was dated March Z, and upon
its receipt was referred to Attorney S. T
Thomas, District counsellor, for an opnior
as to the power of the Commissioners tc
act in the matter.
Mr.. Thomas submitted hisreply yesterday
in which he takes TIE ground that the
present District board is not tie successor
Of the mayor in such a case.
The courts have held, he says, that where
ordinances of the late corporation Of
| Washington required the mayor or othel
corporation officials by name to put &
particular ordinance in operation, such
| ordinance has been incapable of execution
| since 1871, because there is no legal
> successor 10 the mayor or other such officer
MR.. THOMAS DECIDES.
For these reasons Mr.. Thomas decides that
the Commissioners have no jurisdiction ol
! authority to adjust the rents of stalls
\ in the Washington Market. and inasmuct
! as Congress is now engaged in an exam
, ination of the market controversy, ht
recommends that the appeal OF the asso
! | citation be referred to that body.
This suggestion was acted upon yes
tcrday. copy of all papers being referred
J to both Houses.
} In Difference to the public opposition
dumping refuse will not be permitted here
= | after along Rock Creek bank between T
and @ streets the Commissioners issuin.
an order to that effect yesterday.
James E. Richmond's resignation as al
ambulance driver in the police depart
ment was accepted by order issued yester
day, to take effect on the 14th inst.
FOR A MONETARY CONFERENCE