The times., 1897-04-28
Claimed by His Friends on the
Recent Investigation.
SUSTAINED IN TWO REPORTS
A Request For the Findings In the
Emergency Hospital Case Refused
to an Attorney Secrecy Enjoin-
ed-Developments Expected To-
day-A Scandal Involved.

Hospital, to be held next Friday, will bc
results of the meeting to be anticipated is
the retirement of Dr. James Kerr, as
member of the board,
This matter of Dr. Kerr was brought to
the attention of the public about Il year
ago, by allegations that the hospital staff
wished him to resign, the ground for the
request being that majority OF the
staff "could not get along" with this
skillful surgeon, the head of the surgical
department. The annual election of di-
rectors last year turned principally Oh the
allegations made by the staff against DR..
Kerr The election was lively The friends
of DIT. Kerr rallied everywhere to his sup
port; aud they claimed victory, which
vindicated their interest.
The staff met and requested Dr. Kerr TO
resign, all that the public knew up to TINS
time being that DIR. kerr's deneaEor TO
some of its members was, IN their opin-
ion Objectionable. DIR. Kerr refused 10
resign and the contention was referred TO
q committee, not, as has been erroneousiy
stated time and again, to investigate
DR. Kerr" but to ascertain the causes OF
disagreement among the members OF The
staff. The committee was to be composed
of two selected by the staff, two by Dr.
Kerr, and the fifth to he agreed on by the
opposing interests. This agreement was
reached last fall, and, although IL was
that the fifth man was to be selected
within thirty days, 1t was only within
the past three or four weeks that the fifth
member, Mr. Henry F. Blount, was added
TO tie committee. Many suggestions as 10
the fifth man had been rejected.
This cutninittee's report has been by no
means unanimous. Three OF them recon-
mend that Dr. Kerr retire, AMI TWO or
them report to the contrary. Both sides,
however. agree on the essential fact in
which DR. Kerr was most Interested. To
wit: that the trouble between him and
the staff began at a certain time, and that
there was no disagreement for four years
previous to that certain period. DR.. kerrs
friends regard this as complete vindlca-
ton from the original charge: that 1t was
impossible to get along with the head OF
the surgical department.
after the appointment of the late super
intcndent of the hospital, Miss West.
The board OF directors has before it
full Information, backed up by affidavi's,
as to the real cause of the dispute, liut it
has been decided not To make them public
1t is rurnored that the reports Win be
destroyed, but it is not likely that this
will be done, as they are official docu
ments of the institution.
1t further stated, on the best authority,
that the hoard has so far refused to furnish
to the attorney of some Of the parties in
interest, copy OF the reports. A further
demand will be made on the board OF d.
rectors today, which, If denied may result
in legal complications on Friday next
When the board meets on Friday 1T is
understood that DR.. Kerr will not be re-
elected as director, and, when ne is no
longer q director, that fact will yacate his
position on the staff and his connection
with the hospital. His friends claim, as
they claimed last year, that by the vote
of the contributing members and others
entitled to vote, he would be over whelm-
ingly elected on Friday had the old plan
of election been followed
The board at its last meeting, however.
abrogated the bylaw which provided for
popular election and transferred that func-
ton to the board itself. This has been
resented. and one of the probabilities at
the hospital next Friday is that Com
tributing members, at least those who Rave
regard for DR.. Kerrs universally admit
ted ability and who are not concerned
in the staff dispute, viii be on hand TO
challenge the right OF the board to assume
the elective power, although the board OF
directors is stated to have acted en-
tirely within It's authority. 1t is claimed
that there is enough In what has already
occurr ed to justify legal determination
Of the Justice of the action of the board,
and that the court will be asked to inter
yene between DR.. Kerr and the manner
In which they allege he Is being practi-
cally lcgislated out of the hospital by a
change of the law as a last resort.
1t will probably be known today what
specific steps will be taken, as the time
is short, to compel the submission To in
spection by ali attorney Of the reports.
great deal of the written testimony. in
cluding the most important affidavits, are
accessible to the attorneys on any side
OF the case, and in case the board continues
matters relating to the conduct Of the hos
pital, these papers and documents may get
into print otherwise.
1t has been more than limited heretofore
that there / s a scandal connected with the
case. and that it is this which has causvd
the suppression of the reports, that is, so
far as the public is concerned. The public
has fairidca already of what this scandal
is, and hence the desire to know officially
all the causes which have produced the
discord at the institution
The directors are assumed to be acting
IN the interest of the hospital, even If tn e
result OF next Fridays meeting be the
retirement of Dr.. Kerr as directeT His
friends, however are positive that the
publication of both reports vindicate him
In his contention, from the very inception
of the controversy, and they will he
surprised if such reports, practically in
his favor, should be construed as justify
ing the request made last year by members
of the staff, that he voluntarily give up
his position.
Hailstones Weighed Three Pounds.
San Luis Potosi, Mex, April 27.-Ad-
of