Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-09
COMPLAIN OF THE INFANTS
Grand Jury Investigating Charge Against
Hospital for Foundlings.
Residents In Its NeAghborhood A1lege
That the Cryingiof the Children
Prevents Rest Mt Night.


plant made before them several days ago.
are investigating the Washington Hospital
for Foundlfngs, for the purpose Of Ge-
termining whether the institution Is a null
sance. The hospital is located at No. 1881
10Th street northwest, and several residents
In the locality contend that the crying of
the infants In the institution is an annoy
ance which should be in some way or other
discontinued. Some of the residents, it is
said. claim that the little ones do not re-
cefve such care and attention AS would
make the alleged annoyance impossible.
The Charge Denied.
The matron of the hospital, Mrs. R. B.
Cate; Miss Lee, the head nurse, and DIR.
Wellington and the board of directors in
sist that the children receive every care
and attention. and deny that the cries of
the infants can be prevented or that they
amount to the annoyance claimed.
Several witnesses, including Mr.. Edward
Dunkerly, whose residence stands In close
proximity to the hospital, have been eX-
amined by the grand jury, and Represen-
tative Shuford of North Carolina. who also
lives near the institution, is also said to
have testified that the cries of the hildren
amount to a great annoyance to him and
other neighbors.
There are said to be about fifty little
ones in the hospital In care of the matron
and ten nurses, and the neighbors contend
that the institution should be located IN the
country, or in such a place In the city or
suburbs as would prevent the annoyance OF
any one.
Probable Results.
While the grand jury has the power to
condemn the hospital as nuisance, in an
Indictment returned against those respon-
sible for its maintenance, the officials OF
the district attorneys office do not antici-
| L. nov n
| the event of the complaint being supported
before the grand jury. that that body will
make such recommended tiOnS as Will result
| in the removal of the hospital or in the
| adoption of a change in the system for the
| care of the children.
We Should Suspend Judgment.
| To the Editor of The Evening" Star:
| 1t was with feelings of profound regret
| that 1 read in The Evening Star of yester-
| day it's article headed "Disgraceful Chapter
| in the Career of the Rev. Gilbert F. VIII
| liams' and in this mornings Post another
seemingly from the same source with the
| caption ministers Guilt Established
1 am sure neither Of these heightened
and honorably edited journals would ad
| visedly do any man great injustice, mol
| the Christian church SO great a wrong a:
| these articles are calculated to do in thi:
| instance unless Immediately corrected.
| Let ne assure YOU, then, that the min
| isters guilt has not been established
| ror has the public any right or reason tt
| assume that the standing committee of the
| diocese of Washington lis satisfied of the
| pastors wrongdong."
| How can the mere accusation of an un
| proved wrong be properly styled dis
| graceful chapter" in any mans career un
| less indeed we confomd all distinction be
| tween SANDER and established guilt?
| BE thou as chaste as ice, as pure a.
| snow, thou shalt not escape calumny..
| What the standing committee may hav'
| done 1t is not consistent with their of1cia
duty nor with their honor to divulge an!
| more than a grand juror might disclose
| what that inqutsitorial body may hav'
| done l can hardly believe it possible tina
any member of this grand jury of tn
| church has furnished the statements mad
! in these articles
| confidently asserted When calumny as
| sails any minister of the church 1t be
| comes important for the conservation o
the interests of the church, of religion AM
| morality, that the standing committe
should make inquiry, and If they find
| charge clearly specified and supported o.
| even SO much as apparently prima facl
| though wholly eXparte evidence, then t
| present the matter to the bishop. 1t were
| however, impossible that they should re
port to the bishop that the charges ar
| true" Any such report would be grossl.
beyond their jurisdiction. They have no
| heard nor been called upon to hear tn
| other side. They have not tried the cas-
| nor been authorized to sit in judgment.
| Would 1t not be best then that we sus
| pend iudgment-that we remember tina
| most salutary as well as Christian rule o
our civil law, that every man Is 10 De pre-
| sumed to be innocent until proved guilty?
| WILLIAM A. MELOY.