The news & observer., 1898-09-16
Is DR.. STQCKARD GUILTY
COL. BURGWYN SHOULD AT
ONCE INVESTIGATE.
NO MEDICINE OR FOOD FOR THE SICK
Il is Claimed that Or. Stockard Also Neglec
ted His Duty as a Physician at
the St. Simon Island
camn


crime, but wilful neglect of the sick
committed to his care is worse.
Men volunteer to fight for their coun-
try-not because they love to fight, but
because they love their country.
He who wilfully takes from them the
food which the government intends they
shall have during their service is a rob
Der. But he who keeps back from the
the government provides and for which
the government pays is doubly Il criminal
In doing so he not only deprives the sol
der of his own property, but he endan-
gers the mans very life.
To Major J. X. Stockard chiee sur
geon of the Second North Carolina
regiment:
Where have you been for the pas two
days, and how have you employed your
time?
How have the sick and convalescent
soldiers in camp here been faring since
their arrival? Have they had proper
quarters? Have they been supplied with
medicine? What has become of the GO
cents day each, allowed them by the
government for delicacies?
Have you been spending your time
in a hotel, scheming with pot-house poll
ticians for an office? Is it true that you
one day claimed to be sick but that that
oI. 70. wnt
confined to your room? On the CON
trary, were you not much in evidence
about the hotel lobbies and conspicuous
in all Republican confabs?
Do you not know that during this time
several company commanders and Off
GERS went down into their individual
pockets and paid for prescriptions ana
delicacies which were denied thu SICK
in camp by your negligence?
Did you not know, sir, that Doctors
Breyard and Brooks, the assistant sur
geons, were powerless to do anything !
Were you not aware that they had no
authority to make purchases? You
should also know that one of the above
mentioned gentlemen had prescrip-
ton filled at his own expense for n very
sick man, whom he deemed in absolute
need of medicine.
Were you not sent for yesterday three
separate and distinct times, and did you
not fail to show up at any time during
the day?
As chief surgeon of the regiment, Doc
ter. are you not the only member of the
medical staff empowered to purchase
medicines and deIicacies for the sick in
your command?
Is this your record, Doctor? Both Off
GERS and privates say it is.
If their charges be true. go out to-
day, get down on your knees and beg
forgiveness of the gaunt-eyed, fever
stricken men you have so cruelty wrong
ed and so persistently neglected.
One other question, Doctor, and I'm
done Where were you while the regi-
ment was at st. Simon? Have you been
spending your time in Orange and Ala
nance counties getting yourself nominted
for the Legislature and your friends
named for office?
Are these charges true? If so | trem-
BILE to think what must be your fate.
What will the mothers, the fathers of
North Carolina say of you when their
sons-wan, worn haggard and sick
come home wearing their country's uni
form, but broken in health?
10 C0l. William ii. >. bufSWyH, coIn-
manding Second North Carolina regi-
ment:
Grave complaints have been lodged
against the chief surgeon in your regi-
ment
What they are you can easily learn
without going a hundred PAGES from your
own tent.
Whether they are false or true is for
you to determine. TO do so there must
be an official investigation. 1t is mat
ter in which prompt action is necessary,
and there is no escape from the respon"
sibility. If DIR. Stockard is guilty you
owe it to your men and to the people
of North Carolina to have him punished.
If he is innocent You owe It to him that
he be given an opportunity to prove
his innocence.
Will you do it?
Whether you do or not there is one
who WILL The anxious mother now
waiting at home for her son will find