The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-29
DENIES HE RECEIVED A FEE.
THE FITCH CONTRIB
VERsY GETTING INTERESTING.

6rmary-Dr. Charlton Is Investi-
eating and Expects to Have some
thing Further to say-NO Renec-
ton Was Intended Upon Drs.
Doughty and DanieI-Drs. Fitch
and Daniel VIII Demand n Hearing
by the Infirmary BOard-Dr. CharI-
ton says DIR. Fitch Is Barred
From Infirmary.
The difference between DR. T. ]. Charl-
ton and DR.. W. T. Fitch, growing out of
statements made by the former at the
hospital discussion before the City Council
Wednesday night rejecting upon the pro-
fessional conduct of the latter, was the
chief subject of discussion yesterday
among the medical fraternity and by the
friends of the two physicians. In fact,
this incident seemed to overshadow the
hospital discussion temporarily
DR.. Charlton, in replying TO statements
made by some of the advocates of the
city's plan with regard to the hospitals,
said that there had been a gross violation
of a courtesy extended to a physician who
had been given permission to operate up
on a patient in the charity ward at the
Georgia Infirmary and who had taken ad-
vantage of it to bring a physician here
from another city to perform the opera
ton, thus rejecting upon the ability of
the physicians of the hospital staff to per-
form such operations.
DR.. Simmons had stated that DR.. Charl-
ton had said that this was the last time
that such a courtesy would be extended
to other physicians. DR.. Charlton replied
that DR.. Fitch was the physician referred
to. and that the operation was performed
by DR.. Doughty of Augusta, assisted by
DR., Daniel, and mat he had been inform
ed by an attendant at the hospital. that
the patient had declared that she was not
charity patient as her husband had paid
DIR. Fitch $50 for performing the opera
ton. DR.. Fitch replied emphatically that
he had never received a penny for this op-
GRAFTON, and denied the report as a posi-
tive lie. AS the lie was not directed 20 Dr.
Charlton, the latter made no reply and the
incident was allowed TO pass without fur
Their rejoinder
Neither physician is disposed however,
to drop the matter. Having made state
meuts concerning DR.. Fitch's conduct in
connection with the case, DR.. Charlton,
said yesterday, that he proposes to probe
the matter 10 tne potion ana ma whether
the report mentioned by him is we'll
founded
DR.. Fitch did not feel that ne could
rest under the in 5Gtation of having coll
lected fee from a charity patient for an
opera ton performed In a charity ward OF
hospital, and after consulting some OF
his friends Of the profession he decided
to obtain affidavits from the woman VINO
was the patient, and from her husband
These afiidavits were secured yesterday
and are as follows:
This is to certify that I was admitted
as charity patient to the Georgia In
Urinary, from June 10, 1899 to July Is,
1899, and that on June 20 was operated
on by DR.. Doughty, assisted by DR. Fitch
and others, for which no fees were charged
or asked. And 1 do further Cfenounce as
utterly false any statement that l told
Or. Charlton or any other individual that
DR.. Fitch made any charge for attending
me, or that my husband had paid DR..
Fitch the sum of $50, or any part of such
sum.
(Signed) Hannah johnson.
Sworn to before me this 2Sth day of De-
cember. 1899. M. D. 4irsch,
Notary Public Chatham County, Georgia
This is to certify that DR.. Fitch hal
my wife Hannah johnson. admitted to the
Georgia Infirmary as a charity patient on
June 49, 1899. for an operation, and l fur
Their state that DR.. Fitch told me tie op-
Grafton would not cost me a single cent
and that the hospital accommoda tons
would likewise be free / also state that
I have never paid DR.. Fitch a sing e PEN
ny for the service rendered my wife at
the hospital. But / did have 10 buy gauze
TOR the dressings used in my wife's case
and also that l had to buy and send out
her nourishment as long as she was in the
hospital (Signed E. W. johnson.
Sworn to before me this, 2Sth day of De-
| cember, 1899. NJ. d. Hirsch
Notary Public, Chatham Co. Ga.
DR.. Fitch said that he thought these
affidavits should be sufficient to establish
the falsity of the report of any miscon-
duct on his part relating to the collection
of a fee from a charity patient.
LAS to the alleged abuse of a courtesy
| extended 10 me-" said DIR. Fitch, there
was certainly no intentional violation of
ethics on my part, and am sure that DR..
Daniel and DR. Doughty were entirely in
| nocent in the matter"
DR.. Fitch sud that he will demand a
| hearing before thN Board of Managers OF
the Georgia Infirmary which meets some
| time next week.
DR.. j. w. Daniel, who stated at the
! Council meeting Wednesday night that it
! was he who invited DR. Doughty to visit
| Savannah for the purpose of performing
the operation in question, and that he
was present at the operation, wrote Or.
| CHARLTON yesterday, eAplamlng MS part in
/ the matter and demanding a full investi-
| cation in order that the blame, If any,
might be placed where 1t belonged. After
| receiving this letter DR.. Charlton called
| upon DR.. Daniel, and the interview appears
| TO have been satisfactory to both of them.
Il Informed DR.. Daniel" said DR..
| Charlton, THAT ! had no intention of
| casting any reflection either upon him or
| DR.. Doughty, as ! considered them both
entirely innocent in the matter, and that
DR.. Fitch alone was TO blame. The matter
will be investigated by the inflrmary
| board, of course. AS to DR.. Fitchs CON
duct in the matter / shall have something
| further to say later"
DR.. Charlton said that the remark at
tributed to him that this would be the
last time that the courtesy of operating
on charity patients would be extended 20
outside physicians had been misunderstood
| or msquOted This remark he said was
intended 60 apply 10 DR.. Fitch only Il
| said that this would be the last time thar
such courtesy would be extended TO him.
| and l repeat now" said DR. Charlton