New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12
COMMITTEE AT SNUG H4RBOR.
CAPTAIN NORTON SAYS ITS INVITATION TO
HIM TO TESTIFY Is A TRAP-KEEPING
THE PROCEFDTNGS DARK

HIM TO TESTIFY Is TRAP-KEEP1NG
THE PROCEEDINGS DARK.
The committee appointed by the trustees OF the
Sailors Snug Harbor investigate the charges
brought against Governor Deehanty by the nurses
OF the institution met in the Sailors Snug Harbor
on Staten Island yesterday instead OF In this city
az heretofore. 1t is said that the change OF place
WAS made in order TO examine the patients In the
hospital without compelling them to make a trip
TO New-York. The committee is said to have fin
ished taking the testimony OF the nurses.
Captain George l.. Norton, OF the Board OF
Trustees. who has been hostile to Governor Dele
hanty from the first. and who has unhesitatingy
charged the rest OF the trustees. who, with the
exception Of Captain Austin Jayne are thought to
be In favor OF the governor, with conducting the
investigation unfairly asked TO testify before
the committee yesterday Captain Norton refused
to testify and declared that the invitation was
trap The invitation was delivered TO him in the
following letter from the Rev. Or. Howard Dufheld
chairman of the committee:
Office of the Trustees Of saisOrs Snug Harbor;o
Captain George L. Norton
Dear Sir As you are already @ware the Board card
gated 70 a committee OF which am chairman the
duty or investigating certain specific charges against
by some OF the at the institution and pre-
sented by you TO the Board. At the instruction or
any positive evidence in support OF the speclnc
allegations contained in these afidavits the com
mittee will he glad hear your evidence tomorro"
in the trustees room at the institution on staten
/ deem it proper to add for your information that
the said committee can receive no testimony except
matters OF fact that have come under your personal
''''' HOWARD DUFFiELD. Chairman.
Captain Norton's letter Of reply was as follows:
No. II State-st.. New-York. November II, 1899
The Rev. Dr. Howard Dufield Chairman lnvesu-
eating Committee Sailors Snug Harbor New
Dear Sir: beg leave to acknowledge receipt of
70 appear before your committee at the Sailors
courtesy intended TO be shown to me is anything
but genuine Ia clearly evidenced not only by tne
billy OF my appearing but by the further fact
that distinctly stated TO the Board Of Trustees
We're wS Presented that had no personal knowedge
OF their truth or falsity and after statement OF
the circumstances under which the affidavits had
come into my possession merely submitted them
.e Yo veil I kno tbat hs as were Of
occurrences during the night watches In the hospi
tuition would hardly be present.
Had !, however any personal knowledge OF me
futllity OF any such course is clearly apparent
when It is borne in mind that while the present
misbehavior were still pending, and before Wit
ness had been called. a majority OF the Board
letter highly eulogizing the governor and request
ing that he be relieved from active sea service
during the coming year In order that the Board
- sc r,sqorit ~ The BOARD bonestIy intended 70
investigate the charges then pending they clearly
stultlfed themselves when they addressed the Navy
In view. however, Of the manifest intelligence Of
the members OF the majority. the only Inference
that can be drawn is that they have already pre-
judged the case against the governor and deter
mined TO exonerate him from any charges. so that
the investigation now In progress Is mere die cere-
GEORGE L. NORTON.
Trustee Sailors Snug Harbor.
In speaking Of the resolution Of the Board Of
Trustees not to give out to the press any report
Of the investigation. Captain Norton said yester-
day:
After the first meeting it was discovered that the
press getting verbatim statements OF the
president had remarked at a previous meeting
What position will We find ourselves in if these
There was nothing left for the majority who had
placed themselves on record as lndorsng ,i ths
governor notwithstanding the charees pendins
against him, but 10 muzzle the preSseabd Keep me
under Lock snd bt n mn tne
I ity member of the committee, allowed himself 10
/ account of the proceedings The nurses having all
| testified. the committee transferred its inyest-
ting rebutt!ng testimony from the patients OF the
| hospital where the governor has had his man
mine what the report Of the majority Of that body
will be to the Board. and majority of that body
In the mean time the press will get just what it IS
considered best it should have to justify majority
The Standing Committee of the Marine Society
will meet on Monday when IT. Is expected that
of the Sailors snug Harbor and also to adopt a
course by which their influence in the Board VIII
not be annulled in the future.
TESTIMONY OF THE INMATES
II was learned through Of the inmates Of
the Harbor that Dr. JOY the hospital physician.
was again called yesterday
Edward 5. Bradley. Of the inmates. testified
that he had been in the hospital when. 1t was
alleged Governor Delehanty had visited the
place in an intoxicated condition. and that the
charge was absolutely false. Mr.. Bradley is an old
time inmate and said that the hospital had never
/ been managed better than at present. }. W. Nc
Kenzie another inmate testified TO the same ef-
John Reagan a blind inmate, made his way to
the room without assistance and MS testim 19
wholly IN the Governors favor joshua Her
bert. who has lived at the Harbor since 1873 Is
! cripple and wheeled into the room In "A chair
He said that during the entire twenty years Oh MS
life In the Harbor the institution had never been
better managed than now. lie SAID ne was ofteh
compelled 10 spend weeks az NM IN me nos
p!tal. owing 10 his intrmities; and that ne Gov
ernor had treated everybody with uniform kindness.
and had never spoken harshly 10 me nurses sew
eral other inmates were also questioned. ana all
spoke highly OF the character of the Governor.
When the committee concluded its days work
the members went away hastily and caught the
TO the station at Snug Harbor Recorder Golf firm
" refused to say what had transpired Captain
JAYNE when asked II there would be another meet
ing replied: There may be; yes | think there
will be" re said that the date had not yet been
Governor Delehanty. when asked about the ex-
animation. said: Il have made firm resolve to
mittee have been completed. This is in accord
ance with the desire Of the committee"
Regarding the attitude Of the Harbor inmates
r o ,be hest POSSIBLE terms wish we could
gather No the entire lot OF 'Snugs and get them to
testify one after another and l would have no
II was suggested that he appeared pleased after
his days ordeal. and he laughingy replied that he
had never felt other than contented oyST the %npe
ernor. and appear TO have the highest regard FOR
Governor Is