The San Francisco call., 1899-07-02
KEEPER OF INSANE
KEAT|NC'S TRIAL
PROVES A FARCE
Hospital Scandal Is
lnVestig
FINAL ACTION Is DEFERRED
WITNESS IGNORES AND DEFIEs
A SUBPOENA.
Matron Mcdonald Not Permitted to
Tell All She Knows, While
the Wardens Story Is
Uninterrupted
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
9OS Broadway JulV /

90S Broadway, July l.
The fate of William J. Keatng, warden
of the insane at the Receiving Hospital.
whose conduct and participation in a fstic
encounter with Isaac Barnett over the
latters young daughter has been under
investigation. will probably be determined
by the Board of Supervisors next Wednes-
day morning.
Keating's trial before the Supervisors
this morning proved a decided farce. Hart
North. the man who fathered keating
appointment. appeared as a prominent lis
tener and the defense was conducted by
Attorneys George Reed and Fred c. Gift.
District Attorney Allen questioned the
witnesses for the board.
The trial had been set TO commence at
% clock. at the request of supervisor
Church who. however, did not put in an
appearance until 3 O'Clock and after DR..
c. L. Tisdale had given testimony.
Supervisor Wells had previously op-
posed proceeding in the absence of Super
visor Church and owing to the absence
also of Miss Kitty Welch, who was con
sidered, formidable witness against sda,
said Mr.. Wells. Il came TO attend full
board. | am surprised, too, to learn that
this Miss Welch can't be found. At any
rate, | am quite ready to vote in this mat
ter without further testimony.
Then followed talk of whitewash, post
ponement and partiality.
The first important witness was MISS
Selma Barnett the 19-year-old daughter
of Isaac Barnett of 40 Fifth street. whose
keeping company with keating had in
duced her father to visit the hospital one
night three weeks ago and attempt to
thrash the warden.
Witness gave her age as 10 years, and
the gist of her story was that there had
been nothing improper between the ward
en- and herself. She said "the row arose
over the fact that her father didn't want
me to go with MF Heating. She denied
ever having called at the hospital after
o clock of evenings or that she was ever
in Keatings room in his company with
the door locked. She claimed she went
there frequently to visit a feeble-minded
girl and secure magazines and papers
from the warden. She admitted having
he presented bouquets to her. Her testi-
mony was also favorable to Heating.
Isaac Barnett. the young ladys father,
was next called and reiterated his story
of the fight on the hospital lawn. how
he had warned his daughter not to keep
company with and meet Keating-
Il also warned keating. continued
Barnett. and when | learned it was be-
ing unheeded l called at the hospital and
demanded an interview with this man.
He told me he didn't have time-not even
soon walk the streets, for l would tell
the Supervisors. Then he called me
thing. I had nothing against Keating
personally, only | believed he was too
Intimate with my daughter
Keating in uG5i. print that the girl came to
tho warden to seek sympathy because she
was treated cruelty by her father.
Mrs j. Dolan corroborated Bar.
nett 8. latter denial, and Drs. Stratton and
Sanborn testified that they had never
seen anything improper at the hospital or
In Keating's conduct.
Sheriff Rogers was next called to tell
how he had been frustrated in sGpenaeing
Kitty Welch. When he called at the
.Welch residence the girl had locked the
door and concealed herself Later her
father. Dennis Welch, also testified that
hts daughter denied the published state
ment wherein she is said TO have declared
thai Heating acted improperly with her
on a certain occasion. Welch said, too,
that he would not allow his daughter to
attend as n witness.
The star witness of the investigation
was next called in-Miss Hattie McDon-
aid. matron at the hospital. She told of
having frequently seen Selma Barnett