The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-23
TOLD. and DENIED,
Regard
ing Clinton Hos
pital Fund.
He DIED IN A PRISON CELL.
Sad End of the Misspent
Life of James Fl. Conroy
at Manchester, n. FL.
He DIED IN A PRISON CELL.

CLINTON,
in the last town warrant relating to an
appropriation for the Clinton hospital,
is monopolizing much attention. There
is a remarkable rumor around town
that the trustees and the medical staff
not only do not want any help from the
town, but will refuse it if it is offered.
The trustees are represented as fear
ing that if the town lends aid to the
institution it will want voice in it's
government, may even wish to take the
hospital into its own hands and run it,
something as the hospital in Fitchburg
is conducted by the mayor and city
fathers there.
One runner has it that the men who
spent the time and energy necessary to
upbuild the institution do not want
any interference from persons with
money now, even if these persons rep
resent the town. Another rumor has
it that the medical staff is the source
of the objection to any help that may
possibly ccmc from the town.
A life member of the hospital asso-
citation with whom the correspondent
of The Spy talked this afternoon, gave
the assurance that both of these stories
are untrue.
He said. Il lave been interested in
the hospital for a long time. I know
that no man connected with it has any
but sincere desire to 81 { the hospital
profit rs much rs POSSIBLE by private
and public bcnevolence. 1t is prepos-
ferrous to say that the trustees will re-
fuse any good gift; because they fear
an interference with their authority
will ultimately come of IT,
l.,
members of the medical profession, but
don't think there's enough to warrant
the story that the town will make an
appropriation FOR The use of the hospi-
tai for the purpose OF adding to the
number of physicians on the staff
That matter has already been taken
care of, or is in fair way to be. At
the last mee.ing OF the association,
Herman Dietzman introduced a resolu-
trustees for consideration.
This provides that the trustees shall
proceed to fill vacancies existing on the
medical staff by reason Of the resigna-
ticn OF Dr. p Z. Comey and the deaths
of Dr. T. +. QConnor and DR.. Bur-
dett
Technically speaking, there are of
course no vacancies cE the medical
staff. Practically there are, because
1t was not the purpose, when the hos
pital was founded TO hove so small a
proportion Of the rhys icians of the
town represented upon the staff. IT
would have been difficult to get the in
stitutiOn through its infancy, had such
course been pursued.
In enc way and another, however,
the staff has grown smaller until it
includes but four physicians in active
practice. This has been productive Of
some dissatisfaction, which I dare say,
was never presented to the trustees, ex-
cept as they may have perceived it in
the resolution.
Il am confident the trustees will be-
fore long increase the staff to the num-
Der of physicians originally contemplat-
ed, both as matter of Justice, and
that the hospital may receive the
greatest possible support
Until there is reason to believe the
trustees will not act along the lines sug-
gested in the resolution it will be I'M
necessary to say more along this line"
If it should prove to be the truth that
the Clinton hospital is running away
from any financial benefits contemplate
ed for it by the town, there is likely to
be hot time in the old town hall that
Saturday night. So unusual pro-
cedure will evoke a storm of inquiry
beside which a western whirlwind Is a
gentle zephyr. 1t is about 40 to l that
the town meeting will not vote any mo-
ney for the use of the hospital, at least
not Saturday. Whoever framed the ar
ticle made a bungle of it and framed it
in such way that under the rules no
money can be appropriated. The arti-
Gle does not specify any amount. The
situation is peculiar. In the first place
the authorship of the article is not dis
closed. Nobody can be found who
seems at all anxious to have the town
appropriate any money. On the other
hand a whole lot of people are accused
of wishing to dodge financial lightning
that may never strike.
Elias William Downey was arrested
today on the charge of keeping lille
gally." He was i'll in bed when the
warrant was served. In order not to
subject him to unnecessary suffering
bail had been arranged before the war
rant was served. His case will come
up for hearing in the district court
Wednesday morning. The cases of
Pragler and Hastings will come up at
the same time Hastings claims that
the five men who were found drinking
in his place were friends of his. whom
he was treating at his own expense.
Hastings is defended by Attorney Da-
vid L Walsh.
James H. Conroy finished out a mis-
cradle existence in cell in the police
station at Manchester, N. H, last
night
The prisoner was arrested Saturday
evening by the Manchester police. Sun
day he had an attack of delirium tre-
mems and raved about Oak court, his
home, in this town. The Manchester
authorities made him as comfortable
as possible. Sunday evening, however,
he was found dead in his cell.
Conroy was discharged from custody
before the superior court in Worcester,
Tuesday. He was under arrest on a
criminal charge, and had his case
placed on file. He is supposed to have
boarded a freight for Manchester. ard
to have resumed his habit of drinking
as soon as he reached the city.
The remains were brought back to
this place by his brother. Charles Con-
ROY, this evening.
The town is full of agents for va
rious prison work The companies are
anxious to supply the six or eight cells
that will be needed for the police sta
ton as soon as 1t is remodelled. or
built anew, as the voters may decide.
chief Bates was much impressed with
a cell which was shown by one OF the
agents today.
The Spy's propaganda against re-
pairing the old shack Of police STA
ton has grown to such an extent Il
is reasonably certain the citizens viii
not appropriate $1,000 additional for re-
pairs. -.