New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-16
iSHEPARD ON THE STAND.
EXAMINATION OF AFFAIRS AT SOL
DIERS' HOME CONTINUED.

Albany, Feb. 15.-The examination OF Colonel
Shepard, commandant of the Soldiers and Sailors
Home at Bath. was continued to-day the House
investigation Messrs. Campbell and Smith. trus-
tees. and John F. Parkhurst he said told him that
his efforts to procure resident chaplain for the
institution would work his ruin. Trustee Smith
said that certain man employed in the engineer
ing department must be discharged because he
was Democrat and Roman Catholic Colonel
Shepard testified. He refused to discharge the man
in question and 1t caused strained relations be-
tween himself and Mr.. Smith. The posthumous
fund he said was composed of moneys left by de-
ceased members of the home who had no relatives
1t contained about $1,000 and kept deposit
in Mr.. Campbells bank and interest was paid
on it. Colonel Shepard said he favored purchasing
Western beef but that Trustee Campbell had told
him that he had better leave that matter alone;
that beef. eggs, butter and such supplies should
be purchased from local farmers and dealers
In the rear office of the Administration Building
he testified. was cabinet containing whskey and
cigars purchased from the canteen fund The COM
mandant, the adjutant and Messrs Campbell
Smith and Mr. Shoemaker had each key to it,
The trustees brought their friends whenever they
desired and treated them from this supply Colonel
Shepard said that he permitted the practice to go
until November 1898. when he stopped it. He
found It in practice when he came and for that
did not stop it at A bill amounting to
1912 0S for liquor and cigars for this cabinet was
produced in evidence by Colonel Shepard. The
colonel admitted that he had patronzed the cabinet
and extra food were purchased from the canteen
fund for the trustees entertainment when they
visited the home. The bills audited by the
trustees themselves and paid through such audit
Witness said that when the State Controller
would refuse to audit bill of the home to be paid
from the State Treasury the Board of Trustees
would order it paid from the canteen fund.
John D. Moriarty. a clerk in the State Depart
ment of Banks testified that the Farmers and
Mechanics Bank of Bath. in which the home
m re is a private hal
ton and incorporated bank and Is not
under the jurisdiction Of the State Superintendent
of Banks.
Colonel Shepard was recalled and swore that Mr.
Campbell issued to persons not connected with the
home certificates which entitled them to one-half
rate transportation under an agreement with the
railroad companies for officers members and en-
ployes of the home. This saved the persons who
received the same one-half of the of their fare
statement showing the issue of such certificates
was offered in evidence.
At the afternoon session Colonel Shepard gave
considerable testimony concerning the condition of
affairs at the home hospital When he became
commandant of the institution the money, watches
and other personal effects of patients who died in
the hospital disappeared with the death of their
owners He tried, he said to ascertain who took
them where they went, but he unable to
CLEAN any information In order to prevent this
practice he established a rule compelling an in
ventory be taken of the personal effects of
patient entering the hospital and requiring
those in charge of the hospital render an &C
count of the articles if the patient died.
Chairman Philbin-Do you to say that Dr.
Burleson the resident physician. had anything TO
do with or had any knowledge of the cause of
these uISappedranceS!
Colonel. Snepdru-L have proof of any such
connection. 1 heard stories, but l have no
way OF verifying them.
Colonel she pa u stated that he had trouble with
Dr. burieson relative TO the amount 1 whlskey
consumed in the hospital. Some years ago three
each month. his was cut down aler TO Two bar
am al
dlnerences between himself and Or. Bureson.
Colonel Shepard denied that at the time of "A trip
10 DAYTON ONO, suffering from nervous
debility caused by the excessive use of liquor He
said that the testimony given by Dr. BurIeson in
this connection was false.
He had prevented DIR. Burleson from pursuing a
private practice addition TO the medical service
rendered at the institution. The doctor had also
conducted a pension agency at the institution
There was a lack of system a. the hospital Dis
cipline very lax at that department of the
home.
Colonel Shepard swOre that the Rev Mr. Frost
of Bath who had testified that he had seen Colo.
mel Shepard a hundred times under the influence
81 liuuor was the pastor of Mr. Campbell and was
one OF the Bath clergymen who had lost the place
of visiting clergyman at the Home, at salary of
$500 by the Introduction OF a permanent chaplain
The testimony relative 10 the alleged intoXication
was. he said, untrue.
Relative to the testimony given by Dr. Burleson
in regard to obscene songs and stories In the
chapel Colonel Shepard said that the doctor had
either committed perjury or his memory had de-
The hearing will be continued at 10 a. m. to-
morrow.