New-York tribune., 1900-03-15
STEWARD FAILS TO APPEAR
ACCOUNTS OF II. e. COLE. OF MANHAT-
TAN STATE HOSPITAL, BEING
INVESTIGATED

There was a meeting held in the rooms of the
Manhattan State Hospital at No. | Msdison-
ave. yesterday afternoon. 1t was protracted
session. and, aside from the Board of Managers
and officers of the hospital. those present were
the members of the State Lunacy Commission
There was one who not present, however,
and his absence had a marked effect upon the
meeting. The missing III. E. Cole.
steward of the Manhattan State Hospital. He
especially asked to be present to explain
certain alleged irregularities in his accounts.
but he nowhere to be found yesterday
At the end of the meeting it announced
by Dr. Alexander E. Mcdonald, superintendent
of the Manhattan State Hospital that Mr.. Coles
accounts would be gone over carefully to-day
to endeavor to ascertain just how they stand.
Mr.. Cole lived on Wards Island with his wife
and two children. He received a salary OF
5000 a year. According to the statements
made yesterday he was formerly employed in
the Controllers office at Albany, and at
one time with x-Lieutenant- Governor Saxton
In 1896, a result of this experience and on
the Endorsement of members of the State Lun-
acy Commission, he was made steward of the
Manhattan State Hospital Wards Island.
Recently there has been talk of reorganizng
the hospital and placing it's various depart
ments under different control In thrashng
over this matter Mr.. Cole was summoned to ap-
pear before the various officers of the hospital
and of the State Lunacy Commission, to give
testimony. In the course of this investigation
it found that his accounts needed looking
into, and in order to get a clearer knowledge
of the situation meeting, at which the Board
of Managers of the Manhattan State Hospital
and the members of the State Lunacy Commits
sion were to be present was arranged for yes
terday. Mr.. Cole was also asked to attend.
were ahoat about alleged irregularities in Mr.
Coles department. 1t said yesterday that
he had great discretionary power in the pur-
chase of supplies. and that he had paid much
more for supplies than other city and State in
sttutions paid for similar material, and it
to explain this that he was asked to appear
yesterday. The meeting in the Metropolitan
Life Building lasted until late in the evening.
At its close every reticent, but Dr.
Mcdonald gave out the following statement:
In the matter of the complaints which have been
agement of his office. the State Commission in Ll
macy the Board of Managers, the treasurer and the
The treasurer William II. Kimball and the gen.
fon t5 and t to the Board Of
result as soon as possible.
In the mean time the Board OF Managers Is glad
to state that the reports which have been pub.
matter have been greatly exaggeratd
no accusation OF theft against Mr.. Cole. If he
had done anything wrong it to abuse the
discretionary power vested in him to purchase
supplies DR.. Mcdonald and Mr.. Ktmball are
going over the accounts carefully to see just
what the condition of affairs is. A report will
be made soon as possible.
Albany. March 14.-Reative to the. report that
Harry E. Cole. the steward of the Manhattan
State Hospital is missing, it stated at the
office of the Lunacy Commission that the facts
these:
Commissioner Parkhurst. of the State Commits
sion in Lunacy, some time ago in examining Mr..
Coles accounts found several charges which he
considered too high. An investigation made
and 1t was found that there is about 81 400 which
cannot be accounted for. Mr.. Cole is missing.
His wife does not know OF his wherea bouts. He
is we'll known in this city, where he held sew
eral places OF trust. He was private secretary
to Controller Campbell, and occupied the chief
clerkship under the State Commission in
Lunacy. He is not, as has been stated, an ap-
pointee OF Mr.. Parkhurst.