The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-06
MACCOTS FOR
MEALS.
Attendants at the State
Hospital Tell About the
Food Served.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR BACKS THEM
Says He Has Been Shown
Wormy Cornstarch and
Bad Meat.
GOVERNOR ASKS QUESTIONS
Investigation Will Deal Only
With Food Supplies and
Will Let Other Allega-
tions Slide.
GOVERNOR ASKS QUESTIONS
Especial to "rhe Jersey city News."l

Especial to "'The Jersey City News."l
TRENTON, Aug. 6, 1901.-The committee
of managers appointed by the Board of
Managers of the State Hospital for the
Insane heard yesterday from the lips of
the attendants at that institution the
same statements made by them regarding
the food served at the State Hospital
which were contained in the petition pre-
sented to DR.. Ward July II. Governor
Voorhees, heard the statements, too, and
they were diametrically opposed to the
testimony rendered to the Governor in
his private office a week ago by Manager
Vroom. Judge Thompson, in opening the
, session, reiterated the statement made by
him last Monday that the committee in
tended simply to investigate the charges
regarding the food supply.
Governor Voorhees,, Judge Joseph
Thompson, chairman OF the committee,
and Henry r. Baldwin of New Bruns-
wick, and Benajah w. Andrews of Wood
bury arrived at the hospital about eleven
O'Clock and it was decided to begin the
investigation at once. The Governors
presence was the result of a resolution
adopted by the committee and forwarded
to the Governor last Saturday accom-
panied by a letter asking that he par
ticipate in the inquiry. The committee,
after an informal conference, assembled
in the library on the top floor of the CEN
trail building and a few minutes later
Judge Thompson raped for order and
the proceedings were formally opened
Judge Thompson stated that the COM
mittee had met TO consider the charges
contained in the petition submitted by the
attendants to DR.. Ward. He explained
that the Governor was present at the re-
quest of the board, which was afraid that
were he not on hand the committee might
be Subjected to public allegations as to
the character of the investigation. Judge
Thompson announced that the committee
would be represented by its counsel, Ed
win Robert Walker, and asked that other
lawyers present announce for whom they
appeared.
In response, James Buchanan said that
he appeared on behalf of Warden William
P. Hayes, and John II. Backes announced
that he represented several of the attend
ants who had signed the complaint made
to DIR. Ward.
AT the proceedings which followed there
was a fair attendance, including Dr.
Ward. DIR. Felty, Dr. Allen and DR.. Cort
OF the meQlEdl Sldlls LII. oOhSo' '"ttOS>
resignation as third assistant physician
took effect last Thursday; Warden Hayes
and half a score of reporters.
DR.. John w. Ward, the medical direc-
tor, and three of the male attendants were
the only witnesses examined, adjournment
being then taken until next THURSDAY
morning. The witnesses were selected py
the committee, and were first interrogateo
ny the boards counsel, after which ques-
tions were permitted to be asked by the
other counsel.
There was a very evident disposition 10
place as much responsibility as possible
on the shoulders of Dr. Ward. but the
medical director was very clear and very
nositive as to Just where his duties be-
gan and ended under the law which Great
ed the dual system under which the hos
pital is now operated. BY this law tie
care of the patients is vested in the
medical director and his assistants, while
the entire business management of the i'll
stitution. including the purchase of sup
plies and the supervision OF the cooking
and kitchens, is left to the warden
DR.. Ward told of the complaints made
TO him by members of the medical staff,
among them being those of DR.. Jones,
who had brought meat from the patients
table containing live maggots, and few
mornings later corn starch pudding with
worms in 1t.
..D:d YOU receive any other com
plaints?'' asked Mr.. Walker, pursuing the
inquiry
"Yes."
''From whom"
"Supervssor Wynn"
.Wnat were they?
.Of the same character.
Dr Ward asked to be allowed to make
a statement regarding the pudding,which
he said might occur in any househoid
,rhe trouble. he said, was in the Kitchen
and the food should not have been served.
.~rbere is regular established dietary
for every day, is there not?N
Eyes"
Glow long has it been in force?'
81 don't know positively, but think the
present dietary was adopted alter ..'S
single board of managers was created.
"on receiving the complaint from Dr.
Jones about a month ago, did you make
any investigation"
mo formal investigation"
s.Did ycu visit the kitchens"
.sNo I have no authority in the kit
chens. I reported the matter to the
warden"
aDid you visit any of the dining
rooms after these complaints, three or
four in number?"
Yes"
..Were there any complaints during the
incumbency of Colonel BARLEY?
~only one general complaint that re-
call"