The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-13
HOUCK'S CHARGE OF FRONT
Ispecial to ..The Jersey clty News..l

Especial to ''rhe Jersey City News.'l
TRENTON, Aug. 13, 1901-The COMMITTEES
investigating the condition of affairs at
the State Hospital was rather later than
usual in getting started yesterday on ac-
count of delay in getting to the hospital
and when the inquiry was begun it was
with the avowed determination of ex-
pediting matters as far as possible
There were present as heretofore Gov
ernor Voorhees, with Judge Thompson,
DR.. Baldwin and Mr.. Andrews of the
committee, Edwin Robert Walker, repre-
senting the committee; James Buchanan,
counsel for Warden Hayes, and John H.
Backes. who appeared for number OF
the attendants. DR.. Ward, DR.. Felty,
DR.. Allen and DR.. Cort of the medical
staff were all interested spectators.
Supervisor William H. Wynn of the
west wing was the first witness called,
and his hesitation and the time taken in
considering apparently simple questions
made the committeeman a trife i'm
patient.
Don't take so long in making explana-
tons" said Judge Thompson when Wynn
showed disposition to avoid a straight
forward question propounded by Mr..
Backes.
Supervisor Wynn was first taken in
hand by Mr.. Walker and questioned as
to his duties at the hospital.
.'State your duties in connection with
the food said Mr. Walker
ITO see that the food furnished is
proper that it is properly served and that
there is plenty of it," replied the super
visor.
Ibid you ever go in the kitchen?'
Every seldom
Have you no duties regarding the
kitchen?'
None
How often have you been in the kit
chen?"
81 was called in there once officially"
'tWhen were you there last?"
ST was sent for by Mr.. Jones'"
.why?"
ITO examine some soiled dishes sent
out from the dining ROOM
"All the dishes are soiled when they
leave the dining room, are they not?"
''They should not be; they are washed
in the dining ROOM"
.'By whom?"
t'By the attendants and patients"
Ibid you ever go into the kitchen be-
fore the complaint was submitted to Dr.
Ward?"
mo; not officially"
"How do you make out your reports
concerning the food?"
by observation and what I see in the
dining room
''Do you go in there every day at some
time?"
ST do.''
s'Have you always done so?"
81 have
s'Do you observe and report as to the
quality as well as the quantity of food?''
"I do"
BY Judge Thompson-"You have seen
the statements of the attendants which
nre at variance with the reports. Are
your reports correct or their state
ments?''
Eyes; mine are correct"
BY Mr.. walker-"Do you know of your
own knowledge that their statements are
not true?"
mo complaints were made to me at the
time" replied the witness rather ambig-
uously and after hesitating for some
time over the question.
Have you ever seen improper food
served?"
mot in our dining room. I saw some
meat in June that was bad and was taker
TO Or. Jones. l also saw some bad mea'
at another time, but 1t was not served"
BY Judge Thompson-"W called YOU
attention to this meat?"
Harry Culbertson."
Have you received any other com
plaints?"
.sThere have been complaints of the lacl
of variety"
mot of the quality?"
mo"
..Have you ever heard of any othe'
eomplaints?"
81 heard of the making out Of the com
plant to DR.. Ward: at least heard o
Ats being made out"
.Did you express surprise?"
Yes
ssWhat did you say?"
ST said to Beard, who had charge O
the dining room, that I thought it shoult
have been made to me-"
what passed between you and Beard! 8
II asked what the trouble was He salt
the food was not fit to eat; that it wa;
not cooked, and rotten. asked why M,
attention had not been called to this, ant
he said he didn't know"
Did anyone else ever complaint"
Another attendant.
what about?a
"A number Of things.the meat. pota
toes. peaches. prunes and osiaer things