New-York tribune., 1901-11-15
INVESTIGATION AT BELLEVUE.
CHARGES MADE AGAINST AN ATTENDANT.
WHO HAS RESIGNED.

It transpired yesterday that sensation is en-
sagin., the attention of those in charge of Belle
vue Hospital. A week ago William j. Paul. an
attendant of the insane pavilion, was discharged
for conduct unbecoming in his position Al
ter his dismissal Paul made certain charges IN
writing to DR.. George T. Stewart, the superin-
tendent of the institution against h NJ. wright
principal attendant of the insane ward Ihese
charges were to the effect that in this depart
rnent patients i'll treated. and that the
clothing which belongs to the institution and is
furnished 10 the inmates was stolen. Dr. Stew
art believed that the charges were OF such
nature as to demand an investigation, and has
been conducting a secret one. Several attend
ants have been summoned before him as wit
nesses. In his charges 1t is said Paul accused
Wright Of stealing a pawn ticket from pa
tent obtaining ring thereby and selling the
ring to its owner.
Wednesday afternoon John w. Keller. Com
missioner of Charities. visited the pavilion, and
hearing the charges questioned Wright in re-
gard to them. The latter took offence at what
the Commissioner said and soon as Mr.. kel-
ler left the building he rendered his resignation
to DR., Stewart.
Mr.. Keller was seen at the Democratic Club
last evening. He admitted that Paul had been
discharged and that he had seen Wright on the
previous afternoon and had arHed him a few
questions and added: II did not insult him. nor
did l accuse him OF being dishonest. Paul in his
letter said that OF the patients Ill
treated and that Wright had offered TO sell him a
ring which he believed he had came by dishonest
ly, He also said that property belonging TO the in
stitution had disappeared | asked Wright about
the charges and if he could prove his innocence.
He said that his books would be found correct.
and told him that that proof. books
could be made to appear all right. 1 also men
toned the ring. Dr. Stewart is now holding a
secret investigation but nothing has been proved
yet"
Mr. Wright by Tribune reporter
last evening at his home. No. 345 East Eighty
fifth-st., and his statement coincded with Mr..
Keller's in its essential points. He said:
THE whole thing started as matter OF spite
the part of Paul because l have once twice
reported him to DR.. Young. who is in charge OF
the insane department at Bellevue. for being
insubordnate and defiant A day two after
Paul dismissed DIR. Stewart accused me OF
whose name l do not remember. This patient
had thirty-two tickets his person when he
was brought in. and this was recorded in the
property book. Later only thirty-o tickets
could be accounted for. l also charged
with misappropriating clothing from the insti-
tuition and charging it up to the patients as they
went away. Last night Mr.. Keller asked me
about the charges. and | considered that wha t
he said about the books equivalent to being
called dishonest, and so l resigned"
Mr.. Wright said that time ago he had
sold Paul a ring for 81 30. if he remembered
rightly, which ring had been given him by a
patient he had cared for in Washington. and
that Paul had taken advantage of this crcum-
stance to accuse him of stealing the pawn ticket.
Paul Is now employed at Sailors Snug Harbor,
Staten Island