The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-07-31
Several Witnesses Examined in the
City Hospital Case.
The Evidence Thus Far Il Unfavor-
able to the Matron, Mrs.
Burchett.
ANOTHER SESSION TONIGHT

The board of aldermen met last
night in called session with all men,
bers present except Alderman Boone,
to hear the charges preferred against
Mrs Sarah Burchett, matron of the
city hospital by City Physician Coyle
The call, preferring charges of in
competency, neglect of patients, fail
ure to obey the instructions Of the
city physician and using improper
language towards the inmates of the
hospital against Mrs. Burchett was
read. Another portion of the call,
was for the passage of an ordinance
providing the duties of the chief Of
police, which was given its first read
ing.
Attorney J. Wheeler Campbell APP
peared for the defense and Attorney
L. X. Taylor was the attorney for the
prosecution. Campbo II objected to the
/ AOAnA anu Nlo AAoiAhoA ~ MAANA NAt
charges were drawn up, contending
that the board could not try the case,
as no specific charges had been
preferred, and this is required by
ordinance and charter. The de-
murrer entered by Mr.. Campbell was
overruled and the board proceeded in
to the trial after having been sworn
by the mayor.
The witnesses for the prosecution
were called in and sworn in a body.
DR.. Brooks. chairman of the hos
pital committee in the council, was
the first on the stand, and stated when
asked as to the management of the
hospital that he found the sanitary
condition bad. That there were cob
webs about the rooms, and that the
general sanitary condition was very
bad" DR.. Lillard Sanders, formerly
city physician, said that Mrs. Bur
chett had not given the patients the
proper diet on several occasions and
particularly in case where a patient
was i'll of typhoid fever, and also
stated that her position towards pa
tients was anything but agreeable. "
He said the sanitary condition of the
building was fairly good down stairs
but not ON the upper floor. He
thought, however,: that she did fairly
we'll in the management considering
the compensation she received. In
regard to her obeying his orders he
stated that she was generally obed-
lent.
DR.. Coyle, the present city physi-
clan, preferred the most direct charge
and stated that while he was treating
a girl for an infamed breast, that
Mrs. Burchett refused to apply a
lotion which he had to apply himself,
after she had refused for more than
two days.
He said that while treating patient
who had gangrene set in IN his side,
she did not wash the bedding for
many days and kept the bed very
dirty.
He stated that she did not place the
proper care over typhoid fever pa
tient and for the lack Of watching the
patient los hist life.
The evidence given showed that the
patient should have been watched but
was allowed to be left alone, and
while delirious walked out Of the
room and fell down the stairs, dying
soon afterwards. He stated that she at
first refused to provide warm water |
with which to keep mp the circulation
in a leg that had been amputated, but
Afterwards did agree TO keep the water
heated and poured on the limb as re-
,uested. He said that her general
was anything but
,lessant;" that while he was operat-
ng he asked for whiskey and was
old that there was none in the house,
md that he had prior to this ordered