The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-01-05
Woman Afflicted With the Disease
Taken Out of Cain Street Resort
and put in BasseII Home on Mon
ticelIo Avenue in Still Watches
of the Night.
Case Finally Reported to Health Officers and County
Takes Charge of the Case Blame Attached to
Those Who Removed Her and Not to Authorities
--PeopIe Greatly Incensed.

There is much Indignation, and
righteous 1t is, over the surreptitious re-
moval of a smallpox patient from the
house of in-repute on Cain street, re-
Gently conducted by Josephine Horn
brook, now dead.
The case was not reported to City
Health Officer Peck until Monday, al
though the removal was made Sunday
night. The patient was taken TO the
home of the colored people, named Bas.
sci, on Monticello avenue, where small
pox formerly existed. just at what hour
Of night the afflicted woman was taken
from Cain street to the Basel residence
is not known, but it is believed TO have
been after the hour OF midnight, when
all were sound in slumbcr and there was
slight, II amy, opportunity OF detection in
the act.
1t is altogether probable that a cab
was used in the transfer, and 'tAat faay
furnish a clue in running down the par
ties who thus endangered the health OF
the entire community by a spread of the
disease. That every effort will be put
forth to fully investigate the matter and
punish the guilty parties there should
not be shadow OF doubt, If the city
officials but do their duty.
Some time prior to the removal Of
the woman from Cain street there, ex-
isted another case in the Hornbrook
house, but she recovered and the quaran-
tine was lifted. There was likely some
defect in the disinfection OF the place,
and the second case appeared, but the
city authorities had no knowledge OF it
until after the removal OF the patient,
when it was reported from Bassels.
In addition to this olse, there are
those who think the necessary precau-
tion was not taken when the proprietress
of the house died and the body was ship
ped away on a train. Some doubted the
safety Of shipping the remains from
house that had a contagious disease in
it, but the city health authority made
out certificate and the undertaken ship
ped the body.
At the time the case was transferred
from Cain street to Monticello avenue
DR.. Nelson Peck, the city health officer,
had the smallpox in tine city IN charge,
and, of course, the case was reported 20
him. Afew days prior to this the county
health board held conference with the
city authorities, and il was praekics
decided then that, II the city did 40. de-
sire to handle the smallpox cases, the
county health board would ake entire
charge. After the case had been reported
the mayor saw DR.. c. W. Halternan, the
county health officer, and he, IN turn,
conferred with S. s. Faris, president of
the county court, and it was then def
niteIy determined that the county au-
thorities should assume complete jurts-
diction OF the smallpox in the city, and
DR.. Halterman took charge Of the case
Monday evening. day after the removal.
The impression Is abroad that the
county authorities are to blame, but The
circumstances do not warrant such a con
clusion. Nor were the city officials TO
blame. but the parties who are responsi-
bic for this transfer Of the patient a.e
the ones who are culpable, and every eff
fort should be made TO bring them to
justice.
The patient Is Esther White, and has
been an inmate Of the place on Cain
street some time.
DIR. NJ. J. Bartlett WIS the one who
discovered the case, and reported i to
DR.. Peck. That was his only connection
With the affair.