The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-14
,AIl Evidence In and the
Committee Adjourr.nl's
Until Monday.
DOCTORS TESTIFY
FOR THEIR FRIEND
Drs. Johnston, Bosher and Open
himer Declare the Mistake Of
Dr.. Batkins Natural, and
That They Regard Him
a Competent Ply
! 2835ss sician. .5 q ss @


The Committe on Health elst nj hit COM
plcted the hearing Of the case Of Or. l..
p. Batkins, Jr.. one OF the physicians to-
the poor charged by Mr. II. L. Ma
tthcws with negligence, ir1conpetcncy and
drunkenness, and adjourned until next
NIoday night when a decision will be
reached. s.
81 A long list OF witnesses were examined.
among them being Doctors Johnston and
Bosher. whose expert testimony was I 20
tho effect that It Is extremely difficult,
TO discriminate between rheumatism and
#ostevmIletis, and that the mistake OF Or.
Batkins In treating Mr. Nfathews's child
was very natural and common. one
President Oppcnhmer testified that Dr..
3atkins was n skilled physician and q
faithful officer and numbers Of witnesses
said they never knew him1to be under
the influence OF liquor.
DR.. Bntkins testified in his own behalf
and told his side Of the case iils great
detail.
Messrs Meredith and Gordon argued the
matter briefly, and at 1910 tn committee
adjourned until Monday night when a"
report will be formulated.
Paper Offered.
The meeting was called to order at
$40, and Mr.. Gordon on behalf OF Dr.
Batkins, offered In evidence, n paper beai,
Ing signatures of n large number 81
DIR. Batklnss patients, testiiying TO his!
faithfulness sobrlety and efficiency. Mr..
". S. Good win was the first witness. lie
was introduced by Mr.. Meredith On behalf
Of MIR. Mathews. and testified hc. had seen
DIR. Batkins about half shot IN Pat
McDonoughs bar about eight months ago.
He said further that the doctor was
playing cards at the same time. Witness
testified that he saw Dr. J3atkjnbE order
d only 4 wn drinks %and these we're u nsses5
q beer One was for 4 fDr-4Ba kins and
the other for.Alr. McDonougll.,
3&Further questioned. witness said there
were six at the table playing cards, but
he could recall only DR.. 3atkins and Mr..
McDoroueh.
x DR.. Batkins was the first witness for
his side. Examined By his counsel, Mr..
Gordon. he said he had practiced in Mr..
Mathews's family five years as
physician. and about three years as a
paid physician. He testified that while
he was at Mr.. Natews's house to see
the latters baby. his little boy como In
complaining of his knee.
No Bruise Visible.
There was no bruse or abrasion and
the boy said he had had slight chill Z
His diagnosis was that the pain came
from rheumatism. and he treated the
case for rheumatism and he thought II
the boy had received lick It wk'
slight one. and there were other and
prevailing symptoms Of rheumatism.
Witness said he had treated the
case for rheumatism for four weeks,
and until-.thcre was rupture Of tile
knee He then realized his error. and
was sorry for 1t. 1Ic told Mr.. Mathews
he did not object to DR.. Nichols being
called In, but he characterized as utterly
false, the statement Of Mr.. Mathews
that he CDR. Batkins) had removed some
pus from the room and put It In, the
ba III room to keep Or. Nichols from see
Ing what was the trouble with the child,
He said that Mr.. Ma athews got very
angry with him IN the presence Of Or.
Nichols and. cursinE him., declared that
he had n good mind to kill him. Wit
ness then retired from tho cnse. and
since then he knew nothing personally
concerning It,
JIc entered n sweepino denial to the
charge nf drunkenness LODGED AGAINST
him. and declared thotEtho"gh for the,
m at fourteen vrars Il had been his habit
to fake, drink whom hexfelt like It, vet
Ia ind mover. heen drunk. He sa,d when
,,e u,rtadg a drirL ho ,,s"n llv took beer.
Mr.. Gordon oxnm'rcd Dr. f'afElr MS
10 the TESTIMONY given AGAINST him by
enchs of Mr., Mathews witnesses, and
=, --- $500 r, r,,yo 5-E5 FRI