The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-14
Directors of State Hos.
pitaI Met Yesterday.
Session Devoted to Examining Atten
dants Generally. DR.. J. N. Taylor
and Other Nall Witnesses Sum-
moned. Board Desires 10 Hear
From Any Complaints.

The Board of Directors of the state
Hospital which is to investigate the
conduct of affairs at that institution
and, especially, the death of Thos. H.
Nall, the insane, patient who died ac-
cording to the verdict of coroner S
jury as the result of blows inflicted
by attendants of the hospital, met
at the institution at ten o'clock yester-
day morning.
The board first proceeded to elect
as chairman, Mr.. John w. Thompson,
of Raleigh, to succeed the former
chairman, J. d. Biggs, of Wilmington,
now deceased.
All of the directors were present at
the meeting with the exception of DR..
w. H. Whitehead, of Rocky Mount,
who arrived in the city in the after
noon.
Although number of the hospital
attendants were examined by the
board, the Nall matter was not
touched upon yesterday. but will prob
ably be taken up today. In this con-
nection DR.. j. NJ. Taylor. of Pitts
boro, who conducted the autopsy on
the remains of Nall and on whose
testimony the verdict of the coroner S
jury was largely based was summoned
to attend the meeting of the board
and is expected in Raleigh today.
other witnesses in the Nall matter
have also been summoned and will
be closely examined.
Beginning with the lowest, the en-
ployes of the hospital were summoned
before the board separately and ques-
toned as to treatment OF patients with
the especial view OF aScertaining any
action taken towards them of a cruel
nature either by way of punishment
or otherwise. For short while after
the meeting of the Board Superin-
tendent Mckee was present, but later
he retired. leaving the board to ex-
anime the witness before it with no
one else present save the stenogra-
pher.
The testimony which was taken
yesterday and all that to be taken at
future hearings in the investigation
is reported geographically and will
when completed be laid in full before
Governor Glenn.
The board wishes it known that they
will be glad to communicate and re-
ceive testimony from any person who
has any complaint to make or evil
dence to give relative to the treat
ment of patients or conduct of the
hospital since the administration of
Dr.. Mckee commenced.
The Boards intends to make a thor
ough and searching investigation of
the affairs of the Hospital and to that
end will appreciate the action of any
one who may call their attention to
any abuses or mistakes in manage
ment obtaining under the present adj
miniStration.
A telephone message to the hospital
yesterday morning asking whether or
not the meeting of the board was
private elected the response from one
giving the name of Hardesty that it
was. Chairman Thompson stated last
night, however, that the question OF
whether the meetings should be open
to reporters or not had not come un-
der discussion and had not been de-
cided.
Unable to Get Counsel.
Realizing the Importance of the
work in hand and the necessity of act
ing legally in the conduct of their eX
animation. the Directors desired to
have counsel to direct and aid them in
the investigation and requested the At
torney General to sit with and adj
wise them during its progress M.
Gilmer however, is busily engaged
both with his work before the Su-
preme Court and in defending the in
terests of the State in the habeas cor
puS proceedings De1Ofe Judge Turnei,
which affect the Police Justices courts
of the State and the road systems Of
many counties He was therefore un-
able 10 act and the Directors then re-
quested that he name counsel to be
employed. question arising as TO
the power to make such employment
the Council of State met and after
discussion decided that they did not
have authority to employ the counsel
no
appointed at the decision but there