The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-28
Conditions at Hospital
Found Excellent.
DR.. M'KEE SUSTAINED
Though Report Does Not in Words APP
prove His Diagnose, it Commend'
Treatment Given, and Finds That
He Cannot be Criticized I'm
der the Circumstances.

Governor Glenn yesterday made
public the report of the Board of Di-
rectors for the State Hospital of their
investigation into the affairs of the
institution, particularly with reference
to the matter of the death of Thomas
H. Nall. a former patiet. who died
under suspicious circumstances after
an attempt at escape and capture by
attendants.
The report finds that the patients at
the Hospital are treated generally with
the greatest care and intelligence;
that, out side of the Nall case. there
- NJ evidence of any cruel treatment
of any sort.
laid docs not undertake to
give an opinion as to the conduct of
the Ma, attendants on the ground
that such finding III -ght tend to in
fucnce the trial Of the men, who arc
now under charges preferred b.\ the
coroncrs jury of Wake county.
AS to the action o. DIR. T/eKee and
DR. jenkins in the emergency of hav-
ing the patient brought to the hos
pital in dying condition, the board
found that tho treatment given him
was all that was possible. The board
also finds that, while = viii, not state
that the diagnosis Of tho suDerintend-
ent and assistant physician that Nall
died oc dilata:ion of the heart and
over eXertion is correct (there being
a difference on that point of expert
testimony the fact that seven out of
nine experts examined agree in such
diagnosis relieves tho hospital officials
from criticism in not having ordered
an immediate investigation and
autopsy of the remains.
The report in full follows:
Report or Nall Case.
State Hospital at Raleigh, n. c..
September 21st, 1905.
Ito His Excellency, r. b. Glenn:
I'VE have the honor to report that
the Board of Directors for the State
Hospital at Raleigh met in called
meeting at said hospital on Wednes-
day. September 18th. 1905, at ten
o'clock, a. M, every member being
present, including DR.. j. d. Biggs. re-
Gently appointed as successor to the
late lamented J. d. Biggs of Martin
county, who for more than fifteen
years and up to his recent death, most
wOrthily and acceptaoly filled the posi-
ton of chairman of this board. A
letter of date September Sth, 1905,
addressed by you to the members of
this board requesting rs to investi-
gate certain charges contained in the
public press. that one Thomas Fl.
Nall, a recent patient of said hospital,
had come to his death through Vio-
Iencc at the hands of the attendants
employees of said institution, was
read and We Immediately began such
an investigation. We employed Mrs.
Nellie M. Wright. an expert stenogra-
pher, TO take the testimony of all
witnesses, a typewriter copy of which
is herewith transmitted to you as a
part of this report. We also had be-
fore us an identified copy of the evil
dence taken before the coroncr's jury,
which we likewise attach hereto. In
your absence from the State we APP
piled through the Attorney General
for counsel to sit with ana assist us
in the xaminaton of witnesses. but
the Council of State did not see prop
or to grant our request.
THE board. also, acting upon the
suggestion contained in your Excel
1ency's letter. above referred to- made
a thorough investigation of the man
agement of the institution, especially
as to the treatment of the inmates.
from the beginning of the present adj
ministratfon of the hospital to this
time A copy OF said testimony is