The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-16

when Mr.. Bell committed suicide; that
he knew the patient was suffering from
suicidal mania Witness said that more
stringent rules mad been adopted since
the Bell suicide. He was o witness, he
said before the coroners jury at the
inquest. Witness said Bell had the free
dom OF the grounds in the daytime and
was not then watched. Fe cut MS
throat with a knife.
i Witness said there had been two or
three suicides on the male side since
the Bell suicide. J, a maintained Hall
had hung himself In. the ath- room with
n short cord. IA, nigh wa Gilman Is now
employed TO watch the suicide ward.
f"rhe patients~who get. weil4quickest are
the suicides said Or. Southall.
Witness said he could see no necessity
for night attendants except In the sui
eide wards. He could not express an
opinion about the Improvement OF SAM
tary conditions by night attendants, be-
cause he had had no experience.
DR.. Southall then spoke OF the suicide
of Thomas Fallon and also OF Belfleld.
All four suicides, he said, had taken place
| within two years.
8 In, answer to- q 5ques ton asked BY MT
Ould. witness sald,,. tina tEs there. was nc
uniform reatment Of patients and tha'
there were no consultations held. Wit
ness said he would greatly perfer to
] hold consultations.
When asked why they were not held
witness said he supposed tho board In
I structed the superintendent what to do
Bell Suicide.
Senator sadler then read a certified
copy OF the proceedings held before the
coroner's Jury. In the Bell suicide case,
In which, the statement was made that
Bell came to his death throug b neg gence
OF the hospital authorities
The verdlctsread as follows;S 6
1--WE further find from the evidence
that neither the physlclanyln charge, the
ward attendants nor the night Waterman
we're informed that the said r. e. Bell
was patient OF suicidal tendency. rom
these facts It appears to the Jury that
grave oversight has been committed
by the authorities OF the hospital In not
giving such information and such m
structons as would better protect a
patient committed as one OF marked sui
cIda tendency" y-gS
as first assistant physician and OF his
being made second assistant physician-
at first against his wishes, but later with
his consent, DR.. Southall then said that
Mr.. Cloves told him that he WIS reduced
because Of his rough talk to the members
OF the board. II think there was no
cause said DR.. Southall.
In answer to y question ms to why he
had been on bad terms with the board.
witness said: "BecausoI refused to unite
In a prosecuting OF tho Rev. Mr.. Roberts,
of this city," asay;
Witness went into detail, telling OF the
animosty shown against him by Mr..
Cole and Mr.. Cloves. which ended In his
being reduced from first assistant to sec
ond assistant physician 5E
Church Feud.
Witness said that there was n church
feld In Williamsburg. and that he tha
wItness) refused to Join Mr.. Cole and
Colonel Lane in prosecuting Rev, Mr.
Roberts.
Witness said he mentioned the matter
to Mr., Cloves. who said to him. I'm
sorry you've done that" t.E
1t developed that tho church affairs
and the hospital affairs became very
much mixed. said DR.. Southall. 578#
In answer to question OF Chairman
Sadler, witness said that he and DR.,
Foster had been OH unpleasant terms, but
that at the request OF the board he
made up the difficulty; that he had Of
Tended the board by language he used
Dclplt ~, SIil tliub Aotcl sA'C Wi0tS XII
apology and was elected second assistant
physician. The board, the witness said,
objected to him rs first assistant physi-
clan because he did not carry out the
policy Of DR., Foster, Witness said he
therefore asked the advice OF the assist
ant steward In tho absence OF DR., Fos-
ter, who was very close to DR.. Foster.
DR., Southall said that there was diff
ference OF opinion between DR.. Foster
and himself regarding the management OF
the institution. 55l
The committee adjourned for the day
at O'clock, APP