Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-21

get II on the record that good many had
come to him about the Hagner case and he
wanted the committee to know something
about it.
Dr. Fitch testified that DIR. Hagner not
only not classed with the other GRIM
inal insane. but received a salary as an
assistant to the parhofogist of the institu-
ton
DR.. Fitch didn't care to express an opinion
as to DIR. Hagner's mental condition, but he
thought the asylum a very good home for
Dr. Hagner at the present time. He
tbeugrta great deal Of the criticism In the
Hagner case and IN various other cases
was absolutely unjust.
ST. Elizabeth's was known throughout the
army and navy as the red house anu
many of those members of the rank and
file who were convicted of various ohenses
became violently insane in order that
they might be sent TO tnat asylum, wnere
recovery and discharge was pretty GER
tain TO be followed by a remission OF some
OF the penalties OF the military pnhish-
ment.
Edgar L. Turner.
Edgar l. Turner of 1o14 18th street north
west a deputy United States marshal for
the last nine years followed DIR. F1tch
on the stand
His duties called him to ST. Elizabeth's
quite frequently-two or three times week.
He had never seen any instances OF cru
city although for eight years ne had peeh
naklng about a hundred visits year. tie
thought on the other hand. that inmates
o. the institution were very kindly treated
He did not know of single confinement
in the asylum that was not ACCORDING 70
die process of law. Mr.. Turner testlneu
that Florence Jordan about whom a good
deal has been said before the committee,
Yves regularly committed Members of the
committee had been told, Representative
Smyser said. that commitments were made
without due process of law. This, MIR.
Turner said was untrue
Mr. Turner said he had been at the hos
pital at meal time and had noticed the
food He considered 1t very good for an
Institution of that kind. He had often
thought, he said that the poor unforsu-
mates at St. Elzabeths were fortunate in
having such fine place to go to.
Miss Rose Herbert.
Miss Rose Herbert, for fourteen years a
nurse at the asylum. was the next witness.
For the past four years she had been in
an epileptic ward. Sometimes she was re-
quired to attend, single handed. to thirty
nine patients. There were not enough at
PENDANTS. The nurse never lived who alone.
Gfiss Herbert said, could care for forty
such patients.
The food was good and substantial. She
had never seen anything but kindness and
attention shown toward the patients, and
nurses and attendants were unusually kind
and considerable. Miss Herbert said this
was true of her entire period of service and
she had worked in every ward in the hospi-
tai. She had never seen restraints used
that she deemed to be cruel, and she mad
never restrained a patient without a ply
sicians order. That was the rule.
Referring again to the lack of attendants,
Miss Herbert said 1t was impossible for
one nurse to give forty patients the atten-
ton they deserved.
Miss Herbert denied that nurses and at
PENDANTS used or kept clothing and other
Nj to fnnfc Fhn tnl
the committee that she lived at the Nurses
Home, and that 1t was a very comfortable
place. But there were various irksome re-
strictiOns that made things less agreeable
than would otherwise be the case. The
food at the institution was good and sub
staulial. There had been shortage in the
sugar supply since last January. Miss Her
bert criticised an order issued by SuDerin-
tendent White instructing nurses to store
their trunks in the basement of the Nurses
Home, leaving them no place for their per-
sonal effects.
Referring again to the food problem, Miss
Herbert said there had been no fruit pur-
chased for the institution In several years
Formerly the patients got lemons. oranges
etc. Now the get only fruit in season, of
the farm.
Answering Representative Smyser, Miss
Herbert said DR.. Whites rules and regula-
lions constituted an indignIty.
Amy lady OF refinement responsible
enough TO care for the irresponsible Is re-
sponsIble enough to care fer herself re-
marked Miss Herbert fuently.
Favoritism.
The witness gave several instances OF al
legged fayoritism shown by DIR. White to
nurses who came here from Binghamton.
n. Y, where Dr. White was formerly in
charge. Miss Herbert criticised various of
DR.. Whites appointments of nurses ana
attendants in the hospital Complaints to
DR. White resulted in the statement that
length of service didn't count"