The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-14
BACKES HAS
DR.. EVANS ON
GRlDIRON
fcontlnuea from Fir.t Page.,

Witness claimed that Mitchell, an at
tendant, whom Beatty charged with
beating him, after hearing that he was
charged with the brutality, said he
would make an affidavit hal he hao
never mistreated Beatty in m way
He said, however, that he would mol
stay there to be arrested. He Their
went away
DR.. Evans then told the committee
that Beatty had made other charges
against the attendant. saying he had
been poisoned and ill-treated in Other
ways, and that Mitchell should have
been shot while at Beatty's home.
Mitchell was not at the home OF
Beatty, and witness held that these
statements were insane Authorizations
of Beatty. He claimed, therefore. that
the charge Of beating on the day he
arrived in the hospital were also hall
lucinations. Witness claimed that in
fact the fracture could not have taken
place in the hospital. as it would take
about six months for the ribs to unite
as these were found to have lone. The
charge in the Beatty case was that he
was beaten on the day he was taken TO
the hospital.
MI. Backes now TOOK up a technical
investigation of the injuries of Beatty,
and DR.. Evans insisted that the con-
dition of the patient was entirely IN
line with his theory that the ribs had
been fractured some time before.
There was a little tilt between Chair
man Hahn and DR.. Evans. Witness
wanted to explain in connection with
some of his nswers Mr.. Hahn tried
to restrict him to direct W DR..
Evans insisted that the hospital should
have a fair show. Mr.. Backes said
there was no disposition to be unfair.
Mr.. Backes then referred to a patient
at Morris Plains, William E. Bird by
name. DR.. Evans said Bird had vio-
lent delusions that he was being per-
secuted and in consequence had threat
ened to murder people.
In answer to another question wit
ness said he would not believe the tes-
tjmony of Bird, because of these delu-
sions. He said, however, he would give
credence to tho word of some or MS
patients.
''Then you do not agree with Or.
Ward. of the Trenton asylum, that all
men are insane remarked Mr.. Backes.
mo, I do not agree with anybody on
that; it is getting too near home" was
the reply.
Counsel now took up the case of one
Castalami, who died at the hospital
last July. NDr. Evans said he was SUI
fering from epileptic commissions HIS
violent fits were frequent.
Mr.. Backes asked If John Coleman,
chief male supervisor at Morris Plains,
does not conduct a livery stable In
Morristown. DIR. Evans said that was
not true. DIR. Evans explained that
Coleman, brother of John, WHO'S
a minor attendant, takes his horse and
carriage from a livery stable and drives
private patients out. He charges a dol
lar an hour.
Mr.. Backes sought to show that Coleman
has extorted money from patients by fore
ing them to go driving. DR.. Eva DIS
puted this. and said If such a charge had
been made It was a base libel on an hon.
est man. Witness claimed that these pa
tents were driven out on the request OF
relatives, the relatives paying the bill.
Coleman does some of the driving, but not
in the time he is working at the hospital,
The next tack of Mr.. Backes was to IN
quire into charges of absenteeism on the
part of DIR. Evans. File said there had beef
newspaper criticism covering this. w.t.
ness said there was nc basis for any of the
charges.
Mr.. Backes referred to the Thaw case,
in which DIR. Evans was an expert witness.
Evans said thai during the Thaw trial
he was attending to his Morris Plains
duties from four to seven hours a day. He
insisted thai the hospital had not suffered
by his work In this trial. Witness claimed
that he had the full consent of his board
of managers before he went into the trial.
DIR. Evans admitted that he had been an
expert witness in three other murder cases
outside this State, but had only been away
from the hospital a short time in each.
Witness said his salary is $500 a year,
and he has not had a vacation in fifteen
wears. His attendance at the Thaw trial
was on time which might nave been his
vacation, did you act as witness in these
trials as a matter of justice"' he was
asked.
You would be offended If | asked you
a question like that. Don't you think you
had better withdraw that question:" he
replied.
Mr.. Backes now dug into the matter of
the award of a contract for furnishing a
acknowledgements apparatus for the mems
department at the hospital. The board paid
Sc. 200 for this, and DIR. Evans. by letter,
solicited bids from three makers. Counsel
sought to show that discrimination had
been Shown by the managers in awarding
This contract. DIR. Evans, in strong Ian
guage, disputed this. He declared that the
charge was false and should not pass un-
challenged. There is a law prohibiting the
sale Of Intoxicating liquors within two
miles of the hospital.
Mr.. Backes asked If this law was not
being violated. DR.. Evans admitted that
some six months or so ago he learned that
grocers were coming near the grounds to
peddle beer and soft drinks. Beer and
whiskey bottles lave been found on the
grounds. DIR. Evans said he had taken the
matter up ms had written to the dealers
warning them against the practice, and a
special officer was detailed on the case. In
one instance DR.. Evans said a patient
was found intoxicated and was deprived
OF his parole.
When the committee ~reconvened DR..
Evans was still on the stand. Mr.. Backes
began by asking the witness concerning the
dietary. DR.. Evans said there had been
considerable complaints on the part of the
inmates of the monotony of the dietary.
He insisted on making an explanation
with his answers but Mr.. Backes refused
to allow this. DIR. Evans was inclined to
get excited, which caused Mr.. Backes to
say:
Don't lose your head, doctor"
II am not losing my head, but | can
see why you insist IN cutting me off" an
swcred. "Yot are inquiring tlnto a great