The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-04
Such is Burden of Testimony Taken B Special leg
 isIatiVe Committee
WITNESSES DESCRIBE
 DEATH IF JOHNSON
Former Nurses Testify That Other State Hospitals a High Regard for the System Employed
 In Alabama.

Tuscaloosa, September s.-(Special.)-- The investigation commission resumed It's session at the hospital today with all the members in attendance and the days work was particularly interesting. Sew eral ex-nurses were examined and tue burden of their testimony was that they had never seen any cruelties practiced on any patients; that the food was ade- uuate and that the hospital management was much thought of in all other hospi- tals. There was testimony to the ef- feet that other state hospitals would take Alabama nurses without examina- ton their connection with the Alabama institution being a sufficient recommenda- ton.
 particularly interesting witness was G. B. Winters, about whom so many accusations of cruelty have been made. Mir. Winters gave straightforward ac- count of how dangerous patients were handled and denied every charge that had been brought against him of cruelty. He often said that even if he had wanted 10 abuse q patient he knew how strict
  and this would have restrained him.
 He was closely questioned about in dividual cases and refuted the charge that salt had been rubbed in a patients wound by explaining how a patient in dying condition was given an injection of Saline solution by pr. Rudolph, of the hospital corps of physicians
 Jordan Testifies.
 witness celhd was A. x. Joi dan, barber from Gordo. who had formerly been nurse, who testified that he had worked as a nurse in the state hospitals in Kansas Texas, Oklahoma; that the feet that nurse coming to one of these hospitals from the Alabama nos pital was a recommendation, and that the latter hospital was highly regarded.
 He said further that he had never seen any cruelty or any unnecessary violence used at this hospital that he thought the management here was about the same as that in the other hospitals he had worked in.
 T. w. Etheridge, who had recently re- signed to accept government position at Greensboro was next called. 1t de- veloped that this was not the Etheridse against who charges of violence and cruelty had been made in some former testimony. Witness stated that he mad never seen a patient mistreated; that he had seen violent patients handled by nurses and carried to the cross halls but had never seen any of them beaten IT struck. He stated taht the custom was to close in on the patient and hold him and then force him into the cross hall; stated further that nurses from this place were admitted into the Arkansas hospital without further examination; that other hospital authorities approved of the methods in adoption at the Alabama in- stitution; that he thought the food sup ply adequate and that it was just about what given in othef similar institu- tions; that he did not think the food was any better now than when the investiga- tion started.
 Death of Johnson.
 The next witness called was V. B. Win ters, about whom so many sensational charges have been made heretofore, one of which was that he was responsible for the death of Richard Johnson of Chambers county. He related the incl dents preceding the death of Johnson, be- ing very closely question inregard to each one enumerated.
 He stated that he had never kicked or struck Johnson, that the latter was a weak man and no one would have had the heart to beat him. That Johnson was poisy and talkative, but feeble and that he had never abused him at all that when Johnson was seized with the at tack preceding his death witness called Holman to assist him and they carried Johnson to the cross hall: that he then died about two hours after the saline soluticn was injected.
 Witness strenuously denied that any salt was ever rubbed into any of his wounds that he thought only one saline infection had been given. The witness was closely questioned in regard to all Of this testimony, especially as to the appearance of the patients stomach after the injection was given. He stated further that he had never struck the patient Hines; that Hines was never In his ward: that he had never struck the patient Paulk: he had, how ever been struck by patients time and time again. He denied the charge of cruelty made by H. M. Harton of Bir- mingham, that witness had been cruel to | him and stated that Harton was in the | cross hadd all the time he was in the | hospital; that Harton was very abusive | and had threatened to kill Dr. Searcy. |
 Discharged for Drinking. Witness stated that he had been con- | Victed of manslaughter and had served | nine months in the mines on account of | a difficulty he had had with a man | named Griggs; that in a scuffe in which | he and Griggs became involved the lat | ter was hurt and died afterwards; that | he was pardoned by Governor Johnston; that all of this occurred four years before | he came to the hospital for employment
 Witness stated further that he had been discharged from the hospital for drink ing; that he was not a regular drinking man and only took drink occasionally; | that he had never seen a bottle brought | into the hospital. He testified further that he had been attacked by patients a number of times: that he never touched | Harton after he came to the hospital. but had helped to lead him up and down the