Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-12
INJURED WOMAN
MAY YET RECOVER
DRS. BROWN AND FAIRCHILD
REFUTE STATEMENTS
Ample Explanation Is Made Concern
ing the Delay In Removal of Mrs.
Newton to a Private
Hospital

injured by fall from a Central av-
enue car Sunday night, was resting
comfortably at the Good Samaritan
hospital last night.
Mrs. Newton's skull is fractured and
she has deep cash over her right eye.
Considerable discussion was caused
by the accounts of the accident and
subsequent removal of Mrs. Newton to
the hospital after she was injured.
Patrolman Timmons, who arrived at
the house where Mrs. Newton was ly-
ing suffering from her wounds, called
the police ambulance. When the am
bulance arrived a controversy arose
about where the injured woman should
be taken. The driver is said to have
defined to take the woman anywhere
other than to the receiving hospital.
DR.. w. l.. Brown, who had charge of
the case, declared the womans rel
atives did not want her taken to the
receiving hospital, but asked that she
be taken to private institution.
The controversy ended when the po
lice ambulance departed from the scene
without the injured woman. She was
subsequently removed to the Good Sam
aritan hospital in a private ambulance.
Dr. w. l.. Brown and DR.. Fairchild
both declare the police report of the
incidents connected with any alleged
delay in the case as untrue, and their
statements go to show that their po-
sition in the matter was entirely right
and proper. In fact. DIR. Brown is a
physician of established reputation in
the neighborhood, and 1t could not be
believed that he had been guilty of de-
laying attention to a serious case upon
a mere technicality DR.. Fairchald is
a younger physician, but we'll and fav-
orably known, and he comedies with
r.,N TO- rN,-N IL
by the police, who do not appear to
have understood the situation.
BY DR.. Brown
DR.. Browns statement is as follows
'I was ill at home Sunday evening
when a telephone message reached me
telling me of the accident on Central
avenue, and asking me to come i'm
mediately. When L arrived there. I
found DR.. Fairchild properly attending
to the case. After an examination of
the woman I said to the doctor that
thought she was seriously injured and
that she ought to be at once removed
to hospital And inasmuch as l know
her to be q working woman of small
means, L thought matters should be
arranged so that the street railway
company would pay the hospital bills.
The doctor agreed
II telephoned to the Superintendent
of the Los Angeles railway, who said
the company's surgeon was already on
the way to the scene.
about this time a recently appoint
ed officer, in citizens clothes, arrived
and notified me that he would send
for the police ambulance at once.
told him he would do no such thing
unless the woman's relatives desired
him to do it. l then turned to the wo-
mans brother-in-law, who was present, |
with the pastor of her church, and
asked If they wanted her removed to |
the receiving hospital. The brother-n- |
law said no; that he wanted her taken |
to private hospital and he would be |
responsible for any expense.
"rhen I told the policeman what the
relatives had said He threw back his |
coat, pointed to his star and answered. |
You don't have to tell a policeman |
what to do He telephoned for the |
city ambulance.
''In the meantime the company's |
surgeon, DR.. Hutchinson arrived, made |
an examination and said the woman
should be sent to some hospital. 1 !
asked him if the company would pay
the bill. He answered that he could
promise nothing until it was ascer-
tained whether the company was re-
sponsble for the accident If it was, it
would pay the bill.
by this time the city ambulance had
arrived and the driver began taking out
his stretcher. I told the policeman
and the driver that DR.. Fairchild and
I, on the expressed wish of the rela-
tives of the woman, would have her
sent to the Good Samaritan hospital,
and if the city ambulance would con-
vey her there that I would personally
pay the bill. The driver answered that
it was not the business of the city am"
bulance to carry patients to private
hospitals, and he refused my offer.
Then the policeman said to me: I will
make it hot for you' I told him
was able to take care of myself. and
that ! knew my rights as a physician
DR.. Hutchinson telephOned for a priv
ate ambulance and DR.. Fairchild and
attended the woman to the Good Sam
aritan hospital.
"This morning I called at the police
station and stated the facts to the cap
tain in charge, who told me that / did
exactly right. and that il is the bust
ness of the city ambulance to convey
an injured person to a private hospital |
when requested to do so. He said in
structions to that effect are posted i'm
each ambulance, and he attributed the
occurrence Of Sunday night to the fact
that the department is dealing with
many new officers who do not as yet
quite understand their business"
By Dr. Fairchliu
Dr. Fairchild makes the following
statement:
"As soon as DR. Brown came to the
house where Mrs. Newton was removed
after the accident, | asked him to re-
main, as both Of us would be needed.
He at once called up the superintend-
ent of the Los Angeles Railway COM
pany and was told that the company
physician was ON the way out and an
ambulance would he sent at once, and
for us to take charge until the physi-
| ian arrived. Dr Hutchinson soon ar
Ajsed and examined the patient, ana
IA for us TO keep the case.
son the refusal of the driver Of
'ce ambulance to take the pa
where than to the receiving
Orlr Hutchinson telophoned
la Hnce to take the patient
Samaritan hospital, where
s wished her to go.
10 most emphatically deny
that Dr. Brown treated mel
hut a very pourtpOus tnaDppr