The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-17
Hot Passage Of Words Be-
tween Superintendent
and Commissioner.
WARM HEARING
OF COMMITTEE
Dr. Foster Says Boards Lawyer
Not Only Prosecuted Him, But
| Prosecuted Him - Turned
Storehouse into Bar-room."
Board Adjourns Until
January goth.
Especial From stan Correspondent

Especial From Staff correspondsnt.J
WILLIAMSBURG. Va, January ls.--As
Wild and exciting as any of the spec,acu-
Jar scenes that took place at the former
Inquiry into the Eastern State Hospital
management were those here to-day, and
(hore were times when 1t looked as
Shough there would be personal clashes.
There were two distinct sensations, one
being an effort By Colonel Lawless to
chow that Dr. o. G. Brlnk had practical
j. been selected superintendent by the
board members before the evidence Ia the
Foster inquiry had been placed IN their
hands. and the other fiery and exciting
episode in the afternoon, In which DR..
Foster and Colonel Lane were the prin-
.rIpals.
Sweeping charges were made by Dr.
Foster, who was on the stand against
Colonel Lane and Mr.. II. D. Cole the
local member OF the board. and the climax
rame when Colonel Lane started across
Line table. saying:
You ara doing be n serious injus-
tice. sYou are making false state
ment about me, and you know 1t Is
lie when you make 1t
Later on Or. Foster said he did not
mean to intimate that Colonel Lane In
drawing money for travelling expenses
rroin the funds OF the hospitals in add.
ZION to the $3.50 fixed by the last Legis-
lature, was deliberately attempting to
rob the State. and that his testimony
must not be so understood In view OF
this statement. Colonel Lane withdrew
1iis remarks concerning Or. Foster, but
went on the stand later TO answer othee
references made by the superintendent
20 himself While the controversy was
pn there was intense excitement in
cameron Hall, and tho news spread
throughout the city, bringing TO the night
session the largest crowd that has ever
attended the hearing at any time.
use of Private Marks.
Dr. Foster was on his examinati tion-in-
rhiaf and WAS asked by Colonel Iawiess
n he had ever criticized the special board
OF tho hospital He declared that he had
criticized n member of the board for
festify!ng that he had never sold corn TO
the hospital, when he had sent SIS worth
10 the farm. He had not thought 1t right
when contracts were to be awarded for
Sfessrs Cloves and Cole TO go through
the room with duplicate marks in their
hands, indicating that certain bidders
would get the contracts.
Witness had objected TO the summary
removal OF the whiskey for the hospital
from the drugroom to the storeroom. un-
der orders from Messrs. Cole and Cloves.
Especially when OH one occasion he said
Colonel Lane had brought his friends
TO the storeroom and turned 1t into
bar-rooni. He had criticized the general
board for asking the four hospitals to
pay Colonel Lanes expenses over and
above the 5000 allowed by the Legislature,
Yor he did not think this was according
10 law.
Members reminded DIR. Foster that this
was done under an opinion of the author
fly of the Attorney-General. but things
grew warmer and warmer until the
GliInax was reached.
Montague Responsible.
Or. Foster left the stand tempora.
psty to allow Drs. Bryan and Mcclure
60 testify. and when he came back he
said the hospital for the last three
years had been monopoly, run by
one family, and that former Governor
Montague was responsible for this
condition.
The first sensation came when Colonel
Iawless introduced DR.. o. c. Br,nk. who
the board elected superintendent. He did |
not testify for what Colonel Lawless |
wished to prove was excluded. 1t was
that DR.. Brunk had been approached by |
members OF the general board and ask
ed to take the place before the testimony
had been read.
This was ruled out. and members de-
MED that any such thing had been done.
Messrs. Bland and Turk were indignant.
They wanted the matter gone into, for
they said 1t reflected upon the members.
Colonel Turk knew OF no secret confer
ences and said he was one member who
never got into them
The board adjourned to meet in Rich
mond January Goth, when argument will
be heard and decision rendered,
Morning Session.
The hoard assembled at 1880 o'clock
and Col Iawless entered n formal pro-
test against Mr., Straus, member OF
tho board; passing 1udgmend ne, dl upon n ths hIs
home in Richmond at night, and has
missed two night sessions, and there
fore. failed to hear the evidence then
taken. Members said it was matter
largely for Mr.. Straus to determine
They supposed the evidence would be
available, and read by tho members
from Richmond held his seat. and said
nothing.
Col. Lawless said he wished it under
ended The objection was formal and
was made to save, another point for the
some, further proceeding In his case
Col, Lawless offered, in evidence the
of be of se q
be Z. 1903, In which it appears that
Mr.. Cloves offered q resolution which
was adopted, fixing DR. Fosters house
assistant physicians at So each. An
other resolution was read. with tho
record ndopted by former hoard com
mending DIR. Foster as an officer in
the highest terms,
Miss ociee Jones, matron Of tho hospi-
tai. was the first witness. Shey testi
fed that DR.. Foster. had always beens
attentive to the patients. fT
TT. M, Sweeney. travelling agent for
the hospital, testified as to the sur
hciency of food He substitutes every
other Sunday for Supervisor Trevulian.
He had seen a scarcity of food, but this l.
was always remedleh. If meal was
short he would send to the house
keeper. and she would generally sup-
Continued on Third PaseA J.,