The Washington times., 1908-11-20
Startling Disclosures of Poor
Equipment at Home
for Aged.
RUSTY
AND CHEST EMPTY
Inquest Over Body of McCroffn
Reveals Lack of Provisions
at District Institution.

Startling testimony was brought out
today at the inquest over the body OF
Martin McCrofin. who was shot and
killed at the District Home for the
Aged az Blue Plains, d. c., showing
that the institution is absolutely desti-
tute Of appliances or other necessary ar
ticIe5 10 be used IN case of injury.
George Mason, an inmate OF the home,
who was accused OF doing the shoot
ing. was held for the grand jury on a
charge Of murder.
The testimony developed that McCrof-
fin did not die Immediately after he had
been snOt by Mason, but the kind OF
surgical treatment which should be
given at such a time could not be sup
piled by the resident physician because
.ot absence OF surgical instruments, and
the wounded man had 10 suffer while
two surgeons were summoned from
Auacostia.
Dr. ". p. Kirby, resident physician
for the home. stated that he reached
the dormitory a few minutes after the
shooting yesterday afternoon. He said
he found McCrossin in d serious con-
dition, and Immediately summoned Dr.
James A. Watson and DR. Blackstone
OF AnaCostia-
Finds No Medicines.
Dr. Watson stated that he found alb
solutely no appliances or medicines for
use In emergency cases.
There was not a drop OF whisky or
even any aromatic spirits OF ammonia
I'm the place so far as ] was able 20
three Old and rusty surgical instru-
ments. / advised taking the wounded
man to the hospital Immediately"
Dr. Blackstone said that when he ar
rived al the home everything seemed TO
be In confusion. and that he agreed with
Dr- Watson that the best thing 10 do
was TO move McCrOfin TO q hospital in
all possible haste
asked on the stand what he had
done, p- Kirby. the resident physician.
replied lIat he had operated on Mason
How did you operate" asked Cor
Ouer Nevitt
Il felt around for the bullet replied
the physician
Prefers to Wait,
Mason wouldn't tax this morning,
prefeTing 10 wait until he sees an at
toney He sat IA his cell in the Fifth
precinct station. with a bandage about
his head, smoking an old pipe; and look
ing generally, as If he was too much
occupied with the thoughts Of old age,
TO worry about the shooting
He hadn't been told that McCrosSin
was dead. the police officials fearing
the effects of shock. The first thing
he asked for was a morning paper, but
beyond that he didn't go. except to ad-
init that he was once prosperous pat
ent attorney, and that he had handled
some big cases
Nv hat were tley2'
"Oh. that was so long ago I've forgot
ten them. / quit that business years
ago" Then he quietly rehlIed his pipe
and resumed smoking
No Previous Trouble.
So far as is known, there was no
trouble between the two OLD men pre-
ceding the fatal affair yesterday, Su-
perintendent Fay, Of the Home for the
Aged. saying that he knew nothing Of
any quarrels.
The shooting took place in the dormi-
tory over which McCrossin had charge,
and in which Mason had his cot. Ac-
cordIng to the stories, Mason, contrary
to the rules OF the institution. came into
the dormitory about o'clock and lay
down on the cot
NcCrOssin, IL is said, demonstrated
with him, and told him that it was
against the rules To IL down on the
cots at that time Of day. McCrossin
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