Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-04
SERGEANT WILLIAMS
MAKES A STATEMENT
Officer Who Ordered Dying Man TAX
en- TO Soldiers Home Tells Town
Fathers Of Circumstances Sur
rounding Case and Attitude OF the
Home officials.

After hearing a statement from
Town Sergeant William r. Williams
last night, the Phoebus town council
unanimously adopte: a resolution
calling upon the war department to
investigate the condition surrounding
the death of Joseph II. Mahaffey. the
civil war veteran who died at the
Phoebus entrance of the National
Soldiers Home several weeks ago.
The resolution urges the war de-
partment to order the investigation
and endorses the action OF DIR. George
X. Vanderslice. the coroner. and Ser
geant Williams in asking for such an
investigation.
The council was getting ready to
adjourn after rather interesting
meeting. when Mr. Williams took the
floor and asked that he be allowed TO
make statement and to bring before
the council a very important matter.
The Grand Army OF the Republic
and Governor Knox. OF the National
Soldiers Home. said Mr. Williams,
have seen fit to place upon the town
of Phoebus and her officers the blame
for the distressing death of Veteran
Joseph II. Mahaffey, and | appeal to
you to adopt a resolution uniting with
us in asking for an investigation by
the war department
Sergeant williams Tells Story.
Mr.. Williams, warming up with
each word, said that he found old
man Mahaffey sitting on the steps OF
the Phoebus jail in dying condition.
The old man told me that he had been
put out there by a hack driver.
realized his serious condition and I'm
mediately looked up the driver and
old him to take Mahaffey back to
the home and to Governor Knox so
that he might receive the proper
treatment The hack driver told me
that he had already been to the home
and that the home authorizes refused
to accept the old man. / insisted
that Mahaffey De taken back TO the
home and that Colonel Knox be APP
praised of his serious condition. The
hack driver left with Mahaffey. He
asked me what to do with the old
man in the event that the home would
not take him in and told MN to put
Mahaffey out at the bridge. but toirst
call Governor knox's attention to the
dying condition of Mahaffey.
Told Lieutenant of Situation.
When the hack left with Mahaffey
called I'D Lieutenant Spillman and
told him what | had done. Lieuten-
ant Spillman replied the governor
knows Mahaffey's condition, but will
IL N
Spillman to have the old man cared
for, explaining that his condition was
serious. Later when found out TINT
the home refused TO receive him the
second time. again called up Lieu
tenant Spillman and told MIN that
Mahaffey was in dying condition at
the gate and received the reply that
nothing could be done for him in the
home.
Il asked Lieutenant Spillman where
me governor was and was told that
the governor was in his Office. ! en-
deavored to communicate with Colonel
Knox by phone, but no one in his
Office would answer
Realizing that something must be
done hurriedly for the old man
went to DR.. Vanderslice and asked
him 10 suggest something, as Phoebus
had no hospital TO give him treat
ment in. DIR. Vanderslice advised that
we arrest Mahaffey as a vagrant and
send him to Jail. although the only
charge against the old man was that
he was in dying condition We
were making out the warrant when
the veteran died.
Wants Board Investigated
Now I see that Governor Knox is
willing to let the board Of managers
Investigate this deplorable death, but
as he says he carried out an order
of the board in refusing to receive
lMahaffey | cannot think that the
board Of managers is the proper
party to determine the matter
Il say this. that II the man who
fought for his country for four years
! is not given the hospital treatment
by act Of the board OF managers. tber
the war department should investigate
the board and the governors, too
simply ask that the council adopt
resolution uniting with D-. Wander
slice and myself in getting this inves
litigation from the war department
When Mr.. Williams TOOK bis sea-
the council unanimously adopted tn
resolution and several of them declar
I'd that the investigation viii be urget
with a determination to have the fact
concerning the death OF Mahaffey got
Item from all sides
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First class Photographic vorh
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