Evening star., 1909-06-19
BACKS EARLY'S CLAIM
Prison Warden Says He Has
Acid Poisoning.
HAS SEEN SIMILAR CASES
Many Like Him in Moundsville,
Capt. Dawson Declares.
AWAITING ANSWER TO LETTER
Health officer Has Not Yet Heard
From New York officials Re-
garding Removal There.
AWAITING ANSWER TO LETTEl

The claim of John r. Early. nuaran-
tined on the Eastern branch rs leper.
that he is suffering from acid poisoning
rather than from leprosy, received much
substantiation today as result of a
visit paid to the leper colony by Capt. c.
g. Dawson. deputy warden of me
Moundsvire penitentiary.
Capt. Dawson declares that there are
many men in the prison who are suffering
from acid poisoning; that he has seen
many of the Workmen in mills where
acids are used. and that he Is familiar
with the general effect of acid poisoning
on the skin.
And, while he is not physician, he de-
clared that Early's trouble seems to be
identically the same as that which he
has observed among prisoners and work
men who have been poisoned by the acids
with which they worked.
Capt Dawson came to this city with
woman prisoner for st. Eliza beth's Hos
pital. After he had turned her over to the
superintendent of that institution he was
escorted to the Early home on the East
ern branch.
He had long talk with the patient in
regard to Early's work In the pulp mills
of North Carolina. and examined the dis
colored sections of skin about Darly's legs
and arms carefully.
''This seems to me to be identically the
same as I have seen among the mill
workers of Virginia who have acid pois-
onins and like prisoners in Moundsville
who the doctors say are suffering from
acid poisoning declared Capt. Dawson,
after his examination.
Has Seen Similar Cases.
Early" he continued. "There are pris-
u <l,
this man, and they go about their regu-
lar work and associate with the other
prisoners. We have one prisoner who
has been in the same cell with another
man for some time and the second pris-
oner has not been affected at all
"The affected parts of Early's skin look
identically the same as those on the men
/ have seen, who work with acid in the
mills of West Virginia. and who have
acid poisoning"
Capt Dawson said lie was very fa-
miliar with the condition of one of the
prisoners, named John P. Barser, who is
serving a life sentence on a charge OF
murder. Barger was a strikebreaker in
West Virginia several years ago. when
the cries of ''Scab" angerod him so much
that he shot one of the men who referred
to him as such. Barger, says Capt. DaW-
poisoning, and Earlys complaint seems
to be the same. Barger has been in a
cell with another prisoner since his con-
finement. II is explained. and there has
been no spread of the disease.
A picture Of this prisoner has been sent
to Benjamin S. Minor. attorney for
Early, but Mr.. Minor will not say for
what purpose he has secured the photo
graph.
Woodward Awaiting Reply.
The negotiations between Health Officer
W. C. Woodward and the representatives
of Early have not yet come to a success
full conclusion. Health officer Woodward
declared this morning that he has written
TO the boards of health Of the state and
city of New York asking them if they are
willing to have Early enter hospital in
the metropolis. but he has not yet re-
ceived a reply.
From other sources. it is learned that
letters have been forwarded to this city
presumably to the legal representative OF
Early, showing that the two boards Of
health will not object to the removal Of
Early to New York. These are expected
to be placed In the hands of the local
health Office soon.
With this phase of the matter settled, it
is understood that the parties to the ne
gotiati0ns have now only to agree upon an
the body OF early. As soon as that has
been accomplished. 1t is believed, Early
will be free to- go to New York.
AS to the means of transporting Early
to the metropolis, Health Officer Wood
ward said today that the public health
and marine hospital service will deter
mine that matter. That bureau has
| charge of interstate quarantine and.
therefore. It's proper Jurisdiction is to see
| that Early is transported in way that
is regarded safe TO all along the route.
Early's pension of ST. per month will.
II is declared be affected by the decision
as to whether or not he is a leper. 1t Is
not thought that his removal to New
York simply will cause reduction of the
| monthly stipend which the patient re-
| ceives from Uncle Sam. But if he is de-
clared not to be suffering from leprosy,
the diagnosis viii have an important eff
feet on the pension, which Is granted on
the ground of total disability.
! The following additional candidates.