Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-09
DIES WHILE WIFE
SEEKS ORDER TO
VISIT HUSBAND
DEATH TAKES PLACE WHEN
WOMAN is IN COURT
HOSPITAL REFUSES ENTRANCE
TO SICK ROOM
Mrs. S. w. Whitney Of Pasadena De-
clares Spouse Was Removed from
His Home Without Her
Knowledge

While Mrs. Sarah Ware Whitney OF
Pasadena was seeking the aid or the
superior court yesterday to compel Of
ficiaIs of the California hospital 10 per
nit her to enter the room of her dying
husband, G. A Whitney, the latter
passed beyond all need of earthly con-
ISOLATION and the woman who an hour
before entered the court room OF JUDGE
Moss with hopes that legal assistance
would be given in her efforts, left the
chamber unconsciously a widow.
The court proceedings yesterday fol-
lowed the filing Monday night by Mrs
Whitney's attorney, B. W. Hahn, OF an
application for q writ of mandate TO
compel DR.. e. ]. Cook, a member of the
hospital staff, to allow her to visit her
husband. from whose presence she had
been Yoreibly excluded. Hearing on
this writ was set for 10 o'clock yester-
day in Judge Moss court 1t lasted
an hour and ended almost simultane-
ously with the death of the husband, a
fact that was not learned by Mrs. WHIT
nev until some time after she left the
court house.
Mrs Whitney was accompanied 10
the court room by Attorney Hahn and
her daughter DR.. Cook, with his at
torney, ]. S. E. Heath, was also pres
ent, and stated he had followed MI
Whitney's instructions when he refused
to admit Mrs Whitney to the sick
chamber, adding that her presence ap-
peared to agitate the patient.
Denies Doctors Statements
Mrs. Whitney denied these state
ments, reciting the story OF how her
husband was taken from his home
without her knowledge and against her
wishes.
"a little more than four weeks ago, ="
she said, Mrs. Heath and DR.. Cook
called at the house and suggested that
my husband be cared for and operated
on at the hospital. 1 told them that
nothing should be done until his two
sons, William Whitney of Delhart'
Tex, and Frederick Whitney of cam
eron, N. j.. could be notified. They
assented to this. l was called away
from the house on the following Tues
day and when 1 returned l learned
that Mr.. and Mrs. Heath had called
and made arrangements with my hus-
band to take him to the hospital Satur-
day My husband was weak, and has
been exceedingly nervous for ten years.
| telephoned to Heath and told him no
engagement could be made until Mr..
Whitney's two sons arrived. Heath
said the apartments at the hospital
had been engaged as well as a nurse;
and | replied that other arrangements
must be made.
Thursday Heath came to the house.
l met him outside and told him he was
trespassing. He passed me and went
into the house, and the first question
he asked my husband was put bluntly'
DO you want an operation?
His language toward me was abus-
i've. He told me had no right to hold
my husband as a prisoner, and left the
house in an angry mood.
Takes Husband Away
u went out to feed the chickens.
When L came back l found my husband
being taken away by Heath in an au-
tomobile. 1t was about 5 O'Clock in the
afternoon and the weather was cold
and damp. l called to Heath and asked
him where he was taking my sick nus
band, and he replied, Any place ne
wishes to go.
AS evidence of the haste with which
Mr. Whitney was taken from his home
Mrs whitney said he was without slip
pers, tooth brush or night clothes.
when l saw him at the hospital the
following day." continued Mrs. Heath
he greeted me kindly. He held my
hand and said, Mamma, l would cut
off NV right hand if / could blot out
from the memory of my children my
actions of Thursday night when l lett
the house.
'RernHDS III VIII ne SdlQ We ulN lAOe
love eaclf other because we did not
kiss. We never did kiss each other,
our method of salutation being hand
shaking.
Last Sunday I was locked out of
the hospital. The previous occasion
when / went to my husbands room the
nurse flew at me. 1 rushed past her
and placed my face against my hus-
bands. / said, How are you, papa -
and without waiting for a reply lett
the room fearing I would be evicted.
con another occasion when l visitet
the hospital the nurse pushed me out
of the door. l waited fifteen minutes
but could not see my husband.
Hospital Denied Her
"Friday last DR.. Cook told me not to
come to the hospital again and was
very angry. The first information that
/ had that my husband did not want to
see me was when l heard DR., Cook
make that statement. There was no
reason for it, as my husband and |
never quarreled when l visited him"
The daughter also stated she had
called on her father at the hospital
and that he had always spoken kindly
about her mother.
Judge Moss expressed the opinion
that if Mr.. Whitney wanted to see his
wife neither the physicians nor the
nurses had any right to exclude her
and suggested that two experts be
called to determine the mans condi-
ton This was agreed to, and the case
was continued to 10 o'clock today, but
Mr.. Whitney had passed away before
the step was taken, and the necessity
for further court procedure in the mat
ter was at an end.
Mr.. Whitney was rs years old. He
married January 4, 1888. and the family
has a beautiful home in North Pasa-
dena. Besides his widow he is sur
vived by a son, 81 years Old and a
daughter. 20 years old, both issues OF
this marriage, and two sons by a for
rner wife.