The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-15
E. E. Berry Tells Ugly Story
About Santa Fe Hospital.
Says He Was Kept a Prisoner
by Authorities.
DIDN'T SIGN RELEASE.
Was Restrained After He Had
Been Discharged.
Physicians Say That Berry Is
Not in Right Mind.

Charging that he was kept prisoner
for nearly two weeks at the Santa Fe
hospital because he would not sign an
agreement releasing the company from
responsibility for an injury he receiv-
ed, z. E. Berry was today placed in the
Keith hospital by local officials of the
I. o. o. F. lodge and as soon as he is
strong enough he will be returned to
his home in Las Vegas, N. NJ. Berry
left the Santa Fe hospital unobserved
this morning, slipping away while the
patients were at breakfast.
After leaving the railway hospital
Berry went to Kansas avenue where he
inquired his way to the police station.
There he gave the Odd Fellows distress
sign to Chief of Police Eaton and that
official called Past Grand Master w.
H Kemper and Grand Secretary VIII
J. Russell of the 1. o. o. F.
To them and a newspaper man he
told his story. and it is a remarkable
story indeed. Physicians from the
Santa Fe hospital deny it emphatically
and declare the man is crazy. The
members of the Odd Fellows who heard
his story are not so sure. Berry told
his story three times at the police sta
ton and it agrees in every detail. NO
amount of questioning could change
his statement.
An unknown woman, who called Mr..
Russell by telephone Sunday, before
anyone outside knew Berry was in the
hospital told a story which corrobor-
ates the one told by Berry. Then late
Sunday his note reached the police. To-
day he appeared at the police station
and told his story three times. There
is nothing yet discovered which reveals
q conflict of statement on his part and
his story is told in straight forward,
rational fashion.
The woman would not give her name
because, she alleges, she visits the hos
pital every day to see sick friends. She
feared that III case her Identity became
known she would be refused admission
at the hospital.
Applied for a Pass.
According to BerryS story he was
brought to the hospital about January
10 for treatment. He had been injured
by being struck by mail crane. He
was dismissed from the hospital about
February l, and went to the office OF
the general manager to get his pass
back to New Mexico, he says. At the
office an ATTEMPT was made to get him
to sign a release. he declares, in which
he agreed not to ask damages for his
injuries. He declined to do this and
there was more or less buster ne de-
clares on part of the man with whom
he talked He was then told, he said
this morning, that the man who would
give him his pass was not in, for him
tc return to the hospital to stay that
night and the pass would be waiting !
for him the next morning.
At the hospital, when he returned, |
he says, his clothes were taken from |
him and he was kept in a private |
room. He was given medicine and as
soon as he took it began to have pains
in his head. He says he objected to
taking it and finally refused. He says
he wanted to see DR.. Raster about the
medicine, but could not. Later he says
the medicine was changed and the
nurse gave him two tablets. He said
he would keep them and learn what
was in them. The nurse, he declares,
jerked the medicine out of his hand,
and said that in case he would not
take it she would return it.
He continued, he declares, to have
the pains in his head. The day he
threw the message out of the window
he says he was nearly wild He suf-
fered much that day and knew, he
says, that he must get help if he were
to leave the hospital without losing
his reason. That is why he threw out
the note.
Sunday he says, he told the nurse
and attendants at the hospital that
his wife would soon be here and
there would be new arrangements. He
claims he had demanded his clothing
the day before. but was denied this
request. When he said his wife was
coming he declares his clothing was
brought to him at once.
Santa Fe physicians say that Berry
was not restrained save that he was
to wear a nightgown and
that he was given medicine to keep
his stomach in good condition. 1t is
the freedom of the floor and the door
to his room was always open. DR..
Raster declares Berry is insane and
should not be allowed to be alone.