Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-22
NO HEARING ON CHARGES
Details of Trouble at Workhouss
Are Not Made Public.
LIST OF CHARGES IS LONG
Dates Are Specified in Accusations
Against Observation-Disclosures
With Senator.

Although the reply of Supt. Zinkhan
to the charges made against him by
Henry e. Brockson, former guard and
superintendent Of the female ward at the
Washington Asylum, is withheld from
publication at present it is probable that
Mr.. Brockson will have no hearing, and
it was announced definitely this morning
by Commissioner Rudolph that Brock
son would not be reinstated in the Dis
trict service. Charges made by Brockson
cover several years and a multitude Of
specific specifications. Commissioner Ru-
dolph would not discuss any of them
except the charges that relatives of Supt.
Zinkhan are employed at the workhouse
and hospital. This, said the Commits
sioner, might not be grave matter, but
deserved investigation.
1t became known today that one of tho
ways in which Brockson became persona
non grata at the workhouse was through
his harping on the subject Of his con-
gressional influence. He is from Della
ware and has induced Senator du Pont to
take up his affairs with the Commission
ers several times. This was frowned on
by the officials at the workhouse.
Brockson Asked to Resign.
Brockson was asked to resign not long
ago. Senator du Pont wrote two letters
to the Commissioners. In the second let
ter he told the Commissioners that 1t
was not the first time he had not re-
ceived "a fair deal" in regard to Brock
son.
However, congressional influence or not,
Brockson will not be reinstated. Com
missioner Rudolph said so very positively
this morning.
Brockson's charges cover, among other
charges that the superintendent's daugh-
ter interfered with his (Brockson's 81
duties in ordering employees and prison.
ers. He also charges that the superin-
tendent's family is getting part Of its
clothes made at District expense in the
workhouse.
One Of the specific charges concerns
Betty Turner, who died September %,
1901. Brockson says that when he found
the girl Ill he tried for fifteen minutes to
get the hospital physician on the tele-
Phepe without success. Finally he left
ofece, where. he says, he found the tele
phone bell stuffed with paper Mr.. Brock
son intimates that the physicians were
tired of hearing the bell ring. When he
finally got physician to the girl she
was dead.
Other Charges Made.
Small rations, bad food, dinners
served cold, all specified as to time and
Mr.. Brockson gives the dates on which
he alleges that the superintendent
family had used the governments horse
and carriage to go driving.
He also charges that men in the
workhouse have made articles from
lot Int nvn1f
their own benefit.
All that can be learned from the
board Of charities Is that nearly every
one OF the charges made is specifically
denied by Supt- Zinkhan. Several
and oficials are made by Nj. Brockson,
but an Official Of the board Of charities
said today that every instance men
TONED had been known a long time.
and that every one Of them had been
long before the Brockson charges were
fled.
Brockson has aroused the enmity OF
several District officials He has been
connected with various charges and in
vestigations in the past. He made
about twelve years ago. These charges,
1T is said at the District building, were
never verified by Mr.. Brockson under
oath.
Why He Was Ousted.
One day Brockson confined a work
house girl in the dungeon for several
hours. 1t is a very severe punishment.
According to Supt Zinkhan the punish
ment should not have been given and
Brockson lost his position for that
specific reason, according to Commits
sioner Rudolph. who reviewed the case
at that time.
Then, according to an official Of the
board Of charities, Mr.. Brockson drew
up his charges. They are detailed and
specific and show that some one
must have been keeping a note book
for several years. When the charges
were presented Brockson told the Com
missioners and the board Of charities
that II certain allowances were made
for his case he would not present the
charges. On recommendation of Sec
retarY Wilson the COMPROMISE WAS not