Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-21
HEARING BEFORE AUDITOR
Doctor Accused of Violating Conf
dence of Patient.
IS QU1ZZED BY ATTORNEY
Physician Defends His Course-Mrs.
Hutchins Indignant at
Publication.

| E'tcItSSloidl services from E'PlC eS
| 1910. to and including June % last. was
! filed today before Auditor Dent by DR.
! W. Gerry Morgan against Stilson Hut
| chlns. Included among the items were
! three charges. one for $1,000 (, attend
| ing Mr.. Hutchins on his trip to Mar "a
gansett Pier in May last and two others
for $500 each for visits to Narragansett
June III and 20 last. The aggregate OF
| the doctors bill is S3Sa;
Dr. Il. T. Sewers presented bill foi
SI'I for his services to Mr. Hutchlns
from January I. 1919, to June l. IgIl No
opposition developed To this charge.
Other bills for medical services are OK
pected to he filed.
Despite the testimony Of DR. Morgan
that the last mentioned charges of his
bill were usual and i'm accord with
charges of other phys. clans of his stand
ing. Auditor Dent suggested that he
would like to hear evidence of other pro-
fessional men to the propriety of the
charges.
The other items, which range from 81
for single visit to S1GI for a continuous
attendance from am. to 1879 pm,
seemed to meet with no specific opposi-
ton.
Attorney Thomas Springs Sensation.
a sensation was sprung ny Attorney
f. H. Thomas. representing Walter s.
Hutchins, son of the financier when
he accused DIR. Morgan of violating the
section of the District Code which pro-
hibits physicians from disclosing con-
hdential communications from their
clients without permission.
/ He also suggested that as such al
legged action was violation of the
contract between MIR. HutchinS and the
doctor, the latter should not attempt
to maintain his bill for services
Mr.. Thomas asked DIR. Morgan if it
was not true that he had signed affi-
davits accompanying petitions nled by
Mrs. HutchinS. in which he disclosed
without the knowledge or permission of
Stllscn Hutchins, the mental and ply
steal condition of the latter, which ne
had learned only from his confidential
professional relations with the sick man.
The physician answered he had been
called as witness and seemed to be en-
deavoring to evade the question whether
he had made a sworn statement off the
witness stand.
Taking a hand in the matter, Auditor
Dent cautioned the witness. saying:
Don't fence with counsel Answer the
questions directly. You know what an
affidavit is, don't your
Witness admitted he had made affi-
davits to the condition of his client.
The sworn statements are matters of
record.
Physicians Testimony Reviewed.
Continuing Mr.. Thomas led the doctor
to the testimony given by the physician
as a witness last month in the custer
suit brought by Mrs. Hutchins against
Trustee Dante. AS counsel read to the
witness several questions from that tesu-
mony, DIR. Morgan responded again and
again, Il don't remember
Mr.. Thomas then inquired if the physi-
clan in the of testimony had
:.oI sand, 'StIisvn 1IurculnS In the con-
dition OF complete demented Invalid.
DIR. Morgan could not recall that he had
stated This in so many words, but said:
That he is mentally incompetent, L think
have given testimony.
The lawyer closed his examination with
the inquiry whether Mr.. HutchIn, hac
given permission to disclose his condition
and whether DIR. Morgan had ever told
Mr.. Hutchins of the testimony he had
given. DR.. Morgan answered both ques-
tionS in the negative.
Defends His Charges.
Explaining his charge of $1,000 for
accompanying his patient to Nara
gansett last May, DIR. Morgan said il
took three days of his time away from |
his practice at busy period of the |
year. He declared the charge rather |
lower than the average man charges.
On the occasions of the two visits in |
June. DR.. Morgan stated, he was re-
quested not only by Mrs. Hutchins. |
but by the physicians at Narragansett !
to visit the patient there. On one oc-
casion he Travelled from Boston for
the purpose and on the other from
New York. He explained his presence
N these cities by saying he was visit
ng there preparatory to sailing to
Europe on his vacation.
Mrs. Hutchins Indignant.
Mrs. Hutchins was indignant at the
published statement that she was dis
courteous yesterday in leaving the
Luditor's Office abruptly. and inquired of
Mr. Dent today If he had noticed any
ack of courtesy on her part. She was
assured by the auditor that on the con-
rary, she had been most polite in in
luiring before leaving if he desired amy
urther testimony from her. and that
counsel having announced their eXamina-
ion closed. she would recall he had ad-
Used her she need not remain longer.
Mrs. Hutchins Proves Paris Bills.
Mrs Hutchins appeared late yesterday
Lfternoon before Auditor Dent to prove
Ter Paris bills against her husbands
state This Indebtedness is said to ag
-regate about 81, $50 in American money.
n response to the cross-eXamination of ,
and, Mrs. Hutchins said she might not
ave told her husband of each gown or
air of shoes she bought, but in general.
he stated, he was aware of her pur- | .
hases and that the credit was extended
" the merchants to her husband, Still
on HutchinS.
Attorney Il. c. Brandenburg. for Trus-
ee Dante, questioned the method of proof
the Paris accounts. He intimated that
e would object on the ground that the
lerchants should have IA representative
r attorney to vouch for the claims.
Mrs. HutchinS appeared to resent GER
ain questions propounded to her by Mr..
v.lson concerning the lease of her Paris )
partment When asked by Mr.. Wilson
she possessed copy of the lease she
answered that the document is i'm Paris.
Ter counsel. Attorney John &. Cuttings.
ffered TO give the terms of the instru-
tent to Mr.. Wilson, but the latter Sug-
ested that a copy might be procured. a
O this remark Mrs. HutchinS retorted:
'Oh, l suppose Mr.. Wilson wishes TO
lbstantiate what l have told him about
he terms of the lease. [ would just like
, see Mr.. Wilson annul the lease. II
e succeeds he must he very accomplish
I. / have not yet found anybody who .
ould suggest a way out of It, The ~
ase was made for three years and is 81
nd,ng for over two more years. W
Mr.. Cuttings suggested that the Paris n,
ndlord might rel-nquish his sights upon
lyment of one-half of the balance OF ~
y rent. The suggestion was ignored. lw