Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-14
Trustee Field on the Stand.


paid in accordance with vote Of the
| trustees passed in 1887
Trustee Field on the Stand.
Charles f. Field of Bangor who was
lappointed trustee of the Insane hos
pitfalls in 1901 and was secretary Of the
board for several years. was the first
witness to be called at the opening of
the morning session. Wednesday. of
| the joint special investigating commit
tee.
The witness testified that he was a
| member ef the board during the con-
! siruction Of the buildings at Bangor
and the bungalow at Chase's Island,
nd chairman of the building commit
tee. The matter of bills presented by
| the trustees in connection with the
| visiting of other hospitals to obtain
] suggestions in regard to the new con-
| struction was taken UP and Atty.
| Upper sought to bring out the point
| hat certain bills presented by the
| trustees. after the passage of the law
| # 1907 requiring certification under
| 1ath were not so certified.
In examining the accounts of the
Maine insane hospital did you discover
that there was a shortage in the ac
count OF the storekeeper?" asked Mr..
| rupper.
Il never did replied the witness.
He was then asked about signing
report as member of the finance
committee that the accounts of the
| treasurer were correct and replied
that he did sign such a statement and
that the examination consisted in the
| comparison OF the cash book with the
vouchers.
We made no examination of the
| TENS in the vouchers" replied Mr..
Field in answer to a question by Mr..
| rrafton of the committee.
Witness did not know of Alice G.
| rwitchell appearing upon the pay roll
| IS matron and as one of the help The
rustees did not check up the pay roll.
| The visiting of the patients and Other
| ietails took up practically all of the
| ime of the trustees when they were AT
| he hospitals.
| Witness stated, in response to in
| iuiry to Mr. Upper that bills of $75 in
| 909 and 1910 for extra services were
| ,aid to him in connection with his
| luties as secretary of the board and
| that these bills were approved by
| state Auditor Hatch.
Judge Chase Testifies.
Judge f. f.. Chase of Bluehill teSti-
| led that he was appointed a Hospital
rustee in 1905 but previous to that
ime had been on the Council com
nittee so that he was familiar with
hospital management. Witness was
Questioned as to whether a certain
dill for transportation of himself from
New York to Boston was part of the
expenses of the trip taken in connec-
ton with the visit to other hospitals
de also explained the details in regard
TO a bill of $780, which he received as
compensation for collecting some $12G0
II $1,000 due the hospital upon the
bond of relatives of a patient. He said
that the amount was voted him by the
trustees, for services extending over a
couple of years and for which he
asked no per diem.
The sale of blackboard by Judge
Chase to the Hospital management fol
$3.50 was taken up and Judge Chase
said that he had no idea that he was
violating the law in regard to sale by
a member of the board of any articles
to the Hospitals any more than the
Governor and Council had when they
made the printing contract with the
Waterville Sentinel
Judge Chases services as a member
OF the Legislative committee in 1907
We're taken up and he said he thought
that out of bill of S720 for his SER
vices as a trustee. about $500 was for
work done before the Legislative CONT
mittee. for the getting through of such
appropriations as the trustees deemed
necessary A similar bill tor services
upon the Legislative committee in 1909
was taken up. Mr. Nickerson assist
| ed in the work that year.
Chase's Island Matters.
The witness volunteered information
| in regard to the securing of Chase's
Island from the L. :. government and
his efforts in getting through tho
| Legislature an appropriation OF $4,000
flor renairinc the buildings and prem