New-York tribune., 1913-12-30
BLACKWELL QUIZ
EXTENDS TO CITY
Grand Jury Investigators
Secretly Call Waldo
to Testify.
RICE'S EMPLOYEES
TO FACE INQUIRY
Several Civic Departments Under
Fire-Girl Tells of Hos.
pital Neglect.

The May grand jury, Of which Ezekiel
e. VI. Rand is foreman, caused surprise
and CONSERVATION yesterday by the virtual
announcement that their inquiry, which
follows months OF investigation by COM
m!ttee OF members. will include not only
the penitentisry and other institutions on
BlackwelTs Island, but several city de-
partments. They began their sessions yes
terday with a case Of alleged neglect IN
Gouverneur Hospital and another from
the Tombs prison.
The presence OF Commissioner waldo
who was subpenaed as a witness WITHOUT
the knowledge Of the District Attorney
gave rise 20 the supposition that the 8rd"u
Jurors preliminary investigation had been
a broad one and included the Police De-
partment. Gouverneur Hospital is a city
institution connected with Bellevue ana
Allied Hospitals, OF which Michael -
Drummond. Commissioner OF Charitles' II
an ex-ofYlcio trustee. There is POSSIBILITY
that the office Of the Commissioners or
Accounts will also come in for inyestlga-
ton
When the grand jury assembled In JUS
tice Seabury's court II was apparent tnat
the court had no inkling OF the material
which the committee Of grand jurors nad
gathered and intended that their BODY
should hear. Justice Seabury asked the
grand Jury to take up an investigation
into city institutions and hear evidence
which the District Attorney was prepared
TO lay before Il. A grand juror. likewise
in the dark as 10 the work the foreman
and other members Of the committee mao
mapped out. asked II majority shoulu
rule on the question Justice Seabury re-
piled that he thought IL should.
Az the very moment that Justice sea
hurry was requesting the grand jury 70
take up the investigation Commissioners
Waldo under a subpoena issued secreuy
by the grand jury, was cooling his heeis
at the entrance OF the grand jury room.
He was no less surprised al being there
than Arthur G. Train and Joseph Du
Vivier. the Assistant District Attorneys III
charge OF the inquiry. were at seeing MN
there. The Commissioner rose Wheh ne
saw Mr Du Nivier approaching
Every time they have grand jury IN
ouiry." Commissioner Waldo was heard
to remark somewhat petulantly they
subpoena me down here and ] waste an
hour and a half. Can't you hurry things
UP little?'
81 don't want to be dsagreeable.' an
svered Mr Du Vivier. but so far as
YOUR waiting an hour and half Is con-
cerned l might say that some OF us nave
had the same experience at Headquar-
tiers"
Shortly afterward Commissioner Waldo
was called The grand jurors conducted
his examination themselves. Both Mr Train
and Mr.. Du Vivier were excluded from the
grand jury room during hts examination.
Commissioner Waldo had nothing 10 say
when he came out twenty minutes later.
1t IS believed. however. that his testimony
had nothing 20 do with the Biack"eA
Island probe.
Later the grand jury heard witnesses
in the cases OF Weley Ain, a fifteen-year-
old Girl. who was a patient in Gouverneur
Hospital, and Morris James, former
prisoner In the Tombs. The girl is said to
have contracted an infectious disease
while I'm the hospital James is said TO
have had one OF his eyes infected while
ne was in the Tombs. Neither case was
completed. The grand jury adjourned
subject 10 the call OF the foreman.
In preparation for the Blackwelis Island
inouirv Mr.. Du Nivier had a long talk
YESTERDAY with George l.. Lewis and ISL
dor Cohen. former prisoners in the peni-
tentiarv. Lewis vas brought down from
Sing Sing rs a witness. He told OF falsi-
fylnC entries while employed as a book
keeper dIring his sentence 10 the peniten-
tiary. and said that the falsificaucn was
done at the command OF officials. Cohen
said that he also knew Of graft on the
island.
AS result OF his conversation with
Lewis ard Cohen Mr. Du Nivicr yesterday
issued a Subpoena for former employe OF
the CITY on Blackwells ) Island
Mr.. Du Vivier also sent out subpoena
Yesterday for Mathilde F. Hook. Miss
Hook was a stenograp her employed by
Harry NJ. Rice. Commissioner OF Ac-
counts. Subpenas for other employees In
that Office will probably be issued later