The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1913-03-21
WIFE WANTS
DAMAGES.
MEMPHIS LADY BRINGS SUIT AGAINST
COLLINS HOSPITAL
Claims Damages for Personal Injuries
Was Refused Accommodation
Head Nurse Objected to White
Doctors-Negroes Organized
Because of Determinations
Mot Treated With Cour-
tesy in City Hospital.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
Memphis, Tenn, March 17.-Quite a
sensation was created here last week
when Mrs. Edith Booth, the wife of
Attorney G. o. Booth, entered suit in
the Circuit Court for $4,000 against
the Collins Chapel Hospital, claimed
as damages for personal injuries.
The suit grew out of a refusal of the
head nurse of the hospital, Miss Es-
tclla Daniels, to allow white physi-
clans to operate in that institution. It
seems that the Negro phpcians are
opposed to white physicians operating
in Collins Hospital, in view of the
fact that they are not permitted to op-
crate in the private hospitals operated
by white physicians. Furthermore, it
is claimed that the Negro physicians
are not allowed to operate in the City
Hospital.
DR.. j. T. Wilson, of Nashville, who
is the Tie head surgeon of Collins Hos
pital, was not present when the Incl
dent occurred. He said to a Globe
representative that when a Negro
goes to the City Hospital he is treat
ed in such a manner that he never
feels like going to that place again.
1t is said that when the late r. M. Clay
was shot in Memphis his physicians
were denied the privilege of seeing
him while he YVES at the City Hos
pital, the excuse being that the Head
Surgeon was in the operating room,
and no one could be admitted. The
Negro doctors, it is said, do not ex-
/ pect to be admitted to the private hos
/ pitfalls, and for that reason do feel that
Negro patrons should not expect Col
Inns Hospital to admit white surgeons
10 operate there. They feel that when
/ Negroes have no confidence in Negro
surgeons they should either go to the
CITY Hospital or to some of the pri-
vate white hospitals. They say that
they organized the Collins Hospital
because of the discrimination against
them in the white hospitals.
1t is said that Mr. Booth knew of
the rules of the Collins Hospital, and
his motive for asking the head nurse
to allow him to bring in his white
doctors canno, be understood. It is
said he drew up the papers of the his
pital and is thoroughly familiar with
its rules and purposes. 1t is further
claimed that Mr. Booth knew before
hand that he could carry his wife to
the Baptist Hospital and have the
white doctors wait on her there.
Lawyer Booth is the leading Negro
lawyer in Memphis. He stands high
in the legal profession in his city, and
throughout the state. He is Grand
Attorney of the Knights of Pythias Of
the State, and distinguished himself
recently by drawing up the papers in
the celebrated lawsuit the Negro Pyth-
ians had with the white Pythians that
was settled in the Supreme Court last
year.
This case will be watched with
much interest by the Negro physicians
, throughout the state. 1t is claimed
that much will depend on the outcome.
1t is argued that is this case against
1t is argued that if this case goes
against the Hospital it will set pre-
cedent that will be of lasting benefit
to the Negro doctors throughout the
State. 1t will at least, they claim,
mean that according to law, Negroes
will have the right to practice in all
hospitals, and especially will they
have the right to practice in the City
/ Hospitals.