The Washington herald., 1914-08-26
Mrs. W. A. Sincox Believes
District National Guard
Guilty of Neglect.
ILL AT VIRGINIA BEACH
Boy Succumbs to Cerebral
tuberculosis at Walter
Reed Hospital.
REFUSED MEANS TO COME HOME
Transportation to Return to Washing
ton from Annual Encampment De-
MED, 1t Is Asserted.

A suit, charging that responsible off,
GERS OF the Medical Corps OF the Dis
trict National Guard were guilty OF GRIM
| inal neglect in the treatment of William
Sincox, private, First Regiment, is
! threatened by the mother of the boy,
! Mrs William A. Sincox, S2Ss I street
southwest. Young Sincox died early yes
| terday morning at the Walter Reed Hos
pitaI. to which he was admitted a week
encampment of the National Guard at
Virginia Beach.
Sincox succumbed TO cerebral tubercu-
losis. according to statements made by
the hospital authorities to Mrs. Sincox.
His illness first manifested itself shortly
after the District brigade reached Vir-
ginia Beach. Basing her charges upon
the story told by the boy upon his re-
turn, Mrs. Sincox declares that the treat
ment afforded him during his illness in
camp hastened his death, II it did not
insure It.
After careful investigation. The Wash
ington Herald is unable to offer substan-
tial Corroboration Of the charges. which
contain the following specifications:
Specifications of the Charges.
That when his illness first became ap-
parent the medical authorities at camp
refused to return Sincox to Washington.
That during his treatment at the field
hospital he was neglected. and dis
charged while still apparently a sick
man.
That upon his return to Washington he
was forced to walk. almost in a fainting
condition, several blocks from the street
car to the armory.
One of Sincox's officers, however. de-
Clares his belief that the sick man did
n pRrniVa a
Mrs. Sincox. through her son-in-law, c.
f. Hoyer, has consulted attorneys in
Washington with a view TO determining
upon a course of action.
According to the best information
available, Sincox reported sick three days
after the brigade reached camp. He was
sent to the regimental infirmary and i'm
mediately transferred to the field hos
pitaL He complained of a splitting
headache and had some fever. He was
treated for neuralgia. and two days later
his fever having subsidized, was ordered
back to his regiment
In the meantime, feeling uncertain as
to the diagnosis, the field hospital had
applied to brigade headquarters for trans.
pOrtation home for Sincox. The appli-
cation was rejected. Lieut.. Hazard, OF
transportation home, but Sincox failed
TO make connections with the train and
returned to camp. to re-enter Ihe field
hospital almost Immediately.
officers who had charge Of him on
the return trip declare that he was
given every comfort. They declare that
he declined to permit the regimental
hospital company to carry him from the
street car to the armory, and that the
prefer of a taXicab TO take him from,
the armory to his home also was de-
clined.
Upon his return home. he told his
mother a story OF his alleged mistreat-
ment, which, he stated. included hazng
from his messmates Shortly after. he
lapsed into a delerium from which he
did not emerge up to the hour of his
death. After a week under the care Of
a family physician. he was admitted TO
the Walter Reed Hospital. through the
courtesy Of the War Department Ac-
cordtng TO a member Of the National
Guard Medical Corps, no treatment
would have availed against the disease OF
which Sincox is said to have been a
victim.