The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-02
Says Charge That He
Did Not Operate on
Crawley Is False.
REGISTER BEARS
OUT STATEMENT
Visited Hospital During His
Term, Although Committee
Chairman Had Given Him
Furlough-Tells Why Car
rington. Bryan and Hors-
ley Desire to Injure Him.

Or. George Ben Johnston gave out
last night reply to letter sent TO
the Administrative Board BY DR..
Charles v. Darlington and DR.. Robert
C. Bryan. and letter sent to tho
board OF visitors OF the University of
Virginia by DR. Darlington and DR.. j.
shelton I1orselcy, In which his record
was attacked. Except for an illness
which confined him TO his bed. the
charges would have been answered on
Saturday, Immediately after their pub
lication.
DR.. Darlington and Or. Bryan pro-
tested against the appointment of DR..
Johnston as n member OF the visiting
stan OF the Virginia Hospital. because
of certain charges connected with the
case OF Jesse Crawley. n negro patient,
these charges being answered BY DR..
Johnston, who presents to-day n letter
from Graham Il. Hobson, chairman Of
the Committee on Relief OF the Poor.
showing that he had offered his resig
nation as n member OF the visiting
stan during the peried in WHICH craw-
ley died. Or. Johnston, In December,
1911. Informed Mr.. Hobson that because
Of his health he desired 10 rel!nquish
the work. MIR. Hobson urged him not
10 do no. and assumed authority for
giving him leave Of absence for three
months, although his partner or one
OF his assistants visited the hospital
every day OF his term during 1912. as
appears from the official register. Not
withstandinE this. DR.. Johnston shows
that he performed the operation or
Crawley. asserting that the statement
made in the letter 10 the board was
false.
DIR. Johnston's Letter.
DR.. Johnston explains In his state
rnent the causes which show the mo-
tive for the attack hy the three phys
cinns. His letter follows;
To the Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
Sir.--In your Issue of January 81
you published communications to the
rector OF the University of Virginia
without date, and to the Administra-
live Board OF the city or Richmond.
dated January 2S. 1914 addressed TO
them under the guise OF public service
by DR.. c. V. Carrington. Or. J. Shell
ton Horsley and DIR. Robert G. Bryan.
Differences between myself and these
three Will sufficiently account for the
motive behind these communications.
In justice TO myself and others. ! feel
that | should rcfer TO these differences
and correct a distinct effort To distort
rhe record and rnisstate the facts.
The trouble between Or. Carringt ton
and myself grew out of my unwilling
noss to advocate him for this position
OF teacher in the Medical College OF
Virginia Ia return for the exclusive
clinical privileges to it at the peniten-
tiary when he was the physician at
that institution.
An TO Horslcy aud Bryan.
The trouble between and DR..
Eorgley was OF gradual growth. Be
fore coming TO Richmond he was u
resident OF Ell Paso Texas, kins-
man of his and friend OF mine anxi-
GUS to have him In Richmond, solicited
my aid in securing for him connection
with the Medical College OF Virginia
and In introducing him TO practice In
this city. was glad to do this but
close association with him after he
oamo hero soon convinced me that he
was unworthy. and severed all profes-
sional and personal connection with
him.
Whatever trouble exists between DR..
Bryan and me grew out of my inability
to aid him to the extent which he de-
sired when lie was about to enter upon
tho practice of his profession I'm this
city. Although was willing 10 serve
linn. j could not do il on the particular
terms he proposed.
The charge made against me by DIR.
Darlington and DIR. HOrsley in the let
ter addressed to the rector OF the Uni
Yersity of Virginia is that 1 am 'an
astute politician" and that If the pro-
posed consolidation OF the medical de-
partment of the University OF Virginia
and the Medical College of Virginia
takes place. will endeavor to domi-
nate and control the new school, re-
Gardless OF the means by which it is
TO be accomplished, and that my motto
is rule or ruin
Simply Their OpOIniOn.
This charge is simply an expression
of the opinion of these men, and feel
confident that those who have read
their attack upon me will attach as
little Importance to their opinion as
] do. My life has been spent in this
state. and my professional life almost
entirely in this city, and ! am per-
fcctiy willing 10 submit my record to
the fair and impartial judgment Of
those who know me personally or by
reputation and feel assured that
their Judgment will not be influenced
by the opinion OF these men.
1t has been my desire to see effected
merger of the medical schools of this
city, and thereafter have them become
the medical department of the Uniyer-
sity of Virginia Progress in this has
been made to the point of merging the
two schools here, and there only re-
mains to be accomplished tho bringing
of the medical department OF the Uni
vcrsity OF Virginia into the combina-
tors of the Medical College of Virginia
have offered to convey to the rector
and visitors Of the University of Vir-
ginin all of it's property. with absolute
1y no condition save that the medical
department of the university should in
duo course bo transferred. TO Rich
mond, leaving the visitors of the uni
versity free and unrestrained to an
point now faculty for the consoli.
dated schools. Should this offer be
accepted by the university. 1t will be