New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-23
Grand Jury Will
Urge New System
Of Tagging Babies
Will Be One Result of Flo
rio-Wisotsky Mix-Up,
Says Prosecutor
BY BRIGGS

A special grand Jury has been called
by Francis Martin, District Attorney of
The Bronx, to investigate the mixing up
of the Florio and Wisotsky babies at
the Home for Convalescent Babies, at
Sea Cliff, Long Island, and the death of
the latter after the blunder had been
made.
This action was decided upon yester-
day at a conference between District
Attorney Martin and his chief assist
ant, Albert Cohn, who is investigating
the case.
"While nothing has developed in the
investigation to warrant belief that mt
tie Charles Wisotsky died as the result
of criminal neglect" said Mr.. Cohn,
1--WE are still investigating this phase
of the case. II has been clearly estao-
lished that the mixing up of the babies
was done at the Sea Cliff institution.
All the facts in our possession will be
laid beige the grand jury, which VIII
meet Monday.
at can be said without prejudging
the case that whatever else the grand
Jury will do. il will undoubtedly file
a presentment calling upon the Legls-
lature 10 enact law compelling all
institutions TO whose care children un-
der three years are committed to affiX
a non-removable tag around the wrist
Of the child so that no mistake in iden-
rity can be made. Such law would
prcvent repetition of the blunder
ri,
Many letters complaining OF condl-
tions in homes where children are
cared for have been received by Mr.
Cohn as the result Of the publicity
given him as the active prober IN the
Florio- Wisotsky case. Some OF them
allege that there have been many such
cases. None of the letters TO date,
however. Specifies any particular case.
In a statement issued yesterday, VIII
lam d. Guthrie, counsel for the Sea
Cliff institution, said that the man
ayers OF the home greatly regret the
mistake made in confusing the two
babies, but believe that the mistake is
not attributable to the management or
employees Of the home.
children are brought 70 the home
by persons sent TO the hospitals gem
orally without identifying marks or
tags Of any kind" said Mr.. Guthrie.
at is the inyariable custom to take
precautions 20 identify the babies. The
explanation of the confusion of the
babies in the present case is that prob
ably one Of the persons sent by the
hospitals made mistake and pointed
out to the nurse at the home the wrong
baby at the time of admission. The
superintendent, the nurse and the
nursery maids in charge are all posi-
tive that no confusion of the children
occurred after the babies were ad-
mitted.
Upon the admission Of babies a
nurse receives them. and usually the
superintendent is present. The person
sent with the child by the hospital
gives the nurse in charge an applica-
tion for the admission of the baby
and the nurse assumes the care of the
child; she and the superintendent
make an examination. and at this time
a card is made out which is kept with
the child. and is later attached 20 the
baby's crib and remains there during
the entire time that the child is in
the home. This was the course of pro-
cedure in the case Of the babies in
question"
Mr.. Guthrie suggested that all hos
pitfalls should send children 10 the
home with identification tags firmly
attached TO them.