New-York tribune., 1918-05-10
Grand Jury Finds
Tale Rejecting on
Nurses Is False
Doctor Admits Statement
at Vassar Regarding Red
Cross Lacked Foundation

Stories rejecting on the morality
OF American Red Cross nurses serving
at the base hospitals in France, which
were repeated by Dr. Emma B. Culber-
ton, senior surgeon of the New Eng
land Hospital for Women and Children
at Boston, in statements made by her
at Vassar College, were branded as ab-
solutely untrue by Federal Grand
Jury yesterday in presentment
handed up to Judge Augustus N. Hand
in the Federal District Court.
While the presentment declares that
the author has admitted that the
stories were without foundation and
excuses her of vicious intent, judge
Hand speaking to the grand jury did
not take the same attitude toward the
matter. He said that although he was
convinced that she meant no harm the
spreading of such stories was thing
to be severely censured.
In addition, he declared that persons
spreading scandal against the various
branches of the nations service in the
future, whether they uttered them with
innocent intent or not, must expect in
dlctment and trial.
The part of the presentment dealing
with the statements by DR.. Culberton
follows:
Recently various statements or
stories have been called to the atten-
ton of the grand jury to the effect
that frightful and scandalous condi-
tions attend the Red Cross nurses in
the American army hospitals in France.
was reported to have been made at
Vassar College, Poughkeepsie. N. Y,
by DR.. Emma B. Culberton, senior sur
geon of the New England Hospital for
Women and Children, at Boston, which
in substance was as follows:
1T is a matter of common knowledge
that 200 beds have been reserved in
the Sloane Maternity Hospital, New
York City. for Red Cross nurses who
are returning from France and expect
immediate confinement
"This statement was called to the at
ground that if the Statements were
true the failure of the military au-
thorities to safeguard the nurses in the
service of the United States abroad
would constitute gross neglect and for
further reason that if the statement
was false and wilfully made it would
act.
Investigation showed that said
Emma Culberton had absolutely no
knowledge or information upon which
to base such statements, and that said
statement was wholly without founda-
ton, and does further present that no
Red Cross nurse has returned to this
country from foreign service in such
condition.
Regrets Spreading Statement
"The grand Jury further presents
that said Emma Culberton herself now
believes that she has been misinformed
as to the matters contained in the
statement made by her and regrets
that she was a party to the dissemina-
ton of false statement.
"The grand jury further presents
that Emma Culberton did not wilfully
make said statement with the intent to
interfere with the operation and sue
cess of the military and naval forces Of
the United States or to obstruct the
Red Cross in the recruiting or enlist
ment of nurses in the service of the
United States"
Judge Hand, in addressing the grand
jury, said:
"In the future in matters of this sort
where statements are recklessly untrue
and in the absence of adequate ex-
planation you will be justified in judg-
ing them wilful violations of the law.
"These statements are to be severely
deprecated in view of the circum-
stances under which they were uttered
in the presence of young women eager
to go abroad to serve as nurses. They
discouraged the enlistment of nurses
and were most reprehensible and dis
graceful"