New-York tribune., 1920-02-06
Assert Veterans
w ere Robbed
While in Bath
EN-Attendants at Soldiers
Home Also Say Inmates
We're Given ."Wet Towel"
Treatment to Exact Money
Hid Funds in Mouths
investigation Into Alleged
Mismanagement Resumed
Before Walker at Elmira

hLMlRA, N. y, Feb Alleged cru
city to inmates Of tho Balh Soldiers
home, at Bath, n. v. was related by
witnesses here to-day. when Lieutenant
Governor Harry G. Walker resumed the
investigation into the alleged misman-
agement OF the affairs of the institu-
ton.
Two OF the principal witnesses were
Harry Force. of Elmira. and Owen
Townsend, of Cameron, y. Y. former
attendants in the hospital of the Bath
nome. Both testified they had seen
money taken from the inmates at the
hospital. one method Of obtainn" the
money. their testimony revealed. was to
order the aged war veterans in the hos
pifa! to take bath and while they
were IN the bathroom attendants would
rlHe the pockets Of the Veterans cloth
lhg Force also related that one male
nurse had taken $l30 from one inmate
and offered Force about third OF
the money.
I've go mine he witness said the
nurse told him. Force said he declined
TO accept the money.
me iormer attendants also declared
the veterans had a habit of putting
!
attendants while taking a bath. They
declared they had witnessed the wet
tCwel treatment" applied to the necks
OF the veterans. This was done. they
sad, by winding wet towel around
tte necks OF the veterans and choking
tfem until they released the money
from their mouths. 1t was brought out
That wet towel was used because il
ava not leave any marks on the necks
OF the veterans.
Slept With Feet Doubled Up
Force and Townsend testified certain
veterans had told them they usually
slept With their feet doubled up. be
cause 1t was a habit of the attendants
to annoy them by tickling the bottoms
of their feet while they slept
torce, who Vas employed AZ The
home three different periods. said he
was discharged once Tor taking food
from his own home to one aged veteran
who did not have any funds to buy
fruit and luXuries
n. r. Hutchinson. a Civil War vet
eran. OF Corning, testified he left the
home because he could not take bed
on the floor OF the building where he
was quartered. In this connection. he
SAID IT was q practice Of the inmates
when they went on furloughs from the
home TO pay the attendants small sums
OF money to keep their beds for them
until they returned.
James Bolton, former Western Onion
Office manager at Bath. testified tina,
on one occasion he received a message
to send to Governor Smith at Alban,
and that it was telephoned to him
he message read: "Please hold ur
appointment until You get letter"
he message was signed civilian +
Farrer.' commander Of G.. A. r. posr
at Bath The witness said il was Com.
lnandant Morgan VINO was talking. thai
ne kne" the commandAnt's voice ano
could not be mistaken.
involved Pecks Appointment
While to-days hearing did not de.
velop the circumstance surrounding Tho
message, it is said it concerned the
appointment Of George W Peck row
Mayor Of Elmira also a member o,
the board of managers Of the Batl
home. Peck was Instrumental ir
bringing about the present investiga
ton
Witnesses who testified we're cues
toned by Attorney Cortland Wilbur
of Binghamton, who had been desip
mated to assist in the investigation.
For the first time since the investi
CATION started several weeks ago the
board of managers to-day was repre-
sented by counsel, Attorney Mor,ime,
l.. Sullivan, Of this city, acting in tina,
capacity. tie was not permitted +,
question any OF the witnesses, but wa,
alloWed to suggest questions for Attor
ney Wilbur to ask the witnesses