The New York herald., 1921-04-08
HARLEM HOSPITAL
ACCUSER YANISHES
Negro Who Charged Inferno
Extracted S65 for Treat
ment Vainly Sought.

Bernard Duval of 135 West 14Oth
street. one OF the negroes who has filed
an affidavit charging graft was exacted
from him by an inferno and in behalf OF
orderlics and nurses when he was under-
going treatment in Harlem Hospital. has
disappeared, and all efforts at finding
him have thus far proved fruitless.
Duval in sworn statement asserted
that $50 was exacted from him while he
was being treated for rupture. Nurses
$15 went to orderlies and $40 to an in
terne who arranged for his operation
Dr. George O'Hanlon. medical superin-
tendent OF Bellevue and Allied Hospitals
caused a search to be made for Duval
but it was said in the Harlem address he
was no longer living there and that he
was believed to be somewhere in Penn
sy1vania.
DR.. O'Han!o3 yesterday detailed what
he said were tho facts in connection with
the affidavit signed by Sarah Benson OF
2S West 136th street, who complained
that a hypodermic needle had broken OF
and been allowed to remain In the flesh
Of her eleven-year-old daughter. Sup
porting affidavits in the case also were
made by Hazel Pinder OF liz West 18th
street and Hayward ]. Payne of 5 West
1920 street
Tho Benson child was brought tc
Harlem Hospital for treatment for ton
silitis," said Or. O'Hanlon. Upon hcr
arrival IL was discovered she had
diphtheria. The child Jumped as an in
lection OF antitoxin was being admin
~, "a
broke OF, as might have happened In any
hospital under similar circumstances. In
view of tho fact she had contagious
disease the girl was sent in an am
bulanoe to the Willard Parker Hospital
where such cases are treated. note
explaining the presence OF the broken
needle In the child's flesh was sent with
her This was about January or 3.
February the child's mother
brouEh her back to Harlem Hospital
and an x-ray was taken. -Four days
later she returned to have the frag-
rnent OF broken needle removed. but Il
was found that in the meantime she
had developed bronchitis. There was
no danger to the child from the pres
ence OF the needle in her flesh, and
after a consultation II was decided IN
wise to give her an anRsthctic ano
operate until she had recovered from
the bronchial attack
Another x-ray picture WAS taker
February 8. Mrs. Benson came into
the hospital while her daughter was in
the x-ray room and demanded the
child be surrendered TO her. The hos
pital physicians advised against the re-
movai OF the patient. but the mother
insisted and refused TO sign the cord
customary that she was taking the
child against the advice OF the doctors
We have the X-ray photographs in thy
case now on file"
DR.. O'Hanlon said yesterday he had
attempted to investigate a charge made
by Miss Helen Heidi of 1875 West 140tf
street that an inferno collected $40 be.
fore he would send an ambulance for q
Mrs. Edith Robinson. who died In oh,
hospital December 2. and that she gave
Mrs. Robinson SIS TO give nurses ir
order to obtain proper treatment.
Miss Heidi saye she was not In thu
room and did not see the money pass,
said Or. O'Banlon. Mrs. Robinson's
husband has promised TO come before
the trustees three times In an effort tc
identify the inferno in question, but
each time failed TO anpear"