New-York tribune., 1921-10-22
Legion Charges
Hospital Vents
Spite on Cripple
Jeremiah Hurley. Leg Lost
in War, Discharged on
Day of Revelations at Fox
Hills, Officer A sserts
DIR. Cobb Denies Revenge
Insists Patient Had Received
'sMaxinusn Benefit" of
Place, and Refused Home

Officials of the American Legion yes
terday began search for Jeremiah
Hurley, a disabled war veteran, who,
they assert. was discharged from Fox
Hills Government Hospital several
days ago, "by way Of revenge on the
Legion because Of its activities in ex-
posing conditions at the hospital and
demanding a Congressional investiga-
ton of the institution"
One of Hurley's legs was blown off
while he was fighting in France.
fragment of the same she'll tore the
kneecap from his other leg. Although
he receives compensation from the gov
ernment of $157 a month, portion Of
this sum is designated as "for the serv-
ices of an attendant" In view of the
cost of living, it is contended by Legion
heads that he cannot live properly and
employ an attendant from this allot-
ment.
At Fox Hills last night Dr. j. 0.
Cobb, director of the hospital, asserted
that while Hurley had been discharged
on Monday he had "agreed to go with
out making any trouble" Denying that
this action had been taken in retalia-
tion On the Legion, DR.. Cobb said it
had been prompted merely because
capitalization which could be of bene
fit to him" In these circum stances, he
added an order from Washington pre-
vented him from keeping the patient
longer.
Contradicted by Legion Officer
Dr. Cobb's view Of the case was con-
tradicted in statement issued by
Richard T. Bell, one Of the state Off
cials of the Legion, who has been
familiar with Hurley's case since early
in August.
cat that time" Mr.. Bell said, ~
made an investigation concerning Hur-
ley, when it was reported to me that
the hospital authorities intended to
turn him out into the streets with no
place to go, inasmuch as he has no
relatives. AS the result Of my in
quiries, | wrote a letter TO DR.. Cobb,
asking that the patient be kept at the
hospital until a homo Of some sort
could be found for him.
'Dr. Cobb replied that Hurley would
be permitted to remain at the hospital
indefinitely. | assumed, of course, that
he would find the home for him, mas
much as such Il course obviously is the
duty of the government and not of the
American Legion. But apparently, from
his public statements, DR.. Cobb believes
the Legion should do all his work-al-
though he carefully refrains from ac-
cepting timely suggestions offered him
by this organization.
Anyway, Hurley continued to re-
main at the hospital without further
comment until the day that The Trib-
une published the first of its series
of articles on Fox HilLs-the story Of
conditions discovered there by an in
vestigating committee of the Legion.
On that day DR.. j S. Boggess, the hos
pitfalls executive officer, called me on
the phone. ,,,.,o, ho sho,,+od -
charged from this hospital It's up to
you to help him from now on
"'Just a minute, DOCTOR [ replied
Pm not used to being spoken to in
that tone of voice.
"I'll talk to you as 1 damn please
he answered, and hung up the receiver.
Says Doctors Are Vengeful
"It is my belief, and that of other
officials of the Legion. that the action
of DR.. Cobb and DR.. Boggess in dis
charging Hurley was motivated purely
and wholly by desire for revenge
because of our interest in him. The
hospital is only about half filled. and
he easily could have been kept there
I'VE are now searching New York
for Hurley in order to perform for
him the duty the government neglect
ed-fnding hi ma home in which he
may receive the care to which he is
entitled"
DR.. Cobb added to his statement of
denial that IAN order from Washing
ton prohibited him from keeping any
patient who has received maximum
hosp pitalzation" He declared that
Hurley had refused to go either to the
Soldiers Home at Dayton, OHIO, or the
Convalesccnts' Home at Elberon. n.
j., when such residence was offered
him"