The New York herald., 1921-04-06
PEARY'S NEGRO AID
NEW ACCUSER OF
HARLEM HOSPITAL
Head Beaten by Robber, He
Says He Was Turned Out
Dazed at | A. Nj.
is CUSTOMS EMPLOYEE
Henson Rewarded by Presi-
dent Taft for Heroic Ser
vice in Arctic.
O'HANLON CONTRADICTED
Aid. Harris Says Complainant
Was Twice Foiled in Trying
to Identify Offender.

In an affidavit which he has given
to Alderman George W. Harris, Mat
thew Henson, the negro who went to
the North Pole with Robert z. Peary.
tells the story OF how he was carried
to Harlem Hospital suffering from
blackjacking at the hands of a roboer,
and charges that after having been
refused the services of a doctor he was
turned out of the hospital at ! o'clock
in the morning in such dazed and
weakened condition that he was
scarcely able TO stand.
1t was learned last night by a re-
porter for THE NEW YORK HERALD that
Henson. now holding position at the
Custom House which President Taft
found for him as a reward for his ser
vices III the Arctic intends to testify at
the inquiry Commissioner of Accounts
David Hirshfleld is conducting into al
legged discrimination against negroes by
attaches of Harlem Hospital as well as
charges of petty graft which have been
made against internes, nurses and or
derlies. Commissioner Hirshfield will
hold a public hearing ON the charges in
the Municipal Building on April 10.
Attacked at subway Entrance.
According to Hensons story he was
attacked in front of Public School No.
SO. in Lenox avenue. at 10 o'clock In
the evening Of March 10. He was about
to enter the subway when his assailant
struck him with a blackjack and
grabbed for his pocketbook. despite the
fact that there were many persons
near by. Having acquired a good set OF
muscles In the days Of his Arctic strug-
giles Henson turned upon the robber and
grappled with him.
So dazed was he from the first blow
that his recollection of the fight is not
clear. He prevented the robber from
getting his money. but he received
deep cash in the face and another In
the palm of his right hand from some
sharp instrument which the robber used.
His assailant fled. leaving him to be
picked from the sidewalk by strangers.
who took him to the hospital. block
from the scene of the assault.
Henson charges there was delay In
getting attention; that ii was about
three hours before his case was disposed
Of that nurse refused 10 call doctor
to ascertain IL he had fractured skull
or internal injuries, and also refused to
admit him to a bed, although he's was in
such condition that he should have been
put to bed at once.
Seriously Ill for Week.
After she had stitched up the face and
hand cuts he asserts, he was told that
nothing more would be done for him, AID
he succeeded in getting a taxicab to take
him to his residence, 90t Grant avenue.
The Bronx. There he remained In bed
seriously i'll for week. under the care
OF his family physician. II was not
until Monday Of this week that he was
able to report back for duty at the Gus
tom House.
Alderman Harris took occasion ycster-
day to answer statements OF Or. George
OHanlon. General Medical Superintend-
ent of Bellevue and Allied Hospitals.
Regarding the report that one complain
ant had failed TO appear and identify an
interne whom she had accused OF graft
ing. he said:
This woman called at Bellevue twice
by appointment for the purpose of facing
this inferno. and on each occasion he
failed to appear. She then refused to
waste any more time with the hospital
authorities IT must be remembered that
in other cases there may be negro COM
plainants who have lived In the South
and arc afraid to testify against white
man,