The New York herald., 1922-09-16
SICK VETERAN PUT
With WAR LUNATICS
Investigators Find Depres-
sion Sufferer Among
Hospital Insane.
PHYSICIANS APPROVED
Doctors Testify They Be
lieve Such Associations
Harmless to Man.
THEY MADE LOVE TO HIM
Idiots Tried to Poke His Ribs,
Soldier Says-Charges
Wire Tapping.

The Imprisonment of Oscar Roma. an
overseas veteran, in a building used
exclusively for patients suffering from
active mental disorders was the sub
ject of inquiry yesterday by the spe-
cial committee appointed to investi-
gate charges of abuse and i'll treat
ment at Veterans Hospital 81, in The
Bronx
Roma on the stand said he had gone
to the institution because he found 1t
impossible to concentrate upon the
studies that the army prescribed to
fit him for civil career. His condition
was diagnosed by Government physi-
clans as slightly paranoic with manic
Oppressive tendency.
He was recommended for hydro
therapy treatment and placed in an
open ward. which guaranteed freedom
Of action within and without the
grounds. He was beginning to feel bet
ter. he said, when one dav he was
called before the hospital board and
charged with having acted in an aggres-
sive manner and having used abusive
and insulting language toward the post
mistress.
Made Love to Him.
This accusation, he said. referred to
request he had made for the delivery OF
a letter that contained a check for
warded from the Veterans Bureau.
His manner toward the post office clerk
apparently led the hospital authorities
to the conclusion that he should be
locked up in &C" Building with the
violently insane and he was placed there
on August 25 and never has been re-
moved he testified.
After the charges of Representative
Albert Rossdale. who has since with
drawn from the investigation and de-
manded Congress action. were made
fore the board.
Il told them / did not feel any bet
ter. In fact. l felt worse. had been
put in with a bunch of cuckoos, and
some Of them wanted to make love to
me and some wanted to poke me in the
ribs"
Roma complained also that during his
confinement In &C" building he had not
received the therapeutic treatment which
he had been told upon entering the hos
pital was necessary to cure his condi-
ton.
DIR. George r. Gates. hospital ply
sician, testified that, after observing
Roma for several weeks, he had come to
the conclusion that he was a menace to
himself and to other patients. Martin
w. Littleton of the committee said he
could not understand how confinement
in violently insane ward could improve
the condition of a man apparently out
wardly sane and from a medical stand
point only slightly affected. The ply
sician replied that types of patients such
as Roma were so absorbed in them
selves that they were oblivious to their
surroundings.
Hints mt Wire Tapping.
DR.. Chronquest also defended this
course by saying that IL did not harm
certain classes of patients to mingle
with actively disturbed cases. and in
some instances he had seen actual i'm
provement. DR. Gates said Roma was a
'hypomanic and quite seclusive at
times"
1t was brought out that no legal COM
mittment has been made in the case OF
a great many patients In the locked
ward" although such action is neces-
sary in the cases OF civilians.
Roma testified that while talking from
a public telephone booth In the hospital
he was warned by hospital employee
| to be careful OF what he said. DR.
George T. Brewster, executive officer OF
| the hospital. testified that no wires
we're tapped in the institution and no
instruction ever had been issued 20
| listen in on patients calls.
Dr. William Darrach, Dean of the
| Columbia Medical School. made an in
! spection of the hospital yesterday and
| declared 1t to be excelently organized
| and one of the cleanest hospitals he
ever had seen. TIe was careful TO point
out that he was not a neuroogist or
an expert psychiatrist. and gave his
opinion only from the standpoint of
general hospital conditions and admin
istrative supervision. lie had inspected
hospitals in France. England. Belgium.
| Denmark and Germany, he said.
The hearing of the charges against
Timothy Luccie and Harry j. Morgan.
two attendants accused of assaulting
| Nicholas Samson. was postponed by
United states Commissioner Hitchcock
! yesterday because the matter is before
| the Ecderai Grand .rurv