The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-04-27
PATTON HEARING
ON AT BURLINGTON
Allen Fletcher and Fish and Game Com
missioner Sheldon First Witnesses
Against Medical Officer.

BURLINGTON. April 27.-Dr. Ar
thur E. Brides district manager of dis
trict number one, United States Veterans
bureau appointed as an investigating
board DR.. David Flanagan, chairman
Major DR.. l. L. Wagner. district nspec-
tor. and Leo Kelley, legal adviser, to in
vestigate charges made against DIR. j.
REYNOLDS Patton of this city, district
medical officer for the bureau, and the
hearing commenced Tuesday at the Hotel
Vermont roof garden The charges of in
competent and inefficient work have been
preferred against DR. Patton by Allen
Fletcher. as sub-district manager of the
Veterans bureau. and by q committee
chosen at a recent meeting of the eXecu-
tive committee of the American Legion.
department of Vermont, of which ii.
Nelson Jackson is chairman.
Two witnesses We're called during
the day. The first. Allen Fletcher. gave
testimony to substantiate the charges
made bv him. Cross-examinatiOn of this
witness lasted nearly all day. Major
Harold p Sheldon of Fair Haven, state
fish and game commissioner. was the sec
ond witness and told of an instance OF
disabled veteran going to DIR. Patton and
receiving diScOuraging remarks from nm
and the man. who was I'll at the time
died Il very few weeks later. He also told
of having heard of men from other parts
of the state having complained of unc0ur-
teous treatment from DR. Patton. The
hearing will probably continue the re-
mainder of the week.
In a letter dated April % to DIR. Ar,
thur F. Brides, district manager, dlstricf
No. /. L. :. Veterans bureau, 66O Wash
ington street, Boston, Mass, Allen
Fletcher writes as follows:
Sir:-I hereby request the immediate
removal of DIR. j. Reynolds Patton, sub
district medical officer, T.. S. Veterans
bureau Sub-district of Vermont from this
office for the following reasons: [ charge
DIR. ]. REYNOLDS Patton with being in
compatible, incompetent, inefficient I'M
gentlemanly, and unprofessional.
First that DR.. Patton has utterly and
totally failed to cooperate with the sub
district manager of this office and other
persons connected with this office for the
proper functiOning of this office. He has
utterly and totally failed to carry out and
follow up certain instructions and re
quests from the Sub-district manager and
others connected with this office
Second, that DR.. Patton has disre-
garded bureau orders and regulations in
carrying out his duties as sub-distriet
medical officer.
Third that DIR. Patton has shifted re-
sponSibility as to the physical condition
of several disabled veterans to others who
are not competent to judge the physical
condition of the disabled veterans
Whereas. it was his duty to examine and
give a definite statement regarding ply
steal condition of said disabled veterans.
Fourth, that DIR. Patton fails to read
bureau orders and regulations and has
returned said orders and regulations
which have been sent to his Office for
his attention and study without reading
them.
Fifth, that DR. Patton has violated but
reau orders pertaining to the rules and
regulations governing the conduct and
procedure of his office.
Sixth, that DIR. Patton has repeatedly
come to me and to other employees of this
office requesting information on medical
questions which he should have been ia
miliar with and which he would have
been familiar with ahad he read bureau
orders and regulations.
Seventh. that DIR. Patton has failed 10
treat properly applicants for medical ex
animation and has treated these appli-
cants in an ungentlemanly and unprofes'
.siOnal manner.
Eighth. that DR. Patton has been dis
courteous not only to disabled veterans
but also TO their relatives and friends
coming to his office.