New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-08
Forbes Pledges
Army Hospital
investigation
Veterans Bureau Promises
Immediate Inquiry Into
Treatment of Ex-Service
Mem i'm Bronx Institution
Insists ON Public Hearing
Commander Deegan, of
Ana. Legion, Will Demand
Representation at Probe

William +. Deegan, state commander
of the American Legion, received a
Telegram, yesterday from Colonel
Charles r. Forbes, director of the
United States Veterans Bureau in
Washington, promising that an imme-
diate investigation into the conditions
at the Veterans Hospital No. 81, the
Bronx, would be undertaken by the
bureau. This message was received
after Major Deegan had sent second
telegram to the bureau yesterday de-
claring that il he did not receive a
favorable reply at once he would call
meeting of all the New York State
Representatives and the two Senators
and demand instantaneous action from
them.
Following the receipt of the wire,
Commander Deegan declared:
81 also wish to state that when this
investigation begins the American Lee
gon will demand that one of it's repre-
sentatives be present at all hearings.
For this duty have appointed Irwin
4. hAIhont Nhaflupau VI IlG tGRdl CQHi-
mittee of the Legion. am unalterably
opposed to secret hearings and will de-
mand that they be public. In this con-
neetion I will also insist that the press
be admitted"
Wants Affair Cleared Up
Major Deegan also dispatched let
ter yesterday to the bureau in Wash
ington. setting forth bis reasons for
demanding the investigation and de-
elaring that in view of the charges
brought against the hospital by Repre-
sentative Albert B. Rossdafe, and other
complaints which had come to his at
tentipn, it was only fair to the Vet
Grams Bureau and all concerned that
the affair be cleared up
In the letter Major Deegan declared
that in his opinion Ward G (Which is
for the violently insane) was not a fl,
had the statement of one of the nurses
who would testify in this respect. He
also said he did not believe that the
pay of the male attendants, S55 a
month and maintenance, would permit
the employment of the highly special
ized attendants necessary for the care
of these unfortunates. He further said
ne understood that the commanding
officer OF the hospital was not free to
SstDSe hhu SoNtFVl MS own SCaM because
OF political interference and that pro-
tests were being made by some mem
bers CT. the staff against the class of
help. referred to the institution by the
Civil Service Commission.
VIII Prosecute Two
In the case Of Timothy Lucei and
Harry Morgan, who were arrested last
Saturday charged with suspicion of
assault upon Nicholas Samson, an i'm
mate of the hospital, Assistant United
States District Attorney John Joyce
said the matter of jurisdiction had
finally been settled and that the Fed
eral authorities had the right of way
Consequently, he said, he would pro-
coed personally with the prosecution
and that when the two men are ar
raigned again this morning in the West
Farms Court they would be arrested
by q United States marshal and i'm
mediately taken before United States
Con missioner Hitchcock for Federal
arrangement, charged with assault.
Commander Deegan made public for
the first time yesterday that group
of citizens in the neighborhood of the
hospital had come to him with petit
ton last June and declared that be-
cause there was no fence or wall