The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-09-15
STATE
CAPITAL
Report Produces Surprise.

Decision to request the immediate
dismissal from the Maryland House of
Correction of Guards j. Wood Fleming,
r. J. Wheeler and Robert Rutkin and
to postpone public trial of DR.. Frank
Shipley, prison physician, were
reached at meeting of the Board of
Prison Control when post-mortem
was held over the report made by
Joseph Fishman, special investigator
of conditions at the institution.
The Board in statement made pub
lie following the meeting reviewed the
cases of the three guards and decided
that no further hearing would be nee
essary, inasmuch as each of the men
had admitted, according to the Fish
man report, having done personal vio-
lence to prisoners under their care.
Deputies who have no better con-
troll of themselves than these men
have no. place in our penal institu-
tions," is the Boards conclusion, and
we have passed an order directing
Warden Landlord to dismiss them
from our service"
Taking up the question Of the dis
missal of DR.. Shipley, which was
recommended by Mr. Fishman, and
the very serious charges against the
medical administration" the Board
sets forth in it's statement that these
matters have never before ~come to
their attention from any source.
"The matron who. makes most Of
the charges has apparently not re-
ported to the Warden and has GER
tainly not reported to u.s." the state
ment says, "Dr Street, who was con-
sulting physician and whose specific
duty it was to see that the records
were kept, said nothing to us. None
| of the prisoners who complained to
Mr.. O'Dunne made any complaint
about the physician and none of the
various humane societies and people
who are constantly having representa-
| tives at the institution, such as the
Prisoners Aid Association, the Jew
| ish Big Brothers League and others,
have ever voiced the slightest COM
plant in this connection.
"Dr. Shipley himself denies any
failure to do his duty in lengthy
sworn statement and has notified us
I! that he intends to make his defense
before the Governors committee.
"The medical situation at any
prison is so important part of the
work that it ought to be beyond any
possibility Of criticism, and under
ordinary circumstances the first
thing we would do would be to put
Dr. Shipley on trial and have a pub.
lie hearing, at which he could be
faced by his accusers, and we could
determine the truth or falsity of the
accusations. If they are true, DR..
Shipley should be instantly dismissed.
| If they are not true, he is entitled to
have his reputation cleared from the
| slightest stigma.
| 'Tn the present instance, however,
the Governor has already appointed
a committee to make report to
| him of these conditions as well as
I, the other conditions, and in addition
to that we have appointed medical
committee, consisting of five of the
very best physicians in Baltimore, to
make suggestions to us for the i'm
provement Of medical condition in
both the Penitentiary and at the
House of Correction.
'sUnder these circumstances we
have come to the conclusion that we
will not place DR., Shipley on trial
until after the Governors committee
| has reported and until after our own
medical committee has had an OPP
portunity to pass upon the situation
and to give us their views"
| Eugene O'Dunne, author Of the
charges, which brought about the in
vestigation by Mr., Fishman. comment
ing on the report, declared that II Mr..
Fishman's report were correct, "both
the Board and Warden ought to be
| dismissed"
.'If conditions in the hospitals are
as Mr. Fishman painted them" Mr..
O'Dunne continued; "if dying patients
have been neglected and other pa
tients left to shift for themselves,
with no temperatures taken, DR..
Shipley should be indicted for man
slaughter. 1t seems to me to be a
question which the medical profession
should take up"
Speaking of the Fishman report,
Governor Richie said he will have
conference with former Judge N.
Charles Burke, the committees chair
man.
/ The report having been submitted
to the committee, the Governor
pointed out that any recommends
lions arising therefrom would natur-
ally come from the committee. At the
conference with Judge Burke the Gov.
ernor will probably be put in touch
with the committees views.
Like Maryland Laws.
Harrison W. Vicker's chairman of
the State Conservation Commission,