The New York herald., 1922-09-06
CONGRESS MAY OPEN
inquiry OF VETERAN
BUREAU, HOSPITAL 81
Representative Demands
Satisfactory Explanation
From Federal Officials.
CHARGES TERRORISM
Rossdale Declares Sane Are
Gagged With tunatics to
Discipline Them.
PATIENTS WON'T TALK
None Comes Forward When
Asked if They Have Griev-
ances to Tell About.

Albert lRossdale. Representative
from the Twenty-third District, said
yesterday that IL within two days he
did not get a satisfactory explanation
of complaints he had received he
would ask Congress on Friday to in
vestigate both United States Veterans
hospital No. 81, in Kingsbridge road,
The Bronx, and the New York office
of the Veterans Bureau.
The most serious charge made by
the Representative. a Republican. is
that certain patients who are not in
sane have been sent to the insanity
ward and confined there for several
days at a time with the insane al a
punishment for violation of hospital
rules. He said that while he was
walking through the hospital grounds
on Sunday one of these patients
shouted through a grated window.
This led to an admission from a mem
ber OF the medical staff that harmless
veterans sometimes are shut up with
the insane for disciplinary purposes,
the legislator added.
The answer of DR.. A. r. Chronquest
OF the Public Health Service. command
ing officer at the hospital. was that the
Congressman is mistaken.
Commandant Denies Charge.
IT haven't heard Of the specific case
mentioned by Mr.. Rossdale" he said
but the facts are these: All the case,
at this hospital are mental cases Some
Of the patients are on the border line
between sanity and insanity. IT some,
times happens that one of them crosses
the line and becomes temporarily insane
He Is transferred to the ward where the
other insane men are. When he RECEIVERS
his normal balance he Is returned to his
regular quarters"
Sane men never have been placed ir
the insanity ward as a punishment p
DR.. Chronquest was asked. No" he
said.
VI. F. Mc1nerney. chief investigator
for the Veterans Bureau. who came
from Washington 70 look into charges oil
brutality at the hospital. feels. he said
that Representative Rossdale, in threat
ening an inquiry by Congress. spoke
prematurely. as the results Of Mr.. Nc
Inerney's observation had not yet beer
made known.
McInerney has about completed his
task. lie is convinced that the insane
veteran, Nicholas y. Samson. was
beaten inexcusably by two attendants
l.
for the charge that another patient
namei Martin was beaten into in
sensibility with wet towels. He received
yesterday the affidavit of nurse, Miss
Valentine. whom he believes impartial
She said Martin was net beaten In the
hospital but after he had wandered
away was found unconscious by six po.
licemen.
"Dr. Chronauest Fearless Man"
These" said Mr.. McInerney. "are tn,
only complaints have received wen
to the hospital yesterday and invited
every man with grievance to come and
tell Il TO me. Not one came. Nor ha.
any one In the neighborhood complained
to me that the hospital Is badly situated
or that the patients get away and max,
trouble. The hearing in the case of Tim
othy j. Lucci and Harry j. Morgan. at.
tendants accused Of beating Samson ane
whose arrest ! caused, Is scheduled Il
take place before Magistrate Hating ir
the Morrisania Court tomorrow. but
believe Il will be put over for week
So I expect 70 return to Washington to-
morrow and come back for the hearing
I want TO say that I regard DR. Chron
auest as n fearless man. He requested
this investigation himself and ! believ,
his only thought is to give the disabled
mon the best possible care"
Here Is what Representative RCssdal,
said
"On Sunday | saw two or three hun
dred frightened relatives of patients wh'
we're excited by the story OF brutality IN
The Samson case. Neither Or. Chron
Guest nor Dr. Brewster. the executiv,
caicer were on hand. but ] found DR.
Bunker In charge.
"Dr. Bunker showed me around Mt my
-eauegt. As we were leaving G ware
. man called out through wire lattice
,Doctor. Doctor At my suggestion W.
went back The patient said. Doctor
wont Won let me out? All did was ash
,oA my mail and they're keeping me u
r,re with insane men, | ascertainec
,bat tho man had left the grounds ane
taken companions to the movies without
r.rn,ission and was also accused oi
sneaking insultingly to the woman who
distributes mail.