New-York tribune., 1922-09-12
Hospital Head
Admits eter,an
as Attacked
Il Convinced Attendants i'm
Bronx Institution Under
Investigation by Veter-I
ans Bureau Beat Patient
Men Held for Assault
representative RossdaIe Ac-
companies Committee in
Visit TO Various Wards


Following day devoted largely to
the formulation Of plan Of procedure,
me committee investigating conditions
i, the United States Veterans Bureau
Hospisai, 81, the Bronx, will recon-.
.sns this morning at 10 o'clock and
pfccsed with the examination OF
witnesses. The only witness to be ex-
.mined Yesterday WAS DR.. A. 2. chron-
ouest. superintendent of the hospital.
DR.. chronquest admitted that as
ye,ult Of the investigation conducted
by himself aud Mr.. Mclnerney, OF the
y..erans' Bureau. he was convinced
49, an attack had been made on
Nicholas 3. Samson, q patient. by the
4ra attendants. who have been ar
vss.v,sd ;n the United States District
rn,srt and declared that had he been
swsrs a. this at first he would have
taksn pYorer action Immediately.
The committee, composed of Dr. Guy
q. ireland. neuro-psychiatric inspector
os the Veterans Bureau in Washing
ton. as chairman; c. FL. Jswett, of the
loesi Veterans Bureau, and Martin w
Lsttleton the lawyer, met for the first
time yesterday morning and imme-
dsately went into executive session to
isy out plan of campaign.
Object to Two Committeeman
When the meeting was thrown open
10 TIE public, five men were seen Sit
slag at the table occupied by the in
vsstigating committee instead Of three
m had been eNpected. Representative
Hbert b. Rossdale, who has brought
as specific charges against the hospi-
81, objected Immediately and asked
Dr.. Ireland what it meant.
Al FIRST DR.. Ireland answered that
he committee consisted of the five,
tAs two added members being M. p.
ksinerney and J. 5. Bostelm, both rep
sssntatives of the Veterans Bureau.
Repre- sentative Rossdale declared
there had been an explicit under
sanding between himself and Major
", +. Lent, division manager of the
yetsrans' Bureau, that the committee
would consist of only three members.
BE protested that if there were TO be
any new members they should be from
outside the bureau. At this point Chair
nan Ireland explained that the COM
mittee itself was made up OF the three
members named originally and that the
two others were associate mem bers.'
Make Tour of Hospital
1t was decided that these two would
aos sit as members of the committee,
snd they we're given places off to one
side. The committee then adjourned
for the time being to make q tour of
The hospital and familiarize the mem
hers with the places that would be
brought into the investigation later.
The first place visited was Ward G.,
which Is separate building where
most Of the violent cases are confined.
On the top floor the committee talked
With Samson, the patient for whose
alleged beating two attendants, Tim
SHY Lucci and Harry Morgan, have
van arraigned in the United States
district Court 1t also is the case which
isss the basis of Mr.. Rossdale's
agses.
aaA of samson's eyes were dis
eruIet and his left arm was III 4
spnnf and bandages. 1t also is said
taa' two of his ribs are fractured.
slace it was evident that Samson is
aopelessiy insane the committee de-
adsd that 1t would be useless to call
latsr.
Talk With Rational Men
In the observation ward of the build
iSg the committee talked with two men
sno sre said to be rational and con-
shsd there for disciplinary purposes.
vhe OF them is the man with whom Mr..
aOssaaie spoke on a previous occa-
sioa with the result that he includes
~ ms charges the statement that sane
pauents are confined with those who
sse violently insane as means of
Punishment.
puring the afternoon session of the
s.iamittee Dr. Chronquest was called
- tne hrstl witness. He was ques-
Sshso oy Ar. Rossdale concerning the
IIahson case, and admitted that while
ne Nc was ahfSrmed of the alleged assault
puh tne patient on the following morn
.ass .as, Walcn was last Wednesday, the at
was. svaasag W we're not suspended until they
,s.ss saxsn TO court on Saturday. AL
.avusa mr.. Rossdale declared that this
ps1so n y, an unusual procedure to him
senfohquest : said that in his opinion
sas not unusual, and added that he
.. ao sonvinelng evidence against the
10 custody. s'eie nen
piincult to Obtain Attendants
~. y answer to further questions the
sssspsslneendent ssa said that the attendants
ss s.e chosen from the civil service list
ssssa sssa possible, but added that it was
'si,sa sassi.. necessary to go elsewhere. He
palated that one of the attendants,
sa.sssn. s.s :. had been coal miner formerly
sss.;ss G snas 1t was at times difficult to
2rss.a,s assendants because of the disa-
i,aDle s,ap features of the work.
among those who were present at the
uss.,ag ussag were Irwin l. Rackoff. legal
s,gsesehtatiye of the American Legion:
i.sisa i.sasis !. Welch, liaison officer Of the
sss s'.a At the local veterans bureau.
iag sM.a Mvsseiai gold star mothers, includ-
y Afs Martin W. Littleton.
sri Stowaway ON German
/ Liner Accuses Auner;car,