The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-06-27
H0SPLT Al.
ELECTS
|A|]"
Refused Permission to q
With Wife, ]. r Walker Pro-
tests. But Is ousted

Forcibly evicted from his wife's
private room At Garfield Memorial
Hospital, shortly before the birth
of q daughter, Fred ]. Walker,
member Of the Washington staff
Of the international News Service,
today demanded IN investigation
by the hospital board Of trustees
Of Superintendent D. @. Howard.
Mr.. Howard, It is charged in
Walkers letter to Henry B. Spen-
Ger, president Of the hospital and
Of the board, ordered
the eviction and called IN two or
-derlies to assist in putting Walker
out Of the room.
Had Visit Permission.
Walker stated he had received
the permission Of Doctor Prentiss
Wilson. the attending physician.
to visit his wife At any hour prior
to the birth Of the child and had
been informed that the ordinary
visiting hours at the hospital did
moi apply in such serious cases.
Miss g. Harker. superintendent
of the maternity ward. had like
wise been told Of Doctor Wilson's
orders in the case.
The regular visiting hours are
from IL .. m. to s p. m. walker
had been At the hospital early Wed
nesday morning. the day on which
the child was born. and had LETT
the building for a few minutes On
his return-the hour was 10:l6-he
was halted on the steps by
nurse. to whom he explained the
circumstances.
Ignores Wilson's Orders
Just then superintendent How
ard came into view, said Walker
today. He told me. in uncourteons
language, that I could not come
into the hospital before IL o'clock.
I, in turn, stated that Doctor VIII
son had given me express permis.
sion to visit my wife. and further
more claimed the right TO visit the
private room at any time under
the particular circumstances,
81 don't care about Wilson.
said Mr.. Howard. 'You'll have to
get out of this hospital
Then you'll have to put me
hi
the stairs, going up to the room.
Il was angry clean through at
the idea of d technicality involving
period of forty-five minutes pre-
venting me from seeing my wife,
who at that time was in critical
condition.
Makes Wife HystArIcal.
Howard made no effort to In
yestigate my statement that Doe
tor Wilson had given me express
permission, nor did he interview
Miss Harker on the subject
y II was in the room a few minutes
later when he burst in, followed
by colored orderly, and in loud
voice, ordered me in the presence
of my wife. to leave the room.
II asked him to call Doctor Will
son to bear out my claim. He re-
fused.
Take him out, said Howard to
the orderly.
II refused to go.
Keep your hands off me-,
the orderly.
He plucked me by the sleeve and
made half.hearted attempt 20
evict me. All the time Howard wa
orders to the orderly and
creating a disturbance in the rooEl
"a disturbance which, according TO
Doctor Wilson. left Mrs. walker
in a highly hysterical condition"
Birth of Child.
At this juncture the portahis
liable, used for the removal of o.
tients to the operating room, was
l oiled up to the door. and was
pushed. in to the bed. where prep
arations were made for Mrs.
Walkers removal.
Miss Harker and Miss G. M.
Holt, the floor nurse, were in at
tendance, but were mute in the
presence OF their superior, accord
ing to Mr.. Walker.
Another orderly then entered.
Mr.. Walker said, "and, not desir-
ing a scene in view of Mrs. Walk
er's condition. / walked out of
the room, first assuring Mr.. How.
ard that l would take steps TO
his right in the mat
ter"
The child was born an hour