Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-11
GRAND Jury PROBE
CLEARS GALL|NGER
Veterans Charges of Mis-
treatment at Hospital Found
to Be Unfounded.

The management of Gallinger Hos
staff is given the complete confidence"
of the District grand jury. both Of
flcially and as citizens of tie COM
munity" in a report submitted today
to Justice Joseph w. Cox. The report
is the result of a recent inquiry into
complaints of miStreatment at the hos
pital. made by Joseph Edward Joffe, a
Cincinnati World War veteran.
The grand jury declares the evil
dence submitted failed utterly" to sup
port the charges and asserts the hos
pital staff Is "conscientiouSly perform
ing a very difficult task"
Joffe charged he was assaulted dur
ing 48-hour stay in the institution
and given black eye by Patrick Null
lany siX-foot former Marine, who
had been placed over other inmates.
Officials Of the hospital, in whose pres
ence the incident occurred, took no
steps to prevent the assault. he claimed.
Assistant United States Attorney Julian
l. Richards presented the testimony 10
the grand jury.
Attack Laid to Grudge.
The report admits the attack was
made by Mullany in the presence OF
certain officials, but was wholly I'M
expected by them and was 1.-The result
of the maniacal rage of a patient who
bore a personal grudge, justified or
otherwise, against Joffe, who had
pointed him out as having been the
aSsailant of another inmate. Mullany.
the report states, has since been ad-
judged insane by jury and committed
to ST Elizabeth's Hospital
The grand jurors pGint out Galnnger
Hospital. like other institutions, has
rules sand regulations binding on all
inmates. which from time to time are
r belled against by certain types OF in
dividuals who ARE SHrone TO exaggerate
greatly imaginary grievances and TO
condemn those in authority"
The evidence fails utterly, the report
says, to support the charges that Jane
was improperly committed by the Vet
GRAMS Bureau, that he was miStreated
while there and that he was detained
too long, as we'll as the charges that
patients of violent tendencies were given
places of authority over ether patients
and permitted 10 mistreat them.
Observed Operation.
witnesses asked TO be called by Jaf1e.
as we'll as officials physicians, attend
ants and hospital records, were exam
ined by the grand jury, personal visit
was made by the inQuisitorial body TO
the hospital and an opportunity afford
ed to inspect and observe the personnel
and equipment under practical working
conditions.
The text of the report follows in part:
Certain complaints against CALM
ger Hospital having been filed with the
United States district attorney, an in
vestigation was begun by the grand
Jury, particularly with respect 10
charges set forth in an affidavit filed
by the principal complainant.
This complainant. as we'll as those
named by him to corroborate his state
ments, testified before the jury. In
addition. the jury on its own initiative
summoned various officials, physicians,
attendants and official records. This
body also visited the hospital TO inspect
and observe its personnel and equip
ment under practical working condi-
lions.
"All possible evidence available has
been fairly and impartially placed De-
fore this body by the district attorney
office and a most exhaustive examlna-
ton has been conducted.
"ChaIees were made that q certain
patient was improperly committed Dy
the Veterans Bureau 10 Galilnger HOS
pital: that he was mistreated ana was
detained unnecessarily toIss \tAaA 6Cs
we're also made that patients OF violent
tendencies were given positions OF au-
thority over other patients and permit
ted to mistreat them and that the au-
thorities of the hospital made no ef-
fort to control alterations among pa
tents.
Find Charges UnfOunded.
"The evidence fails utterly to support
these charges.
Complaint was made that patient
was permitted to make an assault on a
former patient We find that, while
the assault did occur in the presence OF
certain officials of the institution, 1t
was wholly unexpected on their part
and was the result of the maniacal rage
of a patient who bore personal grudge
against the person assaulted, and who
has since been adjudged insane by q
jury.
we find the hospital and its ofn-
Gals conducted themselves IN the prop
err manner and showed the proper at
titude toward the patients under their
care and toward their work,
We wish to express our complete
confidence in DR.. Edgar A. Bocock
and his staff. We believe they are con-
scientiously performing very dificult