The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-07-19
DOCTOR BACKS
T. B. VICTIM IN
ABUSE CHARGE
Report Shows III Man Was
Forced to Work in
Penal Farm Quarry.
Continued From Page One

addition to being patient there in
March of 1888. was In 1923, Jewish
hospital--six months-TBC (mean-
ing chronic tuberculosis) Then
went to Denver-eleven months
TIC"
The record shows that phrenico-
tony was performed on Shipper in
the st. Louis hospital prior to his
alleged abuse at the Indiana state
farm.
An operation of this type is per-
formed to rest weakened lungs and
enable them to breathe easily and
without strain.
1t consists Of cutting a nerve that
enters the chest wall.
The nerve was cut on Shippers
left side to relieve the strain of
breathing in pure air.
But at the Indiana state farm
they put Shipper to work at hard
labor in the quarry, breathing rock
dust wheeling barrow up steep
incline, when he protested that he
had had an operation on his lung.
Sent Back TO Quarry
Shipper did tell them that he had
had his lung removed He showed
them the scar of the phrenicotomy
The farms doctor, according to Aft
davits to The Times, merely listened
to the weakened lung, tested it out
wardly, and, without ordering an
X-ray examination, sent Shipper
back into the wind gusts of rock
dust, back to the wheelbarroW.
They didn't question that Shipper
might have lack of medical knowl-
edge and not know that phreni-
cotomy was not the taking out of
his diseased organ, but an operation
to give that lung a chance to
breathe more freely
DR.. J. F. Gillespie, the farms
physician. says in a statement" He
was supposed to have pain in his
chest and showed me long scar on
the upper left chest, saying that he
had had lung removed On ex-
animation l found the lung still in
tact and functioning well. There
was no evidence of tuberculosis"
Defends Farm Officials
In defense of the hospital and the
farm officials, DR.. Gillespie says:
81 have served as physician at this
institution for seven years and I
truthfully can say that l never have
witnessed case of miStreatment of
a prisoner by an officer or guard
during this time. All prisoners COM
ing TO the hospital for treatment or
examination are given every posi-
BILE measure of care and attention at
our disposal, with due regard to
those who report with deliberate in
tentions of Sinking or avoiding
work"
DIR. GilleSpieS report shows no
X-ray of the lung and no evidence
that he wrote to hospitals where
Shipper had been a patient, for his
record.
Tho indianapolis Times, in prob
ing Shippers hospital record does
find that he has not always been
cooperative with physicians who
NOubilV w hlCdO IllIIl, UuJ IL ola not
find one iota of evidence to dis
prove his assertion that he suffered
from the disease that is feared by
mankind and for which no certain
cure ever has been found
Light Work Needed
But The Times presented the hy-
pothetlcal case of Shipper to
physician of Indiana, we'll known for
his treatment of tubercular patients.
who declares, the man should not
have been put at hard labor. He
should have been given light work.
A man in his condition should not
be baggageman or furniture mover
i'll civilian life"
Governor Paul V. HcNutt received
letter from Shipper complaining
of the treatment accorded him dur
ing his stay in the state farm.
The Governor received statements
from Guard Finn and Arment. adj
hitting they struck Shipper. 1t was
admitted that he served time in
the hole on bread and water.
But no check of Shippers actual
condition to ascertain the truth of
his tubercular history was made by
the state farm.
The Times made that check.
Beatings Are Charged