Evening star., 1947-10-22
Clinic
Continued From First Page.)

available to you all information
documents and records in their
possession, but, If this is anything
further you desire to make your
records complete, kindly let me
know"
While Mr.. Fay would not be
quoted, it seemed likely no decision
will be taken as to whether the
case warrants grand jury attention
until after the civil rights division
of the Justice Department submits
its report on the case. It was be-
lieved this report may be ready
within a week.
Mr.. Bunch, 64. carpenter, died
in Gallinger Hospital of a fractured
skull on August 4. six days after his
arrest for intoxication.
Coroner's Jury Finding.
A coroner's jury on August Ia
found Mr.. Bunch had died acci-
dentally as the result of a fractured
skull suffered In fall, although
members of the Bunch family con-
tended at the inquest and later that
the elderly man was beaten and
neglected by police while under ar
rest at No. 9 precinct.
No evidence has been uncovered
to refute testimony that Mr.. Bunch
had been drinking wine and beer on
the afternoon and night before he
was found lying in a semicon-
scious condition on the sidewalk in
the 1900 block Of F street NE. early
on the morning of July %.
Police denied Mr.. Bunch was
beaten, as did a fellow prisoner
in the cell block. Frank Regan, also
under arrest for intoxication. Regan
told detectives he heard the man
have a "convulsion" shortly before
he was removed to GaIinger for
the second time that day, but later
told attorneys for the Bunch family
be heard at least three separate
convulsions and kept calling for
help for several hours before police
responded.
Complained He Felt Ill.
Complaining of feeling i'll a few
hours after his arrest, Mr.. Bunch
was taken to Gallinger, where phy-
sician diagnosed his case as acute
alcoholism and returned him to the
officers. When Mr.. Bunch failed
to rally. he was returned to Gal
linger that evening and admitted
after an examination. because he
had fever of undetermined origin" J"
Decision to give such cases more
careful medical attention was
reached on recommendation of Police
Supt. Robert J. Barrett in consulta-
ton with the Commissioners and
District Health Officer George c.
Ruhland.
Maj. Barrett told reporters that
on 800 occasions in the last year
doctors at the hospital had refused
to admit persons brought to them
by police when preliminary exami-
nation indicated intoxication.
The new system, it was hoped,
may reveal, in doubtful cases,
whether the person is merely drunk
or is i'll or suffering from a combi-
nation of alcoholism and illness.
$4,000 Arrests Yearly.
Mai. Barrett said the arresting
officers still must Judge in doubtful
cases. since there is no possibility
that the hospital can examine some
10000 persons annually arrested
here for intoxication.
Commissioner Young said Maj
Barrett's proposal was very we'll
received" by both DR.. Rutland and
DR.. Alvin Sweeny, superintendent of
Gallinger.
ANY help they are able to give,
they will give u.s." he continued.
They may not have the facilities
at Gallingher to take care OF this
entire problem, but they will do
what they can"
Commissioner Young said the new
system will require some re-arrang-
ing of Gallinger's already over
crowded facilities.
The conference also was attended
by DR.. Leopold Wexberg, director of
the Health Departments Bureau of
Hygiene; Inspector Walter
H. Thomas, assistant police superin-
tendent, and Inspector Floyd Trus-
colt, chief of detectives.
Symptoms of acute alcoholism,
physicians pointed out, can easily
be mistaken for those of fractured
skull, heart attack, uremic poison
ing or other serious ailments caus-
ing shock