Evening star., 1948-11-19

! Prince Georges County ofnclals
today were threatened with court
action over the jailing week ago
of PRESLEY Ward, an Ill Fort WASH
ington storekeeper suspected OF
suffering from a mental disorder
A brother of the 72-year-old
storekeeper said he would consult
with an attorney on the possibility
of bringing a suit against "respon-
sible parties on grounds OF "crimi-
nal neglect" A physician said the
man was suffering from heart all
ment and high blood pressure.
Eldridge Ward, a builder, of 129
Chesapeake street S.W., described
action of Prince Georges County
police in jailing his brother as in
human and diSgraceful."
/ Holding the sick man in the Upper
Marlboro Jail overnight last Friday
under a technical charge OF dis
orderly conduct was dirty trick,
the Washington builder said.
Inquiry Promised.
Meanwhile, an investigation into
circumstances surrounding the
storekeeper' Jail stay was promised
by Harry w. McNamee. presiden,
of the County Board of Commits
sioners.
Police and others involved In Jail.
ing Mr.. Ward said they followed
routine county procedure in the
handling of suspected mental pa
tients. The disorderly conduct
! charge, they said, was a technically
used to hold persons suffering from
mental disorders until examinations
can be made by two physicians.
The doctors decide whether the in
diyiduals should be committed to
.State mental institutions.
Prince Georges County has no
hospital facilities for mental pa
tients. > Police Supt. Ralph w.
Brown reported he has appealed
repeatedly to the Prince Georges
General Hospital. Cheverly, to pro-
vide such facilities, but without
success.
Hospital Cites Rules.
DR.. A. K. Besley, hospital super
intendent, said the 100-bed institu-
ton has rules" barring mental pa
tients.
Mr.. Ward was taken first to Prov
idence about 1:30 am last Friday
after collapsing at work. ATTACHES
suggested he be returned to the
jurisdiction of Prince Georges Coun-
ty since he was Maryland resident
According to Linden Briscoe, clerk
to the county commissioners, a So
cial service worker at Providence
telephoned that Mr.. Ward def
nitely was a mental patient"
1t. Elon Turner of the Upper
Marlboro police station, said he di-
rected the committing magistrate tc
write "unsound mind only on the
warrant.
Released to Family Saturday.
! Justice of the Peace Irving Ira
band, who wrote the warrants ano
set 500 bond on the disorderly
conduct charge, said that, by law
he had to place a charge against
Mr. Ward. The charge was dropped
when the storekeeper was released
in custody of his family about noon
Saturday, Mr.. Traband said.
| asked why Mr.. Wards family was
not notified, Mr.. Traband said the
! family didn't seem to look out for
him, so why should we look out
for them?"
The family said a nephew, Ted
Ward, of 4106 South Capital street
first learned of the storekeeper S
plight "by accident" They said
that on Saturday he encountered
one of the two policemen who took
Mr.. Ward from the hospital to Upper
Marlboro.
Examined BY Physician.
One Of two physicians asked to
examine Mr.. Ward after his arrival
at the Jail, reported the storekeeper
appeared to be extremely confused
and didn't know where he was"
The physician, DR.. Paul c. Van
Malta Of Parkland. said Mr.. Ward
didn't know of his family or If he
even had one The doctor said he
left report at the Jail to be turned
over to the commissioners recon-
mending that Mr.. Wardsbe hospital
ized.
DR.. James G. Sasscer of Upper
Marlboro, Jail physician, reported
he was not consulted and conse.
Iquently did not examine Mr.. Ward
Yesterday DR.. Sasscer said he hac
examined Mr.. Ward and found him
to be perfectly normal" Las
night, after learning more about the
case, DR.. Sasscer said he apparently
had mistaken some one else for Mr.
Ward.