Evening star., 1953-06-13
Lawyers Suit Claims
He Was Kidnapped,
Beaten, Ruled Insane

OOUIVbhH NUlVO HuuSUulV
A 100000 damage suit has
been filed against former Dis
trict and Maryland officials by
a man who claims he was IL
legally jailed and beaten in
Prince Georges County. then
kidnapped into Washington and
finally declared insane to con-
ceal further mistreatment at
Gallinger Hospital.
The action was entered May
26 in Baltimore Federal Court by
James N. Beery. through Walter
H. Maloney, a District attorney.
Mr.. Beery was described as a law
yer. His address was listed as
1914 Sixteenth street NV. He
asked $50, 900 actual and $50, 900
punitive damages.
Papers in the case claim that
the series Of alleged events began
in 1916, but that their illegality
stayed the statute of limitations.
IL Defendants Named.
Washington defendants are
Drs. Thomas G. Walsh, Albert e.
Marland and Isadore Rods, then
members Of the District Com
mission of Mental Health: DR.. T.
e. Gilbert, at that time head Of
Gallinger Hospitals psychiatric
division; DR.. Philip A. E. Steb-
bing, acting superintendent of
Gallinger, and William Nichols,
an attendant.
County defendants are former
Police Chief Ralph w. Brown,
Police 1t. Elon Turner and Sergt.
Arnold Naylor, both retired; for
mer County Sheriff r. Earl Sher-
if; Vincent Wells, former Upper
Marlboro jailer, and May o.
Fields, whose position and activi-
ties were not described.
The suit declares 1t. Turner
and Sergt. Naylor arrested Mr..
Beery June 10, 1946, at his home
In Bradbury Park, Prince Georges
County, and lodged him in the
Upper Marlboro jail, where he
was held two days without
charges.
While in the Jail, the. suit
claims, Mr.. Beery was denied
medical attention and the right
to summon counsel and was
physically assaulted by Mr.. Wells.
Charges He Was Kidnapped.
On June 81, Mr.. Beery said, he
got in a police car with 1t. Tur-
ner and Seryt. Naylor after the
sergeant told him he would be
taken to his home. Instead, he
claims, the officers drove him
through the edge of Bradbury
Park and then violated kidnap-
ing statutes by continuing into
the District to Gallinger Hospi-
tai against his will.
In Gallinger, the suit alleges,
Mr.. Beery was beaten June "a
by Mr.. Nichols and others he
could not identify. For hours
after the beating, Mr.. Beery
claims he was strapped to a bed
and left without medical atten-
ton.
The next day, the suit relates.
he was transferred to st. Eliza
beths Hospital, where his in
juries were photographed and
treated. Mr.. Beery contended
his commitment to st. Elizabeths
was unlawful, but did not COM
plain about the medical atten-
ton and treatment he received
there.
Because of the attack, the suit
alleges. "it became necessary to
protect Gallinger Hospital and
the defendant, DR.. Gilbert. be-
cause of the assault on Mr.. Beery
and his serious physical condi-
ton resulting therefrom."
Committed to st. EIizabeths.
Consequently, the suit declares,
DR.. Stebbing, without having
previously met or examined him,
alleged in a petition filed in
United States District Court that
Mr.. Beery is rambling, circum-
stantial, excessive, grandiose and
euphoric.
AS result Of these statements
the suit said, the Commission of
Mental Health held a hearing on
Mr.. Beery's mental condition and
later recommended that he be
committed to st. Elizabeths
Hospital.
Mr.. Beery appealed the COM
MISSIONS findings, the suit
said, but his injuries prevented
a proper defense at a court hear
ing. He agreed to stay at st.
Elizabeths temporarily, he said,
when Judge Matthew E. MCGUIRE
told him he would not adjudi-
cate the case until he had re-
covered his health. He claimed
the court later ruled without his
knowledge.
In September, 1916, Mr.. Berry
said, he was transferred to the
veterans hospital at Perry
Point, Md. He added that his
discharge from the Government
hospital was delayed several
months by the wrongs of the
defendants"
Their unlawful acts, he claims,
caused loss and destruction of his
property and great financial
loss from inability to pursue, un-
til recently. his professional
| carer as a LAWYER"