Senator BUCK. Those clothes the patients are wearing are sent back home to be laundered? Mr. FILES. If they have their own pajamas? Mr. FILES. Yes, sir. TESTIMONY OF JAMES R. GARDNER, PROPERTY AND SUPPLY OFFICE, GALLINGER HOSPITAL Senator BUSHFIELD. What is your name and present position? Mr. GARDNER. James R. Gardner, property and supply office, Gallinger Hospital. Senator BUSHFIELD. That is the Gallinger Hospital? Mr. GARDNER. Yes, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. How long have you been there? Mr. GARDNER. I have held my position since June 1, 1942. Senator BUSHFIELD. Were you with the hospital prior to that time? Mr. GARDNER. Yes, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. In what capacity? Mr. GARDNER. As a storekeeper in the supply room. Mr. GARDNER. Two years, 1940. Senator BUSHFIELD. That is when you first went to the hospital? Senator BUSHFIELD. Were you a patient prior to that time? Senator BUSHFIELD. Were you a patient prior to that time? Senator BUSHFIELD. Who employed you, Dr. Bocock? Mr. GARDNER, I was recommended by Dr. Bocock, and appointed by the Commission. Senator BUSHFIELD. In July 1942, did you take a Chevrolet pickup truck and drive it away from the hospital? Mr. GARDNER. I did not. Senator BUSHFIELD. And did you wreck that pick-up truck at Marlboro, Md., in July? Mr. GARDNER. Decidedly no. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, on September 14, 1942, you wrecked a Buick sedan belonging to Lemuel C. Matthews, Jr.; did you not? Mr. GARDNER. I did. Senator BUSHFIELD. You were arrested for being intoxicated and driving in an intoxicated manner. Mr. GARDNER. I don't believe, Senator, the records will show that. Senator BUSHFIELD. Were you charged with operating a car without a driver's permit and fined $60 for that, and $100 for reckless driving? Mr. GARDNER. That is right. Senator BUSHFIELD. But you were intoxicated at the time; were you not? Mr. GARDNER. No, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. Even though the two policemen who arrested you testified that you were, you still maintain that you were not? Mr. GARDNER. Well, I don't recall them testifying that I was. Senator BUSHFIELD. I do not say that they did testify. Senator BUSHFIELD. But if they did. Mr. GARDNER. I am sure had I been they would have placed a charge against me. I believe they would. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, I talked with one of them this morning, Mr. Gardner, and he said you were drunk at the time you wrecked that car. Mr. GARDNER. Well, I had been drinking. Senator BUSHFIELD. You had been drinking? Mr. GARDNER. Yes, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, now, we are getting down to it. How many drinks had you had? Mr. GARDNER. I don't know, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. After one or two a fellow does not keep much count, does he? Mr. GARDNER. That is right. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, getting back to this truck that I am asking you about, did you drive a Chevrolet pick-up truck that belonged to the hospital? Mr. GARDNER. No, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. In July 1942? Mr. GARDNER. No; that is correct; I did not. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, here is what is shown in the report of the Comptroller. You might be interested in that statement. Mr. GARDNER. I would be most interested. Senator BUSHFIELD (reading): It was stated under oath that in July 1942 Gardner diverted to his personal use a new Chevrolet pick-up truck owned by the hospital, and that he appeared to be intoxicated when he left the hospital. Investigation revealed that the car was found wrecked on the Marlboro (Md.) Pike Monday, July 20, 1942, near Meadows, Md. Mr. W. E. Pressgrave, service manager of the Ourisman-Mandell Chevrolet Co., Inc., 1224-40 Good Hope Road SE., was interviewed and stated that on July 20, 1942, a man representing himself to be connected with Gallinger Hospital talked with him at the company's shop regarding this wrecked truck and requested that he haul the same in for repair. Pressgrave instructed James W. Randall, an employee, to bring in the wrecked truck. Randall was interviewed and stated that the same man who called at the garage driving a Buick sedan went ahead of him and showed him the location of the wrecked truck, and that he hauled it to the company's shop on July 20. Records of the Ourisman-Mandell Chevrolet Co., Inc., show Chevrolet pick-up truck, 1942 D. C. tag No. 49, was towed in July 20, 1942. The repair work was authorized July 23 and three orders prepared, Nos. 20512, 20513, and 20845, in the amounts of $123.41, $133.15, and $115.25, respectively. Payment in cash was received for the full total of $371.81, and all cash received was recorded as being from Gallinger Hospital. This truck was in the repair shop from July 20 to August 14, 1942. The name “J. R. Gardner" was noted on the repair orders. Mr. Pressgrave stated that the man who talked with him and ordered the repairs to be made was the same person who signed the repair orders. Mr. Pressgrave described this man, and his description fits that of Mr. Gardner. Now, the report and part of that testimony, Mr. Gardner, is that if you are the man who used that Chevrolet truck belonging to Gallinger Hospital, you mulcted Gallinger Hospital or the District of Columbia out of the price of those repairs by having it charged to the hospital. Mr. GARDNER. Senator, the inference there is all wrong. I paid that bill. It was due to my negligence that that truck was wrecked. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, you said a moment ago that you Mr. GARDNER. I said that I did not wreck it. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, someone else was with you. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well Mr. GARDNER. I left the car out. I should have seen that it was put away. In the interim I went home. The next thing I knew I had a report that evening that the car belonging to Gallinger was wrecked out on Marlboro Pike. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, that is this pick-up truck; was it not? Senator BUSHFIELD. Yes. Mr. GARDNER. I immediately contacted-I could not get anyone to take me out there that night. The next morning I went out there, and I found it, and I had it towed in and repaired. I had just been appointed. It was kind of a serious thing to have that happen, recently being appointed to this job, and I wanted to make good, so in a sense I assumed the blame for it anyway. I had it repaired and restored to the Gallinger Hospital. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, you paid these repair bills yourself? Senator BUSHFIELD. Then it did not come out of the United States Treasury or Gallinger funds? Mr. GARDNER. No, sir. I have a receipt right here. Senator BUSHFIELD. You did not put in any claim to the hospital for same? Mr. GARDNER. No, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. All right. Was it some friend of yours who drove this truck away? Mr. GARDNER. I don't know who drove it away. I have never been able to find out, and I did not press it very carefully. I was most anxious to have the thing fixed and restored and forget about it. Senator BUSHFIELD. You have no ideas as to who it was? Mr. GARDNER. No, sir; it could have been anybody. Senator BUSHFIELD. Who telephoned you that it was wrecked out on this road? Mr. GARDNER. No. 5 police precinct. Senator BUSHFIELD. Why would they telephone you? Mr. GARDNER. Well, I was in charge of the police unit at Gallinger at that time. I suppose in the absence of the superintendent they thought that I would be the one to notify about it. Senator BUSHFIELD.. You mean you were part of the District Police Force? Mr. GARDNER. The auxiliary police, sir, in its relation to civilian defense. Senator BUSHFIELD. Did you report to the superintendent, Dr. Bocock, that this had happened? Mr. GARDNER. No, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. Now, you had nothing whatsoever to do with driving the truck away? Mr. GARDNER. That is correct. Senator BUSHFIELD. What about this statement by one of the investigators that you appeared to be intoxicated when the truck had been driven away? Mr. GARDNER. Well, Senator, I don't know where they got their information, and all I have got to say is, the burden of proof would be on them. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, I understand that. Mr. GARDNER. They never charged me with that in their interview. Senator BUSHFIELD. This is not a criminal case. Mr. GARDNER. I understand that, but there is a reputation at stake. Senator BUSHFIELD. Well, we will give you every opportunity to protect that reputation. Mr. GARDNER. Yes, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. You assumed responsibility simply because you had negligently left the truck standing out; is that it? Mr. GARDNER. That is right. I am responsible for all property at that hospital. Senator BUSHFIELD. I see. Mr GARDNER. This thing happened very shortly after I had been recently appointed. Senator BUSHFIELD. But the wrecking of the Buick you do admit. Mr. GARDNER. Oh, yes, sir. I admit that. That had nothing whatsoever to do with the hospital, did not happen during working hours, or any connection whatsoever. Senator BUSHFIELD. Did you hear the testimony of Laurence E. Tucker? Mr. GARDNER. Yes, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. Was it substantially correct? Mr. GARDNER. It was correct in that part that said that I gave him 5 gallons of gasoline on a Sunday morning. I did. Senator BUSHFIELD. You did not know where it was going? Mr. GARDNER. I was under the impression that it would be used for cleaning the laundry mangles. We issued gasoline to the laundry from time to time for that purpose. Senator BUSHFIELD. Is it not your job to follow up the property to see where it goes? Mr. GARDNER. As long as I have a properly signed receipt for the property, as I issue Senator BUSHFIELD. Who signed the receipt? Mr. GARDNER. He brought a ticket over signed by Mr. Files. Senator BUSHFIELD. As far as your duties were concerned, everything was regular, then? Mr. GARDNER. That is correct. I go down to the storeroom every Sunday morning just for such reasons as that. The floor possibly may want oxygen, or some other type of supply. I generally stay around there an hour or two, lock the storeroom up, and go home. Senator BUSHFIELD. I think that is all. Senator BUCK. I want to ask if you are testifying under oath at this time? By that, I mean did you stand up and be sworn? Mr. GARDNER. Yes, sir. Senator BUCK. You are still employed at the hospital? Senator BUCK. How much do you receive? Mr. GARDNER. Per month? Senator BUCK. Yes. Mr. GARDNER. $205 a month. Senator BUCK. Have you been there a year, over a year? Mr. GARDNER. Yes, sir. Senator BUCK. This accident occurred how soon after you were here? Mr. GARDNER. What was the date of that summons? Senator BUSHFIELD. Of which, the truck? Mr. GARDNER. The wreck. Senator BUCK. Well, let us see; July 20, as I remember it, July 20, 1942. Mr. GARDNER. Approximately 7 weeks. Senator BUCK. Seven weeks after you had been there? Mr. GARDNER. Yes, sir. Senator BUCK. Where did you come from? Mr. GARDNER. It was a promotion for me. I had been there before that. Senator BUCK. In what capacity? Mr. GARDNER. Working in the storeroom. Senator BUCK. Did that pay as much as this job? Mr. GARDNER. Oh, no. I only got $1,520 a year. Senator BUCK. And you never knew who took that truck? Mr. GARDNER. I never was able to find out. Senator BUCK. But you felt so much responsibility that it had been wrecked that you were willing to pay the costs out of your own pocket? Mr. GARDNER. That is correct, because I wanted this job, and I was afraid that possibly Senator BUCK. Did you ever undertake to investigate to find out who took it out? Mr. GARDNER. Quietly; but I never got anywhere. Senator BUCK. Nobody knew anything about it? Mr. GARDNER. No, sir. Senator BUCK. They did not know how it got there? Senator BUSHFIELD. May I ask a question? Senator BUCK. Certainly. Senator BUSHFIELD. Where was this pick-up truck that you said it was your place to put it away? Mr. GARDNER. It was not my place to personally put it away, but I should have seen that it was. Senator BUSHFIELD. Where was it left? Mr. GARDNER. It was stored at night in the hospital garage. It was a general-utility car, and was left up near the storeroom, and we had planned to try to make use of that car as a truck for hauling bodies. Senator BUSHFIELD. It was not off the hospital grounds when it disappeared? Mr. GARDNER. That is correct. Senator BUSHFIELD. It was on the grounds? Mr. GARDNER. Yes, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. Are you in charge of the stockroom where the foods are stored? Mr. GARDNER. Yes, sir. Senator BUSHFIELD. Canned goods, and things like that? Mr. GARDNER. Canned goods. Senator BUSHFIELD. And sugar. |