The Placer herald., 1866-04-21
HORRORS OF THE INSANE ASYLUM.
Report Of the Legislative Investigating
Committee.

1h's gentleman was very badly abused
while patient in the Asylum, and without
any cause or provocation whatever. His in.
juries did not result in death, as did the fore.
going cases, but be is in quite serious De.
gree disabled for life, and it is only with re,
ference to results that this case is less to be
reprobated than the one last considered.-
The same rules Of humanity and decency
were violated, and there was the same utter
want Of Qualification, the difference being
simply this: Marshall was a strong, healthy
man, and death did not follow as it did in the
case Of Lilly. The facts in this case are
mainly found upon the testimony of Mar.
shall himself, supported by the evidence Of
Knapp and Sandersou, as found in the print
cd testimony taken before the Coroner's jury
in the Lilly inquest. The only controvert
ing testimony is that of Drake, the person
who inflicted the injuries, and who we have
just seen was the murderer of Lilly. We
have no hestancy in saying that Marshall's
testimony, though be has once been an 10.
mate Of the Asylum, is in our own own
opinion as reliable as that of any witness
who was called before US. 1t is abundantly
shown that at the time be was injured be-
was, and ever since has been, as sane as any
man need desire. lie is besides a man Of
character, integrity, and intelligence, we'll
known 10 the City and County Of Sacramen.
to, where he has resided sixteen years, and
held the Office Of Supervisor and Sheriff Of
the county. He told bis story without any
feeling. We tested bis recollection with
reference to other matters as we'll as his own
grievances. His conduct, manner, and ap.
pearance, the corroborating circumstances,
and other testimony taken, satisfied US Of bis
entire credibiity. From all the evidence,
we find the case to have been about this
Marshall bad recovered from his temporary
arrangement, but had not yet been dis
charged, as it was not certain that the cure
was a permanent one, He was in the second
ward at the time, and bad climbed partially
up on the gate 10 look over at the outer
world. Drake ordered him down, and some
words passed between them, whereupon
Drake procured pair of iron handouts and
informed Marshall that be must have them
put on. Marshall quietly beld out his right
hand as directed, and the iron was fastened
to that wrist. He was then ordered to put
bis hands behind him, which be did without
any resistance or objection, and they we're
thus manacled at bis back. Having accom-
plisbed this wonderful feat. the man C) Drake
displayed his manhood, as we'll as his fitness
to be an attendant on the insane, by jerking
Marshall down on to the asphaltum floor and
kicking him in the side and breast. He
kicked the breath out of Marshall, to use the
latter's own expression, and when be recover
ed, Drake repeated the punishment, inter-
mngling kicks with curses and the most op-
probrious epithets. When Drake had fin,
ished the job, Marshall was helped up by
other patients. The handouts remained on
his wrists, his hands behind him, six hours,
until the circulation below the irons was
suspended, aud bis hands, to use bis own
words again, "were black as a Negroes" On
being released, upon moving bis shoulders
Marshall could feel and hear the grating Of
broken bones about the breast. An exam
ination by q surgeon disclosed that bis
breast bone was broken, three ribs were
broken ayay from it on the left and two on
the right side. Some days elapsed before
the case came to the knowledge of the ply
sicians at the Asylum, and it was then too
late to effect cure Of the injuries. Mar.
shall is perhaps himself in some measure to
blame for not receiving medical relief more
He says, however, be was eau.
toned by some of the employees mot to
make fuss about his trouble" he
no opportunity to notify the physician Of his
condition except in the presence Of Drake
which be dared not do lest Drake should
punish him still worse for so doing; and it
seems that Drake himselftook good care not
to give the information.
Dr.. Clark, who had charge Of the Asylum
at the time, on hearing the facts, immediate.
ly ordered the discharge OF Drake: but be-
fore the order was executed, rumors that
Lilly bad been killed were heard, and it was
deemed advisable 10 retain Drake until that
case was Investigated. He was SO retained,
and then sent away fran the Asylu instead
of being indicted, tried, and executed, as be
should have been. 1t further appeared in
the course Of The investigation of Marshall's
case that it was common thing for Drake
to beat patients over the head with large
bundle of brass and iron door keys, which
be as an attendant always carried, if they
did not promptly obey bis orders. We
deem it proper TO state here that Drake had
himself been patient in the Asylum
What was the particular form or character
of bis insanity we have not informed our
selves. lis enough for us to know that be
was discharged by DR.. Tilden as a restored
patient. on the last day of February, eighteen
hundred and sixty.four His record-ths
murder Of Lilly, the mutilation of Marshall,
and the ipdiscriminate beating Of all patients
who did not obey bis caprice-is fearful
commentary on this sudden promotion from
ward to guardian-ths transfer Of the luna.
tic Of to-day to the position of a master Of
lunatics tomorrow. We do not care how
thorough and radical bis recovery might
have appeared, nor how complete his restor
alton to all the mental faculties. Nothing
can be more unlike than the two conditions
Of patient and attendant in an Insane Asy.
lv,r W. hava not had much exnerienC0