New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-19
LUNATIC ASYLUM HORRORS.
EVIDENCE AGAINST THE WARDS lSLAl'D
KEEpER


nIscuARGED PATIENT, AND oTHERS-THE
vppDICT-DEATH ACCELERATED IN ONE CASE
Avn CAUSED IN THE OTHER By VIOLENCE
Coroner keenan, held an inquest, yesterday,
an the bodies of John r. Ornel white ana horauo soy
oour eoored late inmates OF the New-fOrk Caty ASy
INN for the Insane on Wards Island, whose deaths are
alleged TO have been caused by brutal treatment at the
hands OF Thomas Farrell OF the keepers OF the Ay
INN The following is full report OF the proceedings
which resulted in a verdict against the accused
TIE wARDENs TESTIMONY.
Edward Burke testified / am warden OF the New
York City Insane Asylum, on Wards Island kno" very
little about the case. as was absent at the umo GU
Monday night understood on my return from Phlia-
dbia that charges Of brutality TO one of the patients
John Orne had been made and that Ornel had ded IN
consequence Of the brutality; the resident physician
had already taken the deposition Of Orne ana hau f
re arrested and locked up in the Twelfth Precinct oI
tonhouse on that evening gave notice to the Coroner
NJ the supposed cause OF death Horatio Seymour also
patiept died last Monday evenings he is supposed TO
have died from the cause; Ornen was admitted
May % and died Sept 49, Seymour was admitted July o.
and died Sept To- they both In Ward Nj they were
transferred this ward from anOther there were three
attendants in Ward NJ at the time of OrnelPs death
Edward Ball. Patrick Mclaughlin, and Thomas Farrell;
Farrell was appointed July have heard of no previous
complaints against Farrell; keeper named Crawford
was discharged about month ago for assaultng one oil
the patients; made the complaint against him myself on
evidence gwen Dy keNeIdi Ol INC pdtOhtS' NJ NN NV
deny the charge; have occasionally seen patients
with scratches on their faces and black eyes, but was
unable 20 trace clearly the origin OF such iuures ne
duties OF attendants TO that patients are Kept
Clean attend TO them at meals that they so 10 Ded
arise at proper times and do not inre one another;
each attendant has leave Of absence OF "a hours every
two weeks; one attendant is required to be In the hall
of the ward constantly during the day; the attendants
cannot restrain patients without instructions from the
Resident Physician. and have power to strike or pun
Ish them IN any manner except in extreme cases Oh sell
defense; Just as left the Asylum woman, who is an
inmate OF the wOrkhouso, stated TO me that she had
seen patient KICK Ornel; her name is McElroy
TIE RESIDENT PHYSICIANS TESTIMONY.
Dr. NJ Gonzalez Echeverria testified: am Resident
Physician Of the NewYork City Asylum for the Insane
on Wards Island; have held that position since the
opening Asylum, in December, 1871; was absent
from tha institution during August. and returned from
my vacation sept then heard that charges had been
published IN some of the newspapers concerning the
brutal treatment received by the patients IN Ward M;
received similar complaints from some Of the patients;
found that the condition OF the patients in Ward M was
very different from what it when
lot. they were very filthy, and had marks
ON their faces and bodies, the marks evil
IDENTITY proceeding from violence; demonstrated with
Attendant Wall or Ball in relation to the condition OF the
ward told him that the patients had evidently been III
treated and be should baye prevented 1t; Monday
morning Sept o. as was making visits 10 patients, Ball
called my attention TO tie condition Of John Ornel VINO
was then lying bed, perfectly naked had seen Orneu
the day previous, when he appeared very well but now
found of collapse he quite cold and
in "a ciammy Precipitation, bearing all the signs Oh nav
ing received violent shock his left was black; his
right shoulder was bruised he had long, red mark on
the left side Of the chest the right side OF which also
had a red mark spot, from injury recently mhcted
he could hardly be aroused but s he was rational ana
understood lay questions; his night hand was lying
across his stomach at the time; asked him If he had
boon hurt.
THE swEDEs WOUNDS CHARGES
lie replied that che in the hall had hurried" him
asked him II they the attendants; he replied,
eyes asked which one and he replied, the tall man
Commissioners Bowen and Frear came to the Asylum
that morning and reported to them the state OF affairs
aud the critical condition of Ornen; they at once nst
tuted an investigation and had attendants Ball and Far
re examined both Of these attendants denied that they
had hurt Orne and thereupon the Commissioners left
, the investigation open and directed me TO exam
iue Ornou and continue to investigate tine
matter and il could more positively
substantate the charge against Farrell; about p. IN
Orne revive, and then took the three at
tendans Of the ward, and presented them to him re-
neseu @ "a I1II t him and osEed Is this man who
hurt you :" he replied, Mo- presented MclaughIln
ornei replied Yes" Farrell laughed and ornell, who
was swede. replied Yes, you did; you hurried me
wiii tell; viii no ne;" wrote out the statement of
one and had the keepers sign IT, reported the result
to the Commissioners on wednesday, and Farrell was
discharged ON that day; Ornel died Thursday; he
visited him three or four times day. and every day he
repeated the charge and said 1t was the tan attendant
WHO had done II; Farrell has swelling over his eye,
and Ornell, who was swede said It was the man WIN
the swelling over his eye considered MN Iauohai al
tue time he made these statements.
sEYMoUR's CHARGES.
On Saturday when returned from the court at Har-
fem was informed that the patient, Horatio Seymour,
was in a dying condition in Ward NJ on examining Sey-
our found him apparently suffering from acute peri
toIdr fhanf haf he lind ppu
treated by Farrell and gave very rational account OF
the manner in which he said he had been kicked and
struck he repeated the accusation IN very rapona a
occasion he said THE man with lump on the eye
Sn i'm the right side aud could not be touched
considered his statements rational ana Trustworthy so
making pOst-mOrem examination on his boiy; the ex-
animation made about 70 hours after death.
THE COLoRED MANS INJURIES.
The result Of the autopsy submitted in writing,
and in minute detail. The following is summary Of
the principal facts: The body not emaciated, but
was of well-marked muscular Development there
cut top Of the head and close TO it the mark OF
another cut fully healed; abscess OF old DURATION
shouider one of them entirely healed; two superficial
dark marks each u inches long and inch wide on the
the skin part of right side of the chest
abrasion OF the LETT leg just below the knee; large
uppurang the external side Of the right heel
recent e1TavasaOn OF blood about the size or silver
dollar under the skin IN the middle Of me 'front.' OF the
not reunited, but surrounded by suppuraon the eighth
and ninth ribs of the left side also broken the fractures
being apparently recent; the sixth aud seventh ribs OF
the right side also broken and the fragments surrounded
by a thick, gutinous matter; slight adhesons OF the
ngs which were otherwise healthy with the ption
distinct spot OF inflammation under the fractured ends
OF the ribs on the right side heart liver stomach and
degeneration recent extraYasiOn of blood, the size
dressa5 S over te SS eve large Doubtful marx S
skin Of forehead, and also of the right side OF
the back of the head; opening the skull the blood
gushed from the right sde aud the film OF recent