New-York tribune., 1872-09-18
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
WRONGS OF THE INSANE.

nsed 10 have been most hrutaIy maltrea'ed oy ms
heeuer Thomas Farre, died ct the Asylum on nno"u"'
afternoon Coroner Keenan,, on receiving houoe W ~
efeet yesterday morning postponed 10 IL a. m' ua9
fie inquest which 20 have been heio on 'o OOS
j r. ornelL whose death is asO alleged to have oeeh
ansed nv brutality nc the bands Of Farrell INC post
ponement was made in order that inques's IN pom o
may be held simultaneously and meanwhile Dr' "oos
ter Beach, Deputy Coroner, will make posthoI'c "a
ANIMATION Of the body OF Seymour
reporter of THE TRIBUNE visited Dr M. G' EcheVeI-
ria Rssiden Physician OF the Asylum, yesterday with
a viev 10 obtaining complete history of the case OF
evfeour and additional particulars in relation 10 otner
charges Of brutality and neglect on the part OF the |
keerers. Dr. Echeverra was disposed 10 he rather |
reteent stating that, inasmuch as ms own Aetoh nu
the circumstances bad been grossly msrepresehteul III
some of The local newspapers he would prefer to say
little before giving his formal testimony at the inquest
Interesting and important information, however,
was elected from him. It appears that Seymour
was about years old, and had wife who resides at
New Haven, Conn. He was admitted 10 the AsNlum
July 81 as a vagrant. during the absence OF Dr. Eehe-
verra upon months vacation. Dr. DAILY, First AS
ssstant House Physician, who acting meanwhile as
Resident Physician received Seymour and recorded him
as exeitabe noisy, unceanly IN habits, and apparently
demented. His condition was attributed to mtemper-
anoe and he had been patient inthe Blackwes Island
Asylum different times during the preceding two years
He had large chronic ulcer on his right heel and
chronic swelling or abscess in the right common in
cases Of chronic insanity He placed in the waiu
for the reception of patients and, after few days
transferred TO the ward for cases OF chrome de
oentia which is set apart for patients who are incapa
bie of caring for themselves. In tins ward he dled
Last Saturday morning, on returning from the ar
ragnment Of Farrell at the Harlem Police Court, ON
charge Of brutality to Omen, Or. Echeyerria was IN
formed by Dr. Daily that Seymour was confined TO his
bed and had alleged that Farrell had kicked him In the
abdomen Dr. Echcverria Immediately visited Sey
i'm suffering from acute
peronitis his being much swollen and exces-
hiyey tender. the slightest touch during the examna
tiOn causing intense pain 70 the patient Seymour was
then rational and on being questioned by Dr. Echever-
ria, clearly and distinctly stated that he had been
"kicked and baL.y hurt" by "the tall attendant"
meaning Farrell whom he subsequently, identified in the
presence Of witnesses He averred that he had
done anything 10 provoke Farrell, al
though the latter he alleged had beaten him several
times. said that Farrell besides striking and KICK
ing him, had tainted him with being black and called
him by the vest Of epithet and he added "I did not
let my temper get up, for know il is bad" He con-
tnued suffer the most intense agony till short time
before his death, at 4:SO p Monday but never lost
his consciousness Several times during ms
suerings he reiterated the charge against Farrell once
dong so Saturday morning. in the presence Of War
den Burke DIR. Echeverra, and others. His statements
already reported have been fully cooboraed by the
discharged patient, Samuel Gordon, who also alleges
brutality himself on the part Of Farrell.
Dr. Echeyerra states that he has made careful ex-
animation Of Gordon, and considers him sane and fully
competent testify at the inquests and 10 realize the
responsibility Of an oath and the Importance Of the
under investigation. Gordon is an Englshman,
age and has family residing in Jersey City, He was
admitted TO the Asylum about the middle OF last July,
while suffering from acute mania, probably superin-
anced by mtemperance DIR. Echeverria. on returning
from his vacation Sept. l. found Gordon perfectly
rational and apparently entirely recovered As pre-
eautonary measure, however, and the patient was
suffering from complaint Dr. Echeyerria, after
consulting with Cordons friends, decided to detain him
tI the following week, when his friends 10 have
called for HIM. For some unknown reason, the friends
failed 20 appear according TO appointment, and last
Saturday morning Dr.. Echeverra discharged Gordon
considering him cured and competent TO take care Of
himself. Gordon, however, with the consent OF tire
doctor voluntarily remained, expressing a desire to
testify before the Coroner, "in the interest Of hui
maDity."
He ID young man, very tall and OF very powerful
PnyqHe %gek asI on opdeTed f Tey Fae Sqy i az
put very feeble patient TO bed In Obeyng the order
Farrel handled the patient so roughly that the Doctor
was 10 CAL another keeper 10 relieve FarIe
and take charge Of the patient who was IN such en-
feebed condition that he died OF exhaustion the follow
ing morning. During August patient named Rausch
committed suicide after having complained that Farrell
pear that had been beaten by fellowpaents
and Farrell escaped censure simple verdict OF death
suicide " being rendered by the cOrOners jury.
During the same month patient named Miller died
cOncussion Of the brain, but buried without
inquest though is believed that the injuries pro
duced by violent treatment During the same time,
Frederick Huntley, young man suffering from melan-
oholia who had been admitted paid patient"
removed from the Asylum by ms parents, residing IN
the upper part OF the city, complained that their
had been neglected by his attendants and permitted
10 become ltby In person aud covered with vermin.
DR. Echevorria states that he examined the patient
OrHel, Monday morning before his DEATH in the pres
OF Farrell and two other keepers, and that Ornell
clearly charged the keeper with having beaten HIM. and
fully denned the Keeper in the presence OF the doctor
and the other two Keepers. Commissioners Frear and
Bowen VINO had been appointed Committee OF Investi-
CATION directed Dr. ECheverfia 10 continue his own eff
forts and as a result Wednesday, Farrell dis
charged on his recommendation. DR.. Echeyerra, who
absent during the painful occurrences which
plant rs made. expresses determination TO give all the
facts Coroner Keenan,. who with his deputy, Dr.
Beach, the nQuests will be thorough and n-
partial.
A MANS SANITY SWORN AWAY.
Conrad Jacob, who was put into the Luna
tic Asylum Backwels Island upon the complaint Of
his wife. his daughter, aud her lover was in TIE
TRIBUNE Ofice yesterday, and told story which |
further illustrates the facility with which person may
be put Of the way under the present unacy enact
ments. From Mr.. Jacobs statement it appears that
when he objected 10 the conduct OF his daughter many
modes OF getting nd OF him advocated. It was |
suggested that perhaps a criminal charge might he
made against him, but their afdavits to the effect
that he a thief would be rendered necessary, they
felt 10th TO adopt this They determined finally
TO summon two physicians, whom they had previously |
consulted certify 10 his insanity These were Dr. T.
Lahnne No. West Twenty frstst and DR.. D. b. |
Miller OF No 2lg East Nlneteenh-s They visited the
Feeidenee Of Mr. Jacob which was at that time No |
Thirdave., and after cursOry examination made
affidavit 70 his insanity Wheieupon he was plaeedin
the Asylum.
Mr Jacob saws that he endeavored from the first TO as
sure BIS friend, that he was perfectly sane and
He put the Asy lum Notwithstanding his
tons that Dc was perfectly sane.
THE END OF UNHAPPY LIVES.
The body of the unknown man found in the |