New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-04
WRONGS OF THE INSANE.
THE McCABE LUNACY CASE.
A STRANGE STORY TOLD IN CoURi-ANoihS'
ADJOURNMENT.

A STRANGE STORY TOLD IN CoUHi-ANV'"""
ADJOURNMENT.
T., ,bo lunacv case of Rosa McCabc called
vestcrov before Justice Leonard in te supreme COURT
chambers the defendant testified as follows;
Nv name IL Rosa McCabe arm now called Sister OF
Mercy of 81 sanislaus Theresa; am ABOUT 20 YEAR, o
NC. was taken 10 Rooning dale Asylum ON March a.
ian from No. East Eighteth-sf, where was hslne
DYING she INV niece, and a strange man iTdnced rue TO
get into carriage, and was then taken 10 DOCTORS
eace where was informed that Ia he taken tn an
insane asyum; | protested against cOingi was IN
Boomingdae n months; begged to ne sent 10 tne
Leland and convey ed thereon Aug 3 because was
badly treated at Bcomingdae was treated very badly
by woman named L. Riley, on sept: q she beat me
upon another occasion 80 badly was injured that dd
not recover for a month"; raised blood from my lungs
all traces of the hemorrhage were removed 10 that the
room; my bedding was dirty, and | did not have it
changed Blaekwells Island five weeks and was
we'll treated by the doctors and the attendants; at
BlOomingdale Or. Brown treated me as enid; was
treated by him and others with Politeness ~as now
ever badly treated beaten and thrown down on 10 az
ferent OCCASIONS always by Riley, and sometimes with
the assistance of Lizzie Hus; II was In vain oesougnt
the doctor To remove from these wonen's care:
/ belong the Institution Of 81 JOhn's OF New-bruhs-
wick left there by direction OF the Blshol ana came
New York in 1884, and went Ia my sister, III Inrtet
st. in tile following year started school IN ihlrteu
A. and continued IL for q years had valuable papers
IN my trunk, which my sister promised To keep, but
which she said she had destroyed am at liberty 10
wear any style of dress that lady may wear ny ea
my shoulders most severely Dr. Bradley mas seen nv
and he has said might 20 out OF my nu , VIII,
AZ Backweils Island said was insane, but that they
must say so, because ing ~ 1ure tne elure oa me
ntinated IL; have been haf5hly u ,dd ~
Father Michael and have no doubt that ne ihleheu 20
Kill me when he stamped me and kicked me IA ,ie u,
side before went 10 the Asylum; D. Porter wa 'o" "
my III treatment and he prescribed TOT MT
The hearing OF the case before the Justice "as N'-
iourned until 10 O. III to-day, but witness was called IN
a side room -,
Theodore Bradford Of No TO Forty hfths' testi-
fed attended her IN ISL at No ~ WSTt s fr
St she complained Of se"piciSIcss anu inp , - th,
ing and sn1ioty OccasOued by the authof'o' VI 'hc
Church.
A SENSIBLE LETTER FROM An ARCHITECT.
SMALL roMEIKE RESIDENCES INSTEAD OF
MAGNIFICENT PRISONS DEMANDLD-LoNACf
MADE NEEDLESSLY EEFuISiNE'
TO me razor Of The Tribune.
SIR: am very glad indeed 10 see your di-
rect thorough and practical manner OF getihs cor
rect report of large insane prisons Ana no"
most sincerely hope you VII turn to good account inc
attention aud dep you have awakened III the
nnlc mind regarding our treatment Of that unfortunate
class for whose are as responsible a. Tor
that of our helpless children. IL would be great r-
fortune II YOU should create as know you do not intend
tol stronger prejudice than now exists IN tue hdh ol
many against sending friends and relations needing sueh
care 10 well regulated asylums. Many OF these nsttu
tons as now organized and conducted are no DOUBT OF
very great advantage ana of this unior
tunate class, and Improvements on the dungeons
where they used 81 Ice confined by balls aud chains We
are very far having arrived at tic most perfect
system of treatment either III tc general construction
Of our building or the subsequent treatment Of the pa
tont after confinement. And you now have one ot the
hest uncertainties ever offered for thorough discussion
Of the subject which hope Will lead To rapid advances
and improvements IA the whole management Of our IN
sane.
OF course there good ground for that dread OF In an
ity which most persons feel rlvng maniac may DC
as dangerous any wild animal On the other hind'
the minds of many persons especially in tins last conh
try and this age disturbed by excessive eNer
else OF by sickness and their thoughts more active
and feeling more sensitive and acute than many PER
sons i'm health In the early stages OF such diseased
brains the quiet soothing influence Of retirement htci
ligeut sympathy and an Ingenious ana pleasant
diversion ana occupation Of the mind with
other subjects than that which II has been
SO eagerly dwelling upon, IL OF the utmost i'm
portauoo The very suspicion dread Of insanity in
such a condition Disturbing To the mind as to in
crease the disease 10 render the patient permanently
iucable. What could he more certain 90 mako raylng
maniac for life Of such than To Doe heartiessy
thrust into oathsomc madhouse and 10 feel that he
was permanently and hopcIessy barred and :ehainod
among wild and slrieldng crazy men.
Now, il 20 me that orr modern asylums. those
lately built and those building, are very inappro
pirate structures for securing the ends aimed at In
stead modcstly retiring from public gaze they are
perched upon highest and most conspicuous mills to
bc found. Great attention paid to the external APP
pearancc and fear too much thought given 10 max
ing grand card for the architects and noble building
which shall worthy OF the unboundrd charity OF q
great state rather than to making quiet hoekc estah
lslnen that shall give the greatest comfort and attrdc
tion to inmates There Of course, advantages
in concentration. Much of the labor be done more
economically by WHOLESALE m these larger establishments
than in smaller But the entire absence In
such Of All the appearance aud feel
Ing Of our ordinary homes. think entirely Outweighs
the advantage that bc gained 10y any little saving
Of labor that might he effected All individuality is lost
in great Of such immense institution. The
intelligent and responsible head cannot Of conrse give
care and attention 10 each of many PARENTS and
delegation OF duy to subOrdinatcs does cali forth
large an amount of thoughtful care
Were there many mort independent Institutions dts
trbuted all through country, Instead of the few
mammoth concerns organized, there would he
more OF that wholesome emulation essential
late tho greatest ifulness care, and eNerton
this a. in all other concerns Of he Every viii
LACE OF considerable size should have lis Home for
She Insaue-nOt "a prison. but "a home This of course.
would lead to what II much necded-a great rcforna-
tlon in the public mind in regard To insanity. 1t i
looked upon by man, a. great disgrace ~ something
that should be Kept entirely secret. and much
unnecessary Inconvenience aud suffering is thus
forced upon the patient, and Iis chances Of
speedy recovery are preiudced 10y .this unfor
tunate and TO - great extent erroneous feeling. As
i'm consumption think entirely too much stress Is laid
unon the belief that insanity is hereditary Tenphat-
cay protest against the popular opinion that consrinp
ton IL hereditary; ana ~ the notion that insanity
i hereditary entirely abandoned, and each
case were treated directly upon its merits, would
probably he 90 the most Important reformatons that
coutd 10 effected