The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-11
THE REPORT or THE LEGISLA-
TIVE COMMITTEE ON THE IN
SANE ASYLUM


We lay before our readers this week
the report of the so-called " Insane Com
mittee which in the many interesting facts
embodied in its contents is of the utmost
commonwealth. The Legislature were
fully assured by evidence impossible to con-
trovert that species of the horrible prac-
tees known only in the "dark ages and
read of in the novels of Charles Reade were
being perpetrated with impunity upon the
inmates of the Insane Asylum at Brattle-
boro, and by it bringing disgrace upon our
State. Consequently the subject was Sc
riously discussed and sharply ventilated as
far as possible at the time by the members
of both houses, which resulted in the ap-
pointment of Joint Committee who were
vested with the powers of the State to
thoroughly investigate the past doings of
the officers of the asylum, to look carefully
into the system of its workings, the cOndi-
ton of the insane and their treatment and
to report to the Governor by the first of
the present month. The Committee have
| performed the duties assigned them and in
our opinion done them well, have made a
succinct and carefully prepared report
which is interesting and of much value as
a warning for the future.
In the first place, it will no doubt be u
matter of some surprise to all, as ii has been
to us, that matters have been carried on in
that institution, as the Committee prove to
have been the case, so long and so fearless
ly, under the watchful eyes of the people
of Vermont, and that they have not before
the officers brought to an account for their
practices.
We believe, as the Committee has so
strongly limited, that " fraud and chican-
cry" have stalked abroad in the domain of
our State, and even worse yet, system of
torture has been inflicted on those the least
guilty of Gods creatures that would do
credit to the Inqusition" of old. Still
further we are personally cognizant of the
fact, that persons have been committed to
the asylum as insane merely for the pur-
make room for their relatives and heirs, or
to wreak the yengeances and revenges of
the guilty and corrupted. A man of some
considerable means in Washington county,
cursed with an ambitious, misery and de-
ceitful wife, was through her means,
thrown into the asylum sane man. He
was subjected to same treatment of eX-
IRENE insane persons, and obliged to
bear II until after few years he
fortunately made his escape, only to be
again logged, entrapped and re-commtted
Finally his friends came to his rescue. A
court of inquiry was held in his native
town and he was adjudged to he sane and
capable of managing his own affairs.
During the time that he was in c0nfine-
ment his wife had squandered a good share
of the property, had married her only
daughter to a worthless character, whom
she had placed in charge of the affairs of
her husband. But luckily her career came
to an end her prosecuted husband re-
turned to his rights, a broken down man
former home no longer a haven of rest
and welcome, he succeeded in securing its
possession and returning to his labors.
This act was done unchallenged by the
state, and consequently with its sanction,
as others, enumerated in the report of the
committee have been.
The advice given by these gentlemen in
their report is decidedly opportune and
should be followed TO the letter. There is
no earthly reason why Vermont cannot
possess an asylum for her insane children
as good in every respect as Massachusetts,
or New Hampshire and governed under the
same wise and dignifed discipline. If this
report serves to open the eyes of our people
as we think it will, they will not stop to
consider moment when the proper time
comes to make the laws for this institution,
but will not only draw the line, but also
see that 1t is not oyerstepped or treated
with contempt. Such state of things
needs no consideration when once the
matter is solved, but action only is re-
quired.
We are inclined to think that DIR. Draper
has instituted new order of things in 80
far as his government extends, and that
they will be faithfully carried out in the
future