, 1874-12-03

suggestions and requests that the Gov
ernor changed the form of the Physi-
clans contract by taking the sanitary
and moral oversight of the patients out
of his hands and givingit to Harmon.
No doubt the Governor secs the error Of
his way and on his own account would
rather the thing would blow over. His
rratlng abont the dignity of the Inv and
all that thing is but bosh The idea
that in this republican government,
where the will OF the people is supposed
to be the supreme law, that the welfare
OF fifty or more helpless, unfortunate
citIzens are put IN the hands of man
with no restr ction as 70 their care, for
him to speculate upon their misfortune,
paid by the peoples money, TO, areue
hat We have nc right to investigate the
affairs OF this Institution; thi t the sl-
credness OF Mr.. Harmon S contract
which he has violated liz every clauseit
contains must not be even meddled
with. Would the Governor presume to-
argue that Ar: Hafmon's peeuninry in,
terest Is paramount 10 all o.her cunsid.
eratlons; the Interest Of the whole peo-
pie who are taxed TO pay for the care of
the unfortunate insane; the interests of
humanity, the welfare of the insane.
nay, even the very lives of these unfor.
tunate creatures and the happiness Of
their families? The fact Of the matter
is, Governor Ferry knows that a t4or-
ough investigation of the affairs of the
institution woald reflect no credit on
the course he has pursued in regard to
it. o
You are not probably aware that the
Inspectors are solely in the power and
interest of Harmon; that they have neg
lected and abused their trust from the
very first: that they have been aware of
the abuse of patients. bu. for fear of Of
tending Mr.. Harmon have reported ia.
vorabiy to the Governor all the tine.
And now to ask these same men to ex.
anime and report is but to add insult to
injury. |! must be remembered that
the Auditor has as much to do with this
affair as the Governor has, and would
suggest that your Committee write to
him, or inform him personally at once
as 10 what has already been done in the
matter. We can expect nothing from
the Governor alone only whitewash~
affair. unless he is forced to dc more.
The half has not been made known to
YOUR committee in regard to the abuse
of patients from the very beginning of
this institution. have been informed
of many things concerning it since I
talked with you. ~c4
Yesterday, at my request, an inquest
was made on the body of q man who
died here in the Asylum. after being
here three days. His death was from
gangren of the right arm, due to expo
sure and neglect. He was brought here
on the evening of the 18th, through the
cold north wind, the arm exposed 10
the weather, perfectly bare. 1t was at
that time greatly swollen from neglect
and tight iron handouts. He was bro't
here from Walla Walla. He was fifty
two years old. weak, thin, pale old
grey haired man, docile and harmless
as lamb. But few weeks ago his
wife met with an accident by which her
clothes caught on fire, and she was
burned SO badly that she died in short
time afterward; and now by the abuse
and neglect of this Old man three or
four small children are rendered Or
phans. / hold that to let these abuses
pass unnoticed is 10 acknowledge our
selves destitute of ali human and Chris
tain feeling, that We have relapsed into
barbarism.
You will pardon me if I seem to be
becoming enthusiastic Oh the subject.
But l am determined that while these
outrages continue the public shall know
it. Ii our attempt to get fair investl-
cation in that matter shall fail, I shall
publish the facts in my possession and
let the public draw their own conclu-
sions as to where the blame lies. The
Coroner's Jury have not as yet returned
a verdict. You are welcome. il you
think it best, to give these facts, con-
corning the case, to the publishers Of
either paper in Seattle. ,s ......
Hoping to hear from you soon. 1 am,
Yours Tiuy, in haste,
FL. c. WILSON,