The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-11
ASHTON ABUSES.
Testimony Ia show The Inc1mpetcn,y Of Mrs.
Cunningham. the uGtron.

Testimony Ia show The lnr0npetcnCN Of Mrs.
Cunningham. the Matran.
Yesterday investigation into the Flat
bush asylum abuses was begun with tlra trsti-
u.ouy ofeN- Charity Commissioner II. u. Wheeler,
who explained the duties md the powers OF the
Charity Commissioners. whilc he was Commis-
sioner. DIR. Mcdonald. then Superintendent.
preferred charges II unGtncss against Mr.. Gun
uinrnnm. tue lnatron. There was much per
sonal feeling In the dispute, and the witness
found on personal Inquiry thnt there wa nothing
serious IA the charlc. Mrs. Cunningham had a
temper which hc advis, Il her 10 curb. Shn t
thai tho superintendent and the BOARD ons z
not TO mt .ictc with hur dIiifB. Tine ssltum
waH greatly ov"rcr0wdeti, and there were about
( rtv prracns there who were not proper
oh. rae Ou the county.
The conn. ! In the hoard in rrOss-.sxqnliDa
ton eked Wbctnrr he had been Influenced b,
nOlitcs To HupOInt ms rer.Ops u pos iins.
DR. Osirpnlux quietly sair ~ Il the 81 To- know
no political parties in thu irYcstientiOn. did
could know none. lie aid NOT wish the wurd
puliiic naed.
Dr.V +. Mcdonald. for three vcars assistant
AMI for ten months sun fintcndenl ia ia .
asyiim, testified 10 tho Insult ordinate, "a 81 snme
Iormer employees Of the asylum. One attend
ant whom ne Nischare' a was roannniATd y"
the Commissioners. ints man atterwaTd nOg7tcd
IN . the Superintendent Il no mower over
him. THIS tended ~ denornliZe tine sIhOr ~
mates lie was fr, qnently iusu,tcd Olc at
cuuant SAID That n Dr. aicDnuald snhhrued
him fs could get reanruInted These tnin y
rhne. lie h refused sOmotro- To accehe Ia
the wishes OF the CuumIssI Inc shut h9 leit That
he was j. par1lng nis pilne when he did 30.
None of tho Commissioners ever made thor
ougu insOsction Of the asylum wnIic he waA
tnerr. 3,r.. Cunningham, the ma'ron. sold him
that lac had no control over her. az the Cummi =
suunf- u4d appointed her. lie de ,criocd her a.
one Wlth an unglvcruIblo temper aud not
chul % m hcrldnauayr. She once approached hun
for lowing an attendant To go cut She
sad tAnt size ala nnL care Tor him or the Com
invest Intts, ~ Slr. Mclaughlin pat her there.
ste w"nt 80 tar a. o. clihtcrmand thr orders Of
DOCTORS, allowing patients 10 no ont nj doors.
sue had not sunip"nt iutolltgruo. to CuiuuTe
hcud itt .rt That Insanity h dia,l-o. She md
not appreciate the mi.furtnue Of the insane lie,
knew tAdt she mad ord REQ an attendant To omen
ad"ur To- eA nini, patient that ~ aim uuur.
she pom ed out "A relative Of the uOrtar no
was "a patient. and maliciuusiy asked visitors 20
TAX" luok 81 Dr. NcDpnaidH brother -lnw.
Fora n Onth before quittIng tue asNluin ne lust
all control OF the inuIatea. lie wa warned bV a
N ~ now dead, that II he made a complaint
ABOUT he had butter he would ne "ired Out"
D,rs. CUNNINGHAM, he Thought had no quali1o l.
tons for the position of matrun. II would be
a. we'll L. have man smoking in powder
house a. To have woman with EuCu temper
u custodian OF the insane. h. had made charges
alnst her, but not before the board. Shc IL
still ia office.