, 1875-01-14
Rueet Sound dispatch.
The Insane Asylum.

The Insane Asylum.
Some days since We mentioned the
fact that Houston. warden in tie In
sane Asylum. had been arrested. tried
aud acquitted. on q charge of brutally
and maliciously assaulting q patient;
and stated. ON information that this
was one Of the charges presented thro'
the Medical Society, and was submitted
to adjudication as q test question of the
ruth of the charges. We have subse-
queutly learned that the Medical Socie-
ty had nothing to do With this prosecu-
ton; that 1t was entered by Mr.. F. J.
Stewart. at his own instance. and that
Houston. though acquitted upon the
ground that the force be used in the
restraint of q refractory patient was not
a l.gal 6ffense. in mediately after his
triallef for parts unknown. In this
connection it ia due to Mr.. Harmon to
say. that we have not heard Of any act
of bsrbarity charged against him per-
sonaIly; all the wrongs complained of
being the acta of subordinates.
Tie following letter from Mr.. Stewart.
Who entered the complaint upon which
Houston was arrested and tried. explains
itself: -
EDITOR DISPATCH:
SlR Il wish to say to the people of
Washington Territory. through the col
umns of your paper. that in coming
over here from Oregon to prosecute the
attendant who 30 brutally beat patient
last September. in the Territorial Asy-
,um at Steilacocm. at the time visite
that place for the purpose of bringing
home my brother, who had been a pa
tient there. 1 have been prompted by
no feeling of hatred or revenge. rs l
never met this attendant before or since
until 1 saw him 1t the trial; neither
have l been Influenced by othe, per
sons. rhe Medical Society had moth
ing to do in the prose cution. so far as l
know. But believing it to be duty
owed to humanity, if could in NV
humble way do anything towards pre-
venting continuance Of such outrages
on these helpless beings should be
doing God 8 work. l may feel greater
interest in this than some others who
have lever had relative stricken down
BY this dreadful calamity. My brother.
who is two years younger than myself.
was nm inmate of this so-called asylum
for short time. Fortunately for him.
and those who are depending upon his
daily labor for their bread, he had near
ly recovered from his attack when hs
arrived ut Il institution. 1t makes me
shudder when I think what the results
would. in all probability. have been had
he been sent there during the violence
of his attack and received sncp treat-
ment MS I saw administered 70 petinnts
u hiie was there. He would doubtless
have become pitiable lunaiic and been
cuffed about the remainder of his life.
My brothers in -anity was caused by
over work and anxiety. He was but q
years old and the whole support Of the
family was thrown upon him. our father
having died and left large family With
no means of support. and was away in
Oregon, where had made my home for
several years.
l had always thought that asylums
wert all under the care OF physicians
until went to Steilacoom. When saw
the beating of the patient. vorsard. l
went to the ph, sician anu urged that
be done 10 get the aend.
Houston. dis uissed; but the doctor told
me he conld do nothing; that he had ~
over attendants nor patients.
only to give them d"se Of physic when
they needed it. Before left the insti>
tn,ion saw plainly that the doctor on
Iy filled the place Of fignre>head. and
that the attendants not only talked dis
respe,tfnllv Of him to the patients. but
actually did all they could to make the
pa tents dissatisfied wi his treatment
Of them. They are very careful not to
let the doctor zee them kick or strike
patient. and when be was in the ward
they would sneak away snlkily in the
corner. like sheep killing dogs. and as
soon ~ his back was turned begin again
to deride him in the presence OF the
patients aid any visitor who may be
present.
did not see the Superintendent at
all; understood he bad been absent
for several days and they did not know
when he would be back again. have
been waiting to hear that some change
had been made in the atte ndants IN the
Asylum; ss my brother will reside in
the Territory, and all our family but
myself. and know not how soon any
one OF my friends may meet with some
trouble and become insaue. equally as
unexpected al my brother did.
1 would rather see relative of mine
enter the wards Of penitentiary. as
convict. than become an inmate Of this
den, compared with which the prison
den at Andersonville was q comfortable
home. under the circumstances, and
Capt Wirtz was q philanthropist COM
pared with this attendant Houston.
Believing that what I have done in
the behalf If these insane and helpless
people will be appreciated by the good