New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-06
THE KINGS COUNTY INSANE ASYLUM.

The MINIS CDtNt1 INSANE aciLUM
TURTiGR ALLEGATIONS CT NEGLECT AND I'LL
NATURALIZATION OF IhE sUPELINILND-
INT.
The investigation into the alleged abuses AZ
the kings County In.anc Asylum WIS continued yrs
tertay at No. 2Ul Moniagut-St Charsy Commissioners
Kcr,s Rai,.r Mklas, anJ Cunningham were present
Dr. Ordfonaux, the State Commissioner ia iuuacY VITO
conducts tia Investigation stated that 'is Object was IA
ascertain whether change ~ the administration CT the
Asylum demanded lie also sla.ea s'at he iid NJ
eeyed letter from an Of the Asylum who WASH
appear before the nvcsf Committee stating thas 10
was sfrad to testify fur fear by dOnh sboad be
thrown ont OF employment Dr. DrdTonIuN said tlut
no had reason to think hat ills witness lad an hon,a
fear of tesiying sd ne adNised tie Charity Com:s-
siomors 20 ael possible the IMPRESSION that
there Disposition 10 suppress evidence E1-Jndgc
Troy tho counsel 81 the COMMISSIONER ard also Com
missioner Norris rt restraint Ind been pnt on
any cmpoye and they desirct Fl. nYcStga'ion. Dir.
Norris requested that the Commissioners BE- allowed to
10 represented BY Counsel Alter considerable discus
sion the re luest granted Dr. OidronaaZ stated
that ed technical limit ~o;id be put 10 tho es1i
snony The Commissioners. he Fad. not on trial
Miss Jennie j. Robinson Of F7atbnsh Of the lady
visitors % Asylum testified tAat Ia November 1874,
silo found six poor yCsd sleeping the floor with
out beds Two Of them died within a week There were
only shirts for 6 There was 40 comb or brush
ia the has, and only little soa7. Tho Undertaking
tho wash very damp There were only ak 0f
s'yen pounds OF butter u week for 20 NEIL lac cOil
10 the balls was intense ON ian. .. 1870. Han y
uas 90 cold that Sle inmatcs could only keep
warm by walking Up and down ana beating Their bDdrs
One made III by tbo ccld. Tie witness com
paaiad rude conduct Of DIS blanchard Weitlnk,
ad 70 che lady Yistors O,e OF the nurses, Goo
BucasyeF tOid the witness thai La had applied 70 the
stew ard Tor clothing. but cOaid got Tbe nurses
wrro incapable and ignorant One Of them, w0en asked
abou tbs TEN ersturc ~ tho halls, showed that he did
not know Thermometer was Miss Dora Ro,sn i0n
Mas recalled ana insIod THAI she had discovered sye-
TEN OF stealing the lrdeI carried ON IN the Asylum
nv tie EN- boy Sho brought the matter 70 the aftei
ton OF the Commissioners, who subsequently dischn ged
seven OF the employees Taey did not do this. however,.
until be witness lad threned 81 maze the fncts public
Dr James a. blanchard, Sape intendfnt OF the Aay-
INN that he had knowledge OF the care OF ia
ssEG lessons previous 10 his appointment on Aug 4,
1874 He knew cf no TuJcIrso having been "ncFed 20
lads visitors In hs opinion the ate1dSnS were as
good no any place whore tho prices pald wore no
larger. male received @lO, ana the female
nurses @2 each nth Better rrcs ought 10 be paid 10
secure bct r The witness bad made changes IN
Tire diet inmates and nirced new ruies. One O those
was ca6,sole shUnd never be put on paiieni
except pre-, Of physiciRD IL Was to IDte,-
sttads The Asylum often osercrosied. and some
times asae hack of besteadS thai cue beds had
sc made The fOOy. The ue6s Know of no case OF
brutality, except that OF Nelson nacre. lie th"ueht no
erBelty without cis know icdSr. lie would dis
CAlrxC any eInpiDy6 5hO returned blow ifOI, paueLt
lie bad received complaints fipin patients, and
thought their sioliCs wore untr0stS0rthy.
The Committee adjourned 10 pect "a p. IN Gu Tues
day.