Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-08-20
The Gov eminent Insane Asylum.

pH. IDOLS ANSWER TO THE CHARGE OF
-.sEGULARITY IN THE DISCHARGE OF
fATIENTS.
Dr. Nichols. superintendent OF government
insane asylum, has prepared statement,
addressed TO the Acting Secretary of the Inte-
rior. in answer to the charges that have been
made against him with reference to the inn
proper discharge of patients in which he sets
forth that every thing which he has done is
and that his action has not been dictated by
mis- own wishes. but by the Instructions of the
District Commissioners. After stating that
he was shown an order for the removal of
certain patients 10 Maryland by Major Rich
ards, which had been made by the District
Commissioners, he thus explains that I'M
pleasant feature of the charges against him.
He says The remaining three that have
been discharged belonged in the neighborlng
county of Prince Georges, in Maryland. On
the morning of June %, 1875, received notice
that they would be called for at 9 O'Clock
that evening. Either n the time of the notice
or when the officers came for them in car
riage, neither the assistant physician. who
lad immediate charge OF tEeSe patients at
the time, nor can distinctly recollect when
We were Informed that they were to be taken
TO their places of residence, at or near Upper
Marlboro, and that the reasoI for making
the journey OF some sixteen miles in the
night was fiat il would be made at that time
most comfortably both TO man and beast.
This was during the hot term in the latter
part OF June. In regard to the three persons,
one woman and Two men, taken to the neigh
boring county of Prince Georges, Nd, while
highly dISapprOve of the manner in which
they were disposed OF. aud certainly SHAH
rot vOluD tee an apology for such TCpreh ~
siblC proceedings, am glad 10 ne q bic To in
fOIm yOu that the night having been very
warm and pleas ant throughout, DO suffering
appears 10 have been experienced by those
persons rom the manner in which they were
disposed of. Two OF them were cases of mild,
harmless 2cnlef'iO, and could very vel
take care of themselves in the SUNNI
season, and in an agricultural commit
nifty with which they were well &C
qudinted. as well as many simple, ig1o-
r ut pfOple who are not considered inSane.
One o. these two. the WON m, has twice Wis
though her health was very good when she
left the institution it appears 10 have been
Improved by the change. When last here
sue SAID she was living with y sister who is
a. service III a family near Upper Mar bOrO'.
j re other Of these two has been here once.
aud was as well at least as when he left.
Tue thirt person of those discharged in
Prince Georges is 2 man OF more rational
capacity than either OF the other two. and
IN; i suffered from more active form of dis
case than they, but for several months ne
hsG beer cutie free from any active nantes
IHiloTs of mental alteration, and had been
COZ SlECrably and safely trusted. He APP
7 AIRED 70 be As wei able To provide for him
self a. the time he left as he had probably
E-eI for many years, thOuolral ways at large,
As I nave understood, until bToug ht here.
Two OF this mans connections have visited
me hospital since he left, and made no COM
paint either on account of his discharge or
the manner of IL or suffering arising from il.
with the territory and people OF Prince
Georges. For these reasons conclude that
he has rot suffered from being set at liberty
III the manner he was"