The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-03
A NEW STORY OF HORROR.
TIE TREATMENT or THE INSANE IN
FLITBUSH ASYLUM,
The Sunerines Of Mrs. Margaret Dnwson-A
Woman Dragged bv the Hair Through the
Halls, Beaten and Cruelty Defraud

Woman Dragged bv the Hair Through tho
Halls, Beaten and Cruelty Defra uded.
Mrs. Margaret Dawson of G19 Classon
avenue, BROOKLYN, a sister ~ the late John
DouRherty. President OF the Board Of Assessors,
spent SIX months In the Flatbush Asylum a year
ago, and while there In Hall No I received the
most cruel treatment that has yet been made
public. She had become insane just after con-
hnement, and was very violent. she imagined
every one who had anything to do with her in
the Institution was a relative, and that she was
the Saviour Of the world. About forty days be-
fore her release she regamed her mind, and
found herself bruised and sore, but she was not
conscious Of having been beaten, although she
has no doubt that all Of the time she was insane
she was cruelty treated. The two nurses, joan
ma Stack and Mrs. Murphy, scarcely ever passed
her without hitting her on the head. one
day she ran away from them and bid
out and drove her back 20 her room, and
stripped her OF every hit Of her clothing. In the
evening they caught her and strapped her arms
70 her sides Then then they put her IN charge
OF two female maniacs, who took her to "A bath
room IN winch there was tub hlled with water.
They tossed her In and dashed water In her face
Her hands were tied so that she could not help
herself, aud she expected to be drowned This
treatment destroyed what little returning reason
she had, and once more she began to believe
that she was in eternity and that ali the patients
were devils. One day she came TO her room
door, and said, " am the Lord thy God" and
the nurse, Joanna, struck her a fun blow ON
the side OF the face. She had partly regalned
her reason, and was once more able to feel the
cruel treatment. The nurses knocked her about
so that at length she made up her mind to resent
their blows. She was at the hydrant drinking
one day when Joanna entered and ordered her
out She nung the drinking cup 10 the nurses
by the hair, which loose down her back,
tripped her to the floor aud dragged her up and
down the ball. until her head was so sore she
could not touch It with her hands.
The nurses seemed 10 delight In driving the
patients about WITHOUT their clothing ON; One
fore window, In full view OF number Of boys
who were In the nursery. When fresh food was
sent To her by her husband the nurses hid II
and ate II. AS she was recovering, her husband
sent her quantity Of porter. She had one
glass OF H. which the nurse pretended was
favor from herself.
Mrs. Dawson said yesterday that the treat
ment Of the aged and crippled insane women
was loo horrible To speak Of. one cripple, a
Mrs. Dickens, was often neglected for a day at a
time, and given neither food nor water. When
another patient carried water to her, she was
punished for IL. Mrs. Murphy. one Of the nurses,
was kinder TO the patients than her associate.
she gave meat aud butter to the sick and d.
Nided her own food sometimes but Joanna
STACK bad no such cOmmendable trait. She se-
lected all that was good, and ate II. Mrs. Daw-
sou also complains that as she was recovering
she was thrown into the strait jacket, and tied
down until she was almost crazed again by the
treatment, and when she was released from the
Jacket the CORDS bad almost cut through her
hesh. As she told the story of the cruelty yes
terday, her eyes were fun of teas. She said
that every day she thought OF the poor old
women there who were at the mercy Of the
nurses Mrs. Dawson's friends feed the nurses,
expecting that she would be well-trested. They
learned afterward tnat when "a nurse discovers
that patients friends were aoie To pay fees. II
was deliberate system Of cruelty which she
carried out, that the patient might be>kept In
sane, and consequently remain a profit 10 the
nurse in charge. Further inquiry yestei day dis
closed the fact that the two nurses spoken Of
were discharged soon after Mrs. Dawson's re-
lease on the demand Of u well-known local poll
ticisn, who threatened 10 tear the roof on the
asylum II bis demand was not acceded to.