Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-29
The Insane Asylu N Investigation.


Interior department resumed their investi-
CATION OF the affairs OF the U. 8. Insane Asy-
lum this morning:
Dr. 8 A. III. Nc Kin, testified that he has
resided in this city for 81 ears; has practised
medicine for &c years; knew Henry Murray
who died at the asylum; was called to see
him several times before be was sent TO the
aSy lum. With DR.. Walsh signed certifi-
cate o! his insanity. Els wife was not favor
able TO having him sent there, but finally
consented. He was supported by the order
OF Rechsbites and Brotherhood of the Union.
MIS- Murray desired that be should be left
a { home as she would thus receive the bene.
fits; he was member of other organizations.
his wife was not able to take care of him
On several occasions he got out of the house
partly dressed. They had difficulty in going
into the house 10 see him-the doors and
UlnCCwS were kept locked. There were
times however when he was perfectly quiet.
he had lucid intervals up TO the time OF
going 10 the asylum. No confidence could
be placed In him. Heard nothing about him
from the time he was sent 10 The asylum
until informed that he was dead and was
requested to look at his remains. Mr..
MCCutchen, member of the order he
thought, told him of the death. Viewed the
remains at the widows residence His at
tentiOn was called 10 a scar on the right eve
from bruises on the temple, and one or two
that the discOlOratiOn on the limbs were not
bruises. The marks on the face were not
DANGEROUS In character; Patients could re-
ceive the same bruises by falling out OF bed.
In health Mr.. Murray was q quiet, orderly
man. Did not notice that his hands or feet
were frost bitten, Tor was his attention call
Ell TO III. is confident there was no vermin on
the body. Visited the asylum the day after
wards; put several questions to DR.. Morrell,
and after receiving answers, reported to
Eagle Tent, Order of Rechabites, which re-
port he read. II sets forth that the diScOlor-
atoms noticed on the body were not bruises
and that the reason why Mrs. Murray had TO
wait so long to see her husband was that he
always had to be washed before he was pre-
sentable. The bruises, according to DIR. Nor
rell, may have been caused by striking
against the door. The report was accepted
by the order, and they gave up the Idea OF
having coroner's inquest held TO investi-
gate the cause OF death. DR.. Morrell wrote
him that his death was unlocked for, and
that he had been struck once by fellow pa
tent who occupied the same room. Witness
also receivedI letter from DIR. Nichols
stating that he was confident that Muir
ray was not struck by any one, aud that
he must have received the bruises by strIk-
ing himself or falling down.
Richard ". Barker testified that he was an
undertaken, and was sent for to remove the
remains of General LOomis TO his place and
prepared the body for embaling and inter
ment. Did not make careful examination
OF the remains, as ii was unnecessary TO do
30 TO embalm them; only barred tue right leg
10 make an incision into the femoral artery;
did not notice any veTmin on the remains,
and made no particular examination OF
him; he was very emaciated.
DR.. NOITeH was recalled and testified that
during the first four months Mr.. Murray was
under Dr. Franklin's care; after that witness
took charge of him; do not remember no.
ucing any bruises on his head nor that he
told DIR. Mckim that another patient struck
him; might have told him so, however;
know OF no neglect or unkind treatment to-
ward him. be had no vermin on him. This
part OF his testimony was but a repeti-
ton of that of DR.. McKim.l Murray had
been in the asylum q little over a year; this
was in 1872; Mrs. Murray did not complain
TO him that her husband had been beaten
by another patient; his hands and feet were
not frosted; he was affected with dropsy
OF the feet, which night have been mistaken
by Mrs. Murray for frost bite; his feet and
hands were swollen and were of purple
color; thought DR.. Nichols notified Mrs
Murray Of the death of her husband; have no
recollection OF any one except DR.. McKIm
coming 10 the asylum and asking about his
GeaIh; II Is not safe 10 accept the statement
of any insane person as true, unless IL is
corroborated
Patrick Reagan an attendant al the asy-
Ium, was recalled and testified that he at
tended the patient, Murray. 1t was nece5-
sary to WASH him two or three times day.
Nothing could have frozen in that ward.
he never complained OF being cold. He was
always brought down TO the reception room
when his wife called upon him, Do not
know that she ever saw the room in which
ne was kept. Murray hal been struck by
another patient named Chauncey West H3
did not hurt him much-juSt blackc1 his eye
little. This was six months previous to
his death. His feet and hands were sore. No
one was present when he died. At7O'clo3k
in the morning called upon him and saw
that he was very weak. Called again soon
after and found that he was dead. He fire.
quently fell and bruised himself. The bruises
on his face were about the size of a five-cent
nickel; those on his limbs about the same
size. There was no Vermin on him.
A. II. BdlyOH, the tailor at the asylum,
was recalled, and corrobOrated the testimony
of Reagan in all of its essential particulars.
WD,. While testified that he was employed
for years at the Insane asylum. is now a
car driver. Was in Beech, Garfield, White
Ash and Sycamore wards. Remember
Henry j. Murray. Was with him from May
to January. Do not know OF a single case of
bad treatment towards him. Murray was
as helpless as child. The bruise on his face
came from fall. Did not notice IL until
they were laying him out. Do not think
that the temperature Of the ward was ever
SO low that any timing would freeze there. TIE
night watchman's duty is to keep the pa
tients covered up and keep their bed cloth
Ing on them. There is one Waterman on the
male and one on the female side. They go
through each of the wards at intervals dur
ing the night. Never heard OF an insane pa
tient who said he was insane. Had at times
seen tainted meat there, but il was always
returned and good meat sent up in its place.
Gen. LOOMS had careful attention.
The committee adjourned until Monday
morning.
STALE CLAIMs.--Mr. Editor: IL is maxim
among IobbvistS and claim aDenfs that a