Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-03
The Insane Asylum Investigation.
The Testimony To- au.

sumed to day by the Committee on Expendi-
lures of the Interior department. Mr.. Mitch
Ter (chairman), Judge Boone and Mr.. Tufts,
of The committee, were present.
Ebert Il. Rib6Qrd testified that he had been
en- ploy Ell at the Insane asylum for several
months as a farm steward; is a practical
farmer. and has been one for over thirty
ys ars; did not manage the land there as a
FARMER, but according to the written instruc-
tons Of Dr. Nichols. Witness read several
distinctions issued To him by the Doctor
he received Instructions as often as twice a
week. Always followed the instructions,
and ever protested against their propriety
for the reason that If any one made ohiec-
tons to the Doctors orders he was imme-
d ately discharged. Had charge of the aims
house and farm OF Ontario county, New
YORK, for long time. Witness here told a
IiRmarole story about the Doctors ordering
him TO cut green rye, and about black
smith, etc, which had no particular bearing
on the case except 10 show that the Doctor
discharged every body who didn't obey his
orders, ard prOceeded:-DO not think il any
advantage 10 the asylum 10 have the farm
adjoining. Think il is great detrimeat 10
the asylum, as
THE PRODUCTS OF THE FARM
cost three times Ms much TO raise them there
a. they could be purchased for outside. Doe
OF the orders of the doctor Was TO put some
Pans green under each one or the new pOta-
toes 10 kill the pOtatOe bugs, On Saturday
last DR.. Nichols gave orders TO plant pOta-
toes. ard after they were cut they were i'm
mediately put into the ground. when they
should have been cut for several days before
they were planted. That he learned from
others. AS farm steward IL was his duty
10 order the dinners for the patients whom he
had working with him on the farm. and
often heard them complain that they did not
receive enough The patients were required
20 work on The farm for ten hours q day, and
were not given enough TO eat.
THE HORSE QUESTION.
In addition 10 the horses used on the farm
the doctor nsed. Then there was horse and
team for Mis-. Nichols use, and horse and
team for the use of the doctors son. The
horses and carriages FOR Mrs. Nichols and
her son were used for their private purposes.
Men Were detailed to attend To them, and TO
devote their exclusive time TO them. There
were aIlogether ABOUT nIteen carriages there,
Kept for private use. The chief clerk also
had horse and carriage; did not think that
this number Of horses and carriages was
necessary.
frequently heard The farm hands, detailed
patients, complain OF the quality and guam
Iity of food given them. The meat was taint-
&c, ard although from 80 to 80 cents per
pound was paid for butter, IL was very poor
quality of butter, and could have been pur.
erased from 10 to Is cents pound cheaper.
Tie milk could have been bought great
deal cheaper than it cost to keep the cows
there. In the first place, the cows cost twice
as much as they should. Mr.. oyster far
nished 200 pounds of butter week, but the
man who received il was not aole TO weigh
IL, ard could not tell whether 10 was 500
pounds or less. The clerk OF the committee
T.t
ness then described the barn on the farm
which was said TO have cost so 600. II was
built IN hollow, and water ran into IL from
three SIDES. II should not have cost more
then Si.5CO 10 81 600. The barn was built
with a great zeal Of old lumber; mis- estimates
would call for new lumber. About forty hogs
were drowned in the cellar of the barn.
a WINDMILL
was recently erected, but not az the we'll,
which cost : 200. Il is no use whatever.
Noticed general lacK OF system and order
Ilr 10 OH
things, but never finishes them; as a practi-
cal farmer he would recommend that the
government sell all the land about the asy-
IUn1, as ii cost thousands and thousands OF
dollars more than il produced. Think that
all the farm now enclosed should be kept.
THE FKCIT QUESTION.
PIoducts of all kinds could be purchased
Tor less than ore-1fth what they now cost the
asylum. Tie grapes from the garden, In
stead of being used in the asylum and given
the patients, were sent outside TO friends OF
DIR. Nichols. Large baskets full of grapes
and fruit were sent away, and only the
poorer quality Of grapes were ever given 10
the patients. The patients are not allowed
To touch the fruit on the farm. He denied
that portion OF the last report of DR.. Nichols
which says that the fruit was used up by the
patients; they seldom received any. Often
called the attention of DR.. Nichols to these
matters, bat he paid 10 attention 10 them
1t vas well understood that If they all did
not do as they were bid, even If it was wrorg,
they would be discharged.
THE PATIENT WHO WAS KICKED.
Ch0s. r. Garter testified that he resided al
III llth street, nayy-yard, and was en-
ployed al the Insane asylum last summer as
an assistant attendant in the wards there.
This witness corToborates the testimony OF
SmOOt, who testified before the committee
las week. in regard to the kicking of the
patient Frank McAdams, who died three
mornings afterwards. This patient was
kicked by an attendant named John Hetter-
man. McAdams was very Troublesome when
he received the kick. The morning after they
put straight jacket on him. Could not tell
whether ii was Retterman's kick or that of
patient named Frayne which caused VI c.
Adams death; Frayne frequently fought.
The meat that was furnished was as a gene
raj thing tainted. The butter was not good
considered it poor.
Mr.. Tuft-H How would IL compare with the
ordinary Washington hotel butter?
A. 1t would not compare very well. The
butter was good enough for the patients as
they could rot tell the difference from good
or bad. Birch ward was filled with vermin.
| 1t WAS difficult for the patients to get cloth
| ing, the wards in winter time were very
cold.
A CARPENTERS TESTIMONY
Jesse T. Scam testified that he was EN-
| ployed at the Insane Asylum some years
ego. Have worked as boss carpenter the
last six years. His estimate of the 8pst Of
the barn at the asylum would be $1,000, he
furnishing all the material himself 1t could
| be built cheaper than that. Knew Of brick
layers receiving 81 per day there picking
stone.
ALLEGED BAD TREATMENT OF PATIENTS.
| James DC -NUOD, ~, testlned that ne lad
been employed at the Insane asylum as a
carpenter for three years at a variety of
work, finishing off the wards, dc; saw
| many things there that was very IRE uIar;
saw many patients cruelty and badly treat
ed; saw patients in White Ash ward kicked
| beaten and dragged on the floor; often re-
mODstTated against IL, and often called the
attention of the fOremen of carpenters, Chas.
A. j. Williamson, to the fact that patients
had been badly treated. Saw an attendant
kick a simple man in the stomach, aud
| Williamson turned his back on IL so ne
could not see IL. Don't know anything about
the quality of the food, except that il smelt
offensive. The abuse of patients were fire.
Quent. White ash ward was for extreme
cases of insanity. Witness then related
case where patient was dragged about the
floor by an attendant Have seen patients
working out OF doors without sufficient
clothing, and again in the sun when it was
| SO hot that IL would almost set a sane man
Crazy. Patients were always properly
houGed and clothed on committee day, when
| the board Of visitors would come around.
Never received bis pay regularly, sometimes
two months and other times as much as ave
mon tbs being due. Signed blank payroll,
without any heading. Witness often Thought
| that Dr. Nichols Individually expended mo-
ney for grounds. Have never known of any
money 10 be expended there iudiciously.
that