Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-25
The Insane Asylum lnvestigatien.


Their seems TO be general expression of
opinion on the partof the leading papers of the
country that great injustice has been done
TO DR.. Nichols by the weight given to the
evidence OF lunatics, discharged employees,
and others whose testimony would not be
worth straw in any court. The Philadel-
phia Times (indeperd ent) says:
Further testimony in defense of DIR.
NICHOLS has been given before the House
committee examining into the management
OF the Government Insane Asylum at Wash
ing tpfs Only partial aud perhaps garbi
been given TO the public, but, so far as can
be judged from these, the charges against
the management have not been sustained
Gen. Boynton, correspondent distin-
guished for reliability and for vigilance as
an investigator, writes to the Cincinnati
Gazette as follows:
"None of the democratic Investigations
have excited such painful feelings in this
District, aud none have sent such tides of
horror and cruelty to the country, as the
collecting testimony against the condition
and management of the Governmen Hospi-
tai for the Insane, situated In this District.
sibs fsr Ky Se of this Sr S
II half OF this testimony were true. On
the other hand, If the committee has gather
ed up false testimony, encouraged those who
gave ii, and allowed 1t go in most exaygera-
ted form uncorrected before the country.
hanging would be none too good for those
who have thus offended.
Nothing is better calculated to stir COM
munity to rage than stories OF cruelty to the
insane, and this is as IT should be. But 1t is
nothing less than crime to use this keen sense
OF the public to further the ends of the party,
or to bring unmerited reproach upon the Ad.
ministration and its faithful servants.
So many horrible things had been printed
duty to accept an Invitation, given a few
days since, to visit and inspect all parts oft.
The committee investigating the institu-
ton had been repeatedly requested to make
such an inspection, to choose its own hours
of the day or the night, and to come unan-
nounced, but as yet the invitation has not
been accepted. One member called-not Of
hcial1y-but the rest have seen at thus to
content themselves with examining dis
charged employees, and many others whose
testimony is known to be absolutely false,
it, was an opportunity offered to show its
true character.
There are $50 patients at this hospital, and
who are interested in them are found In ali
parts OF the country. Besides the military
and naval patients, the local authorities of
Washington have the right to send the In
sane of the District there. Thus, again,
through these, the whole country has an in
terest in the institution. And aside from
these interests, which may be termed per-
not properly appropriated, and If those whom
the nation employs to care for its unfortu.
mates neglect their trusts.
With no acquaintance among the officer
or attendants, and no personal knO Wedge of
any one OF the patients or their friends, and
with the sole purpose OF seeing all that could
be seen, and giving a faithful account of it,
visit to the Institution was made"
Gen. Boynton proceeds to give the results
of very careful scrutiny into the affairs OF
the asylum, and says In conclusion:
"This plain, unexaggerated statement
shows the condition of affairs at the hos
pital, SO far as all outward signs of comfort
and care are concerned. OF course no Wis
itors passing through the building can Judge
OF the personal treatment the patients receive
there from attendants or those In charge, but
is in such excellent condition IL furnishes
strong presumptive evidence, at least, that
the intention is to discharge every duty
toward the unfortunate classes committed to
the care OF the Superintendent by the gov
eminent. The cases OF i'll treatment and
cruelty which have excited so much com
mint throughout the country, Are four In
number. First, 1t has been charged that the
superintendent allowed patients to be taken
from the hospital at night, driven into the
adjacent counties OF Maryland, and turned
loose to reach their homes as best they
might. In two other cases women have
given testimony of the Ill treatment OF
their sons, and one of finding her son, for
whom she was paying board, In dark cell +,
covered with sores and vermin, and another
patient. In the first OF these cases the
superintendent, DIR. Nichols, had no re-
81 Onslbflity whatever, and knew nothing
Of what was intended to be done by the
District authorities, who had sole control
In the matter, until the publication concern
ing IL had been made In the public press
The entire absence OF responsibility In this
case ON the part OF DIR. Nichols has been
shown In official communications which
admit OF no contradiction. In the cases OF
alleged cruelty testified TO by ladies, letters
are in the possession of Dr. Nichols from
these very persons giving false testimony
upon which these stories have been founded
and tbese letters contradict all points of the
testimony upon which the charges against
DR.. Nichols rest. Since the testimony which
caused SO much severe comment was given,
evidence showing its falsity In all essential
points has been presented to the committee,
and while 1t can not be asserted with coufi-
dence, after even the most thorough visit
made In day, that everything is exactly
as IL should be, 1t can be confidently as
serted that, as yet, this democratic iuyesti.
cation, which has filled the country with
false and exceedingly unjust statements,
has failed to establish any serious irregu-
larity or neglect OF duty in the MANAGEMENT
ofthis government charity. Without regard
TO what the final results of this Investigation
may be, 1t is simply justice to DIR. Nichols
and the others concerned in the care of this
institution, and 10 the administration,
which Is responsible to the country for its
proper management, that the statement of
this letter should be made at this stage of
The investigation"