Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-06
The Insane Asylum Investigates.
THE TESTIMONY TO-DAY.

asylum this M ornipg:
Ms. H. L. KeiCaa test fed that her son was
at one time an inmate OF the U. $. Insane
Asylum. He was an epileptic patient, and
was psralyZed on the left side. Had an
interview with Dr. Nichols, when she told
him the history of the case. He said he would
extend 10 him fathers care, and that her
son would not be put among insane patients,
bot among convalesceut cases. The only
u required was restraint. She was shown
very comfortable room in Beech ward, aud
| was told that her son would be given quar-
| tiers there. After leaving her son with Dr.
Nichols she went to New York, where she
| was taken sick. She then went the fall after
| wards to California for her health. Her
house in Chicago was burned during the fire
there. While in California size frequently
wrote TO her son, but did not receive an
| answer. She then wrote DR.. Nichols,
| but received no answer from him. She then
learned that the pepsion OF her son had
| by letter several times why the pension was
| stopped, but could get no satisfaction. In
August, 1873, she returned TO this city and
called at the asylum TO see DR.. Nichols, but
| was informed that DR.. Nichols was on his
summer vacation, and had gone away with
his wife. Asked to see her son, and after
| and a half hours her son was brought down.
| She did not know him. He was looking like
| haggard old man. He was shivering, and
that he bad been bathed and scrubbed
| up so that he would be presentable. He said
to her, Mother, for Gods sake, take me out
-
he saw her. His head and body were filled
| with vermin. Examined him in the pres
ence OF DR.. Morrell. His head was a living
mass OF vermin. DR.. Morrell asked her,
"Do you think your son has changer" She
answered that she would not know him ex-
cept that he was lame. When her son came
| in new suit of clothes, the same suit that
she had sent him six months before that.
Her son, as well as the attendant, told her
that he bad never put the clothing on be-
w N Aok nr
Morrell in what ward her son was kept, and
he told her sycamore wsrd. Her son said
that he had been placed among the
crazy patients, and that he had been
beaten by them. and was all bruised
up, and was covered with sores. DIR.
MorTell said he found her son in that
ward when he came to the asylum, and that
he dr. M was not responsible for her sons
condition; asked DR.. Morrell to put him In
another ward and he said be would. She
bsrdly knew what to do. Her son was in
such terrible condition that she could not
take him away until he was cleaned. She
brought q clean suit OF clothes TO him few
called upon the acting secretary OF the Navy
and related the case TO him, who wrote 10
DR.. Nichols. He answered, denying the main
charges, but admitted that he was covered
with vermin. A lady who resides in WASH
ington accompanied her when she visited the
asylum, and with her saw the vermin on
ises, aud remained the there until Sept. iss5'
Went to see Commissioner OF Pensions Baker
and was told that he was Off on his summer
leave Of absence. Afterwards went 10 the
Seaton House branch of pension office, and
there learned that no clothing had been furn-
ished TO her son, when she knew that she
furnished IT herself: The next day she called
and saw Baker and related the case to him,
that her son was naval pensiOner, and that
his pension had been stopped. Gen. Baker
said that DR.. Nichols had drawn the pen
sion. Baker gave her no satisfaction, and
really irsulted her. The reason assigned for
DR.. Nichols drawing her sons pension was
That le had get himself up as ward OF her
son, and drew her pepsloa. She then learned
that all of the letters that she had written 10
Baker had been given DIR. Nichols. She de
manded her letters, and told Baker that DR..
them 10 him. Baker said to Mr. Prior. one
of his subordinstes, that the letters must be
returned 10 her. She said she would not
cease TO investigate the matter. Baker
finally told her that ne would not let her
have bis pension, and that he would take
mis- guardianship from her; that Dr.. Nichols
had sent in such q big bill for the board OF
her son that 1t had eaten up her sons pen
sion. She told him that she would not pay
DR.. Nichols single cent, as the government
gave her the right. Whea she left him in
be well treated. Afterwards General Baker
came 10 The conclusion that there was some
thing In her statement, and had the case in
vsstigated by physician OF the Pension
Office. This physician reported the facts to
General Baker, who ordered her that she
take her SON away from the sylun Saying:
81 am satisfied that nr.: :. .S.iols has been
traducing you and misrepresentiDg this case,
and If you do not take him away will do so
myself, as he is ward Of the government"
She then got an order TO take her son out of
the asylum. She took him TO 6l0 18th street,
where she resided temporarily. and after
wards, through the kindness OF Gen. Baker
and other officials, put her SON In the Mount
Hope asylum, near Baltimore. Soon after
wards she took him to her home in Chicago,
where he is now. He is very studious and
very fond OF reading. His mind is still weak.
ed again, and he now receives pension of
$50 per month. His pension for one year had
been suspended. Gen. Baker said this was
all brought about by DR.. Nichols, who had
he said no clothing had been sent to
from DR.. Nichols ACKNOWLEDGING the same,
receipts for clothing were presented TO the
committee by the witnees.1 There was no
furniture In her sons room, although she
presented TO the committee all the papers
relating to the case which had passed to
and nom the Pension office There was an
arrangement between her father In law and
money. She showed Gen. Baker by DIR.
Nichols own letters the falsity of DR.. Mich.
that he intended 10 take all the soldier boys
out of the asylum, and that IL was inhuman
to keep them there In such condition. Her
son was forced to lie on the floor without a
room the roof OF which leaked SO that he
got wet while asleep, from which he con-
tracted infiammatOry rheumatism. Her son
was a christian and never used a profane
word. He Is now % years of age. Attend
ants there told her that DIR. Nichols did not
know anything about the patients; that he
paid more attention to pigs, hogs, the farm,
&C., than he did to the patients; that be took
little interest in the patients, and visited
them but once week. Her son said that
the meat was often bad. Mrs. Van Kewan
said that man, whom she Afterwards saw
with DR.. Nichols in conversation, called TO
see her several times and asked her how
much money she wanted te lecve the city.
He called to see her at 6l0 14th street three or
four times. He said he wanted her TO leave
the city, and that he would pay her a good
round sum. She ordered him out OF her
house. Several OF the attendants have told
her that they could give damaging facts
against DR.. Nichols, but that DIR. Nichols
local influence was so strong that he would
prevent them from getting work IL they told
anything against him.
mrs. Van Kewen In from Chicago, and ap-
peared before the committee In accordance
with subpoena
The committee then adjourned until Fri
day next.
A LAwYER CONVICTED OF lFoRGERY,-
NA Dtnl.ov ~ q