Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-24

D.
Asylum this morning.
Mrs. SH'aa Adsus gave additional testi-
mopy In regard TO the condition OF the pa
ient, George Bontz, referred To yesterday In
tilted that she saw the vermin on him and
saw The family when they were cleaning tue
vermin from MIN; made complaint to DR..
Nlenols. AFTER he was sent back found him
lying under two old blankets, shivering with
the cold; waited at the asy fum over three
nours before she saw him. Told DR.. Nichols
lid IL ee M naa no 6edstead they would send him
stsaos and they would give him one. He
was lying on the floor; never saw him in his
room after that; he died the spring following
OF tne interior, who asked that the com
plant be put In writing; did not do so be
eauee she feared that 1t might cause her hus-
messenger In the Patent Office, as DR.. Mich
OILS influence was so strong. That was the
reason why the complaint was not pat in
but DR.. Nichols and Secretary Smith. Told
the Secretary about fndin g ner brother lying
on the floor. Suppose that DIR. Nichols (he
was present and heard the testimony recol-
lects the fact of her complaining to him.
Do not believe that DR.. Nichols was cogni-
zant OF the treatment to her brother. Her
to the reception room when they called to
see Dim at the asylum Do not think that
they purposely starved him, but thin IL was
the duty OF The attendants TO require him to
Il izobeth B6sas gave corroborative testi-
mony. She was with her mother and SIS
asylum; always had to wait long time
before he was brought down. Saw the YER
min on him. Did not see him after he was
stripped. Saw vermin On him when he was
In the asylum. His hair was stiff with YER.
min; called the attention OF several to il at
the time. When his body was brought home
from the asy lum IL was terrible sight Saw
him at the asylum when he was dying. DID
not examine him at that time. Her brother
and Others saw vermin on his body when IL
was brought home. His mother remained
at bis bedside until he died, though the
authorities of the asylum would not allow
witness or Mrs. Adams to remain with her.
His mother remained there all night by her
Bontz, his mother, asked DIR. Earle and 9th
ers to ask DR.. Nichols to allow them to re-
main, but permission was refused.
Mrs. Elizabeth Gtuotndn corrobOratad the
above. She testified that she was q sister of
George Bontz, who died at the asylum. Was
present with others when vermin was seen
coliar in cTs wgre wo1 ss aoods ms c3at
mother, asked the attendant to use prepa-
ration which she made to kill the vermin.
she also sent fine tooth comb there which
the attendant said he would use. Helped to
dress the body when it was prepared for
burial. The back was covered with large
welts and bruises. The vermin hal cut a
large ring around the neck. This was two
years after they first saw the verrnin on him.
Do not think the attendant used the prepa-
ration that she sent there. Was forced to
return him to the asylum, because they were
unable to attend to him. He had grown
strong and dangerous while he was at home.
was with his mother when word was sent
up TO bis room that they would not be al
lowed to remain with him until he died. Had
TO leave. and left their mother there alone.
Requested several times to be allowed to
remain there. He had become so emaciated
That she did not know him. He prayed to
mis- mother not to leave him, saying that he
wanted to be buried along side OF his father.
saw DR.. Earle there and talked with him.
Hes He said Id he would ask Dr. Nichols If they
them that DR.. Nichols would not allow 1t,
saying II was against orders. Her brother
said when dying that DIR. Earle was kind
and good TO him. Understood that DIR. Earle
was q visitor there, and was assisting DR..
Nichols; that he visited all the insane asy-
iums. Dr. Earle said he would let them
Know III be goS worse, and he did so. They
intended when they visited the asylum the
last time TO bring him home and let him die
at home. He told them several times not
70 give any food for him TO the attendant,
Price, as none Of IL would be given him
(Bontz)
Jacob Il. Bontz, brother OF George Bontz
referred TO, testified that he took him TO the
Insane asylum strong man, and when they
took him away he was very weak aud had
fallen away greatly in flesh. He grew strong
again before they sent him back. Did not
that there was vermin on him. Did not
visit him at the asylum, as witness was In
the army during the time. Never heard his
mother say he was badly treated, but heard
her say there was vermin ON him.
,foin Bo1atz, another brother, gave corrob-
OF alive testi nony, adding that ne brought
his brother GeTge from Florida to this city,
where he was p aced In the asylum. Under
TOOK To take car OF him himself, but could
not, and was forced to send him TO the asy-
lum. His mother sent clothing and shoes
there regularly, but his brother got none OF
them; they were worn by the attendants
Always tried to keep on the right side OF
Price, the head attendant; 1T was policy To
do SO, and would always fare better this way
than by complaining. Saw large scar on
his brothers face: the attendant said il was
caused by his pushing his head through q
pane OF glass In the window. Tried for q
lons time to see bis brother In his own room,
but failed to do so.
Samuel II. johnson, colored, testified that he
was patient in the Insane asylum; went
there in October, 1871; left there In February,
1872 Had trouble in his head, and was
troublesome when he had been drinking. He
was put in what Is called '.the iron ward"
and the cell In which he was kept was very
cold. Shiyered like dog, and begged the
doctors TO have some fire made TO keep him
warm. Had no mattress until he asked for
IL. Felt sensation In his legs like pins were
being stuck In him. His legs began to swell
up. One OF the attendants struck him In the
head with door knob, leaving ascar, which
he showed to the committee. He sent after
his wife, and after that he was put In a
warmer ward. The doctor ordered that his
tc6s VIC D0tucu III Wdf1u wafer. 1leY became
worse, and his toes all fell of. They were
frozen Oh. One day the doctor asked him
how he was getting along. He answered,
"Thank God, am IL the land OF the living.
anyhow" The doctor did not tell him what
was the matter with his feet, and what
caused bis toes to fall of. His wife took
HIM away from the asylum in February, and
he called In DIR. Russell to see his feet. He
said, sit is too late now, / will have to cut
the rest of them or" After that, being a
soldier, he went TO the Freedman's hospital
where he remained for three months under
trea ,ment for his legs. While at the asylum
asked for q fire several times, but although
IL was promised, no heat came through the
register, The cell was supposed to be heated
by the register. The doctor would keep say
ing, "the heat will come soon," but 1t never
did come. Slept on the floor; had govern
ment blanket In which to wrap hiniselfupip.
May have bad the delirium tremens or linn
jams when he was taken there. Had been
drinking three or four weeks.
DR.. Win. X. RuSsel testified that he was a
practising physician; was called to see
Samuel johnson and did see him. His feet
were frozen; proposed TO amputate his toes,
Do not think they had been frozen more
than four or five weeks. II they had been
frozen longer than that they would have
fallen of. Toes on both feet were frozen.
Did not cut them of the day he went TO his
house 10 do IL; found that he had been sent
tot no Esra<a SNrrnnr d hos FaaI