Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-05
The Insane Asylum Investigation.
Testimony To.dau.


United States insane asylum was resumed
by the Committee on the Expenditures In
the Interior department to-day:
ANOTHER Ex-ATrENDANT.
II IL o. Stceeney testified that he had been
employ ed in several of the wards of the asy-
there during the past January. Had often
seen twelve TO fifteen men pac ked in one
room, while in others there were only one or
two. Have known patients To be packed In
a room without a stftcn of clothing, not even
shoe string; one of them was left in a cell
IN "strODg room" in the middle OF January
dow was left up all night. The man had a
little straw to lie on, which had been taken
out of bed tick. Great preparations were al
way made to receive the visiting COMMITTEES:
everything was brushed up to receive them.
The committee would march through ht1r
rledly headed by DIR. Nichols; never knew the
committee 10 go through any OF the patients
rooms or examine the Kitchen. Rave known
of patients being stood up in line to re-
ceive the committee, and kept standing In
lire from to O'Clock. The patients who
did not have clothing were locked up In
their rooms because they did not have
clothes enough 10 appear before the commit
lee. The fires We're allowed to go down at
night, and the wards were very cold at
nighttime. Fights between the patients
were frequent. both day and night. Black
eyes and bloody noses were frequent. Do
not remember of hearing of patients having
limbs broken. The meat was often very bad :,
as was alsO the butter. Sometimes the meat
was bad three or four times a week. Many
OF the patients eat it. but some of them re
fused. Some of the patients would eat any
thing. while others, who were not so insane.
would refuse TO eat the bad meat. provided
they could get better by complaining, which
was seldom. DR.. MOrrell had charge OF the
patient referred To as being kept lie d strong
room, without clothing, and TIE windGw
open. HIS name was BuchIer. Dr. Nichols
pays but little attention to the patients.
THE ANTI NICHOLS SIDE TO BE HEARD
FIRST
Mr. Mutchler, the chairCSan OF the COM
mittee, in reply 10 question of Mr.. Tufts
about summoniDg DR. Nichols before the
committee said that he had talk with him
In which an understanding was arrived at
that the case against the asylum shall be
trst made out, after which the committee
would hear Dr. Nichols and the witnesses In
his behalf The members of the committee
expressed themselves as satisfied with the
agreement.
THE PATIENT WHO WAS KICKED.
Charles r. Garter, who was examined on
Monday, made an additional statement in
regard TO the alleged kicking to death of the
patient McAdams: He was kicked in the
back by an attendant named John Hadder
man; when slipped L saw McAdams lying
on the floor, and said, "John, don't kick that
man. did not see any provocatiOn for kick
ing him, though McAdams was a trouble
ONE patient; called DR.. Morrelrs attention
to the case, and pointed out the large red
place on NcAdams' back; he said, son, il is
only bad SOre,' and directed me TO put a
LlaSter on ii; after the plaster had been on
% flesh, as large as mans hand, came OFF
with It, exposing the back bone. DIR. Mich
OILS came 10 see him once while he was sick.
The morning after be died he was twice his
natural size, and about his joints he had
turned blue ! cannot say positively that
the kick was the cause of death, but know
IL excited him, for If any one went towards
him lie would cry out
"FOR GODS SAKE DON'T KILL NE"
have seen whole cabbageS sent up to the
patients, the outside cooked and the inside
90 NErpC rr-F.s TNuE-fsN
TWO before the committee came they were
better fed, but after the visit or inspection
as IL was called, they would be put back TO
the old standing of living. AS to the work
ing patients receiving meat every morning,
as DR.. MOrril states, | never heard of II
before. never knew OF the working patients
receiving ANYTHING but bread and coffee for
breakfast. Never received any instructions
10 report the bad condition OF the food; re
ported the food several times and was treatei
with contempt for doing So. DR.. Nichols
came through the wards but nine times in
eight months DR.. MoIrell is mistaken when
ne says that cases of violence towards pa
tents were followed by instant discharge
There was one case where DR.. Morreli
himself struck patient and knocked
him down. He has been there since
The bad patients are put in with the quiet,
and he knew of two cases where men nave
been Injured by such classification, one pa
tient having his eye punched out with a
broomstick, and another having his thumb
bit of. A great many OF the patients were
would come in and go to bed with their feet
and legs wet and cold. There are some pa.
tients there who
SHOULD BE DISCHARGED.
There is one man in the white ash ward now,
named Higgins. who in the eight months i
was employed there never showed by his &C
tons or conversation the least symptoms OF
insanity. He never showed as much symp-
toms of insanity as DR.. Morrell did, for Ihave
seen him 60 through the wards on his hands
and knees amusing himself by killing flies
with piece of rubber, and do great many
other strange actions. hope something may
be done for Higgins, for il is wrong to have
him locked up there when he Is able to take
care Of himself