Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-12
The Insane Asy,u n Investigation.


Interior department resumed their investi-
CATION OF the affairs of the u. g. Insane Asy-
lum this morning:
James Price testified that he has Known
DR.. Nichols for 20 years, and has been en-
ployed by him for years. He was at the
asy linn In 1865, but never noticed any abuses
DR.. Nichols was very careful Of the cleanIi-
re SIS of the Institution.
Francis n. Young testified to the general
cool management OF the farm attached to
the asylum. Urders TODD that the ATTEND
ants and patients had all the fruit they de
slIed 70 eau during the fruit season. The
grapes were good, the horses and cattle were
kept fat, the hogs in good condition. Have
never been inside OF the institution, but have
seen the patients looking out of the windows
and have seen patients while wor king on the
farm. Have never seen any OF the wards
all he knows about the asylum was what he
has heard about 1t. At present witness is
about starting brick yard there. Have
mad no acquaintance with any one connected
with the asylum, and never spoke TO DR.
Nlchols until couple OF days ago. Have
never seen any patients working on the river
water.
By Judge Boone:-Am not a practical far
mer, but have good idea OF gardening;
think II IL cost thirty-five cents for each
head OF cabbage raised there 1t was not too
much; published, several years ago, a small
paper, for several months, called the Union-
to,cf, advertiser, I'm which he criticized DR.
Nichols severely; there were one or two arti.
cles furnished by Dr.: Darby, now deceased,
am satisfied since that Injustice was done
DR.. Nichols by those articles.
ReU. H. ~ BOYLE, pastor OF st. Peters Cath
olicl church, Capitol Hill, testified that since
1852 he has been an acting chaplain at the
asylum, and served as such without paw
Hold services there every Sunday for two
months; the remaining Sundays other pas
tors are there. Know nothing of any abuse
to patients at the asylum, and have never
encountered ary OF 1t. Have heard attend
ants say that DIR. Nichols often yisitsd the
wards looking ha
the patients, at all hours day or night. The
majority OF patients were Incompetent to at
tend to their religious duties. Have never
heard any complaint of abuse from any of
the patients. Think that If they had been
abused they would have told him of IT,
Consider pr. Nichols as the embodiment of
bad very high regard for him. Many of
The attendants are Catholics, and am salts
ned that had there been anything wrong
there they would have communicated IL to
him. Have been summoned there at ali
hours to administer the sacraments of the
Catholic church to the dying. In this way
patients clean, and their clothing, body and
bed clothing dry, tidy and clean. Father
Boy lie spoke OF DR.. Nichols and his manage
menI OF the asylum In the highest and most
complimentary terms.
Hfa. Wood6uYn testified that he is at pre-
sent employed at the Continental hotel of
this city as steward. Was from 1871 10 1878
employ ed at the Insane asylum as an at
tendant in Maple ward. Left there because
his health was bad and thought his health
would be BENEFITED by leaving there. Never
saw any Ill treatment or abuse to patients
but heard of attendants being dismissed for
sodoipg. Heard of about ten or a dozen at
tendants being dismissed. Many attendants
were dismissed because they drank LIQUOR
Everything was kept In perfect order, and
the patients and beds were always clean
Saw no neglect there OF any kind whatever
Remember patient named Van KeWan He
was paralyzed in one arm and side. He was
an apoplectic patient. Never saw Van
kewan Ill treated. He was a very childish
young man, and patient in sycamore
ward. Saw him three or four times a dav
After he was transferred to Maple ward did
not see linn more than once or twice day,
Remem bers wheE. he left; helped to dress him
The day his mother took him away; there
Eere 10 bruises about his head; did moi see
any yermip on him. Was e., attendant
there while DR.. Dexter, Of New York, was
with respect. He was out OF his mind when
he came there, his delusiOns running on re-
ligiOus matters. He refused to eat or take
his medicine, having an idea that every
thing was poisoned. Put a strai ght Jacket
on him, and required him to take his medi-
cine. George IL. Burns was an attendant In
the same ward. Never heard OF au attend
ant Striking Dexter, or using profane Ian
guage towards him.
BY Mi. Mutchler, chairman:-The roof of
the room In which young Van Kerwan was
sept did not leak. He frequently had Ats In
his room. Presume that he was washed be-
fore he was taken down to see his mother.
Helped to dress him. 1t is customary for ali
patients TO clean up, or are assisted TO do 1t
by the attendants, before they are taken
down to see such friends as call upon them.
Only put the straight jacket on DR.. Dexter
but once. Tie jacket vas taken Off after the
medicine was given him.
Richard o. Melon, a Metropoli tan police Of
fcer, testified that he was formerly an at
tendant; was not appointed on the police
force by DIR. Nichols; went to the asylum as
an attendant in 1869; remained there for four
years. Do not know OF any patients being
abused while he was there. The food was
good. Never KIN W OF club, the size of a
base ball bat. TO be kept in Gray A sh ward
10 regulate the patients with, or strike or
beat them. Heard that the meat was at
times bad, but never saw any of 1t. VIM.
Van kerwan was patient while witness
vas there. Van Kerwan was In Sycamore
ward; attended him for a year. Cannot re-
call single instance OF any abuse or neg
lgence towards him. When witness left
there Van Kerwan was still q patient there.
The committee then adjourned until to-
morrow morning.