Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-13
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The Committee On Expenditures OF the
Interior Department. resumed their Investiga-
tioIcf affairs OF the u. s Insane Asylum this
morning.
Or. IA p. TossHg testified that he was Al
assistant physician at the asylum from 1855
70 1883, and that during the time ne was con-
nected with the asylum Kindness was the
law with the government of the patients.
They were well clothed and fed during that
time. There were brt 40 patients there at
that time He further testified that he has
not bee In the asylum for some years.
Anthony Repetti, former attendant, who
was al the asylum from 1872 to 1875, testified
that he never struck patient. An attendant
nsmfd Boswell struck a patient and was
discharged. The remainder of his testimony
was mainly corroborative of that given by
former witnesses In defense OF the mar age
ment- Never knew Of a patient applying for
any delicacies that he did not get
r. u. Young testified that he was formerly
employed at the asylum as an attendant for
two years; also did clerical work there un-
der DR.. Eastman; at present am not employ
ed in any business. Have no personal
tiepts. Knew OF eight TO twelve attendants
who were discharged for striking patients.
Boarded In Walnut ward; there were two
tables there, but had the same kind of food
as was given the patients. Know of no def
cit In food in quality or quantity. The duty
of witLess was TO weigh meal and butter.
When II was found to be pad IL was return,
current market price for supplies. DR.. Mich
OILS was q very careful purchaser, and al
ways fought where he could get his supplies
the cheapest. There was a straw and hair
mattress on each bed. Left the asylum in
Jure, 1873.
Question by Judge Bonue:-I will ask you
to state specifically IL, when you left there,
you were charged with maltreating a female
patient?
A. No, sir; there were no charges against
me.
Mrs Mnrv p Young testified that she was
the wife of the previous witness, aud was
employed at the asylum as an attendant:
Lett there In January, 1869, and returned
there December Is, 1871. staying there two
years and six months. Was IN Cherry aud
Chestnut wards. Afterwards acted as super
visor of the attendants, having eight wards
under her charge. There were no charges OF
any kind against her when she left. An at
tendant was discharged because she refused
to give patient second cup of tea. The
female patients have sufficient 10 eat Saw
tainted meat once; Ii was returned to the
kitchen. Very few patients come In the
asylum that do not have vermin on them.
If their clothes are not good enough to have
them washed, generally burn them. There
are some patients that have 10 be dressed as
often as six times q day; they would often
tear their clothing mp. In cold weather it
was necessary TO stand by them to keep
their clothes on them In such cases the
chemisole. or straight jacket, is put on them.
IL is very comfortable, and is similar to a
bag put on them, cOnfiniDg their arms and
preventing them from destroying their
clothing or injuring themselves. The chemi-
sole is made the same as q dress body, TO
come down like basque. The sleeves are
made long enough so that they will go
around their body two or three times, where
Richard II. Berd1ls testified that he was an
attendant upon DR.. Dexter, who was
patient at the asylum couple OF years ago.
poison him. Caught hold of him to make
him eat, and he tripped himself up and fell
down. Never struck him or used prOfane
language towards him. Don't know of an
ar yVI ar M m q taI nv
attendants Never knocked DIR. Dexter down.
He was put in the asylum by Do J. f. Dex-
ter, OF this city, and DIR. Morrell. DR.. Dexter
remained at the asylum for fl days. He was
as insane as any patient there. Heard that
be had been drin king. He was very violent
He claimed to be the original Jesus Christ.
The witness said that on the first day DIR.
Dexter was there he asked to be let out of his
room. Witness answered b i'm he would not
let him out, whereupOn DR.. Dexter said he
would kick the door down, which he began
TO do Witness went In the room and caught
hold of him and tried to make him keep
quiet. He then put chemisOle upon him.
Witness left there on account OF his health.
Samuel II. Arnold. clerk In the Office of the
board of Metropolitan police, testified that
he was clerk at the asylum in 1853; re-
manned there 10 months. DR.. Nichols is now
member OF the board OF police, but that
would not bias his testimony in any way.
buses might have occurred, but he knew of
none Can't call 10 mind single case OF
spoiled meat while he was there. Frequently
visited the institution since he left there
Have been connected with the police force
since the war. Know nothing of the dump
ing Of insane paupers in Maryland, except
reading the report made by Major Richards
10 the board OF police. The board required
the ma jOT 10 make report in relation TO the
n after. Also read the correspondence that
took place between DR.. Nichols and the Sec
Rotary Of the Interior in regard TO IL. Knew
nothing Of patients being Dumped In New
York, though he heard about if.
TIE committee then adjourned until Mon
day morning.
IN TEE REPORT OF FATHER BoYLE's
TESTIMONY
In yesterdays issue il should read that he
testified that he received no pay whilst on
duty as acting chaplain, but that the ordi
nary salary was given him when suisse
quently appointed as one of the regular
cEaP!alnS.
\ CARD FROM DIR. THOMPSON.
EduCT StoT: The newspaper statements of
my testimony before a committee on the
government Insane Asylum Investigation
IN Congress, now pending, touching the
mental condition OF Col. b. +. Dexter is SO
repls te with error as TO demand correction.
l did not, as stated, assert that Col. Dexter
Rad not fully recovered from his temporary
arrangement, or that there is at this time
dlscOveIable in his mental condition any
trace OF unsOundDess. On the contrary
considered him person OF unusual acquire
ments, general and professional, and re-
msrkably clear headed gentleman. His
trouble was due entire to acute disease of the
lung s, and disappeared with the subsistence
OF the local disorder. 1t was never my inten-
ton to convey to the minds of the committee
the impression or suspicion that the form of
mental delusiOn under which Col. Dexter
labCTed was incursble or that he hadn't fully
recovered from the same.
j. Ii. THOMPSON NJ. d.
washington, ID. C., May Is, 1876.