Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-27
The Insane Asylum Investigation.

IN n DAY.
Tie Committee On the Expenditures of
the Interior department resumed tueir in-
vestisation of the U. s. Insane asylum this
morning:
DR.. MoRRELL'S TESTIMONY,
,DT. h0Treu testified that he was first as
slstsht surgeon at the asylum. In relation
to the patient White. brother of Mrs Tay-
Tor he said that Mrs. Taylor called at the
asy Ium several times to see her brother, but
never complained OF any improper treat.
hent. Had ten years experience before
ming u this asylum. Remembers that
Nj s. Tay Tor said that she thought patient
had been whipped; she asked him il they al
lowed their attendants TO whip patients and
he replied, mo, never,' 1t was fmpOssi bic
that any of the patients should be whipoed
without him knowing OF IL. In all cases
" hen they have found that attendants did
not treat the patients well they were imme-
Ciately discharged; patients often assault al .
,enGants and nave assaulted him, but never
thought OF returning the blow. 1t was con-
traTy To the system upon which they treat
ttem. Did not choke the patient White and
did not knock him down. White FREQUENT
ly brandtShed his fist at him. Was not
pres ent when Mrs. Taylor had al interview
with DR.. Hamlin. IT was no unusual thing
or anything TO excite surprise, TO hear pa
tients cry ont as if they were being beaten.
By slamming the shutters and screaming
person might be deceived into thinking that
blows were being struck the patients; it was
Of very frequent occurrence. Have never
lifted my and.against patient, and never
knew of an attendant who did so that was
lot discharged, except IL was clearly q case
of selfdefence. Mrs. Taylor called to see her
brother about ten days after he was first
confined there. There was no chair in his
room, though there was bedstead ia it.
Have every reason TO believe that the bed
was clean and in proper condition. Do not
know that White ever exhibited any symp-
toms OF violence. Being absent while
about that time, DIR. Chase had the pat ient I'm
charge. Witness was not there when Mrs
Taylor made her first visit. After the first
thirty days witness had charge of him.
DR. HAMLIN's TESTIMONY.
DIR. Francis ~ HoTlliH testified that he was
an assistant physician at the Insane Asy-
lum; have been there four years; have been
practising physician since 1868; had
years experience In an asylum before he
went to The government asylum; after that
was In general practice; was introduced to
Mrs. Taylor by DIR. MorrelI. Mrs. Taylor
sounds OF blows as II some one was being
beateD. She said that the sounds came from
the lower floor on the extreme eastern end
OF the building, Told her that IL was inn
possible, and told her that he had adopted
means which would prevent such a thing;
that he had confidence in the attendants,
and that they were kind to the patients; that
If any one had been abused they would inn
mediately be discharged. She said she had
heard the screams, and witness told her that
there were several women in the wards who
had habit OF crying out as If they were be-
ing pounded within an inch of their lives.
and screamed so loud that they cculd be
heard quarter OF mile, when no Dne was
near them. Have never struck al insane
woman or an insane man, or other person
who was under his charge. The statement
that he had ever struck the woman was as
foul as hell: treated patients as sick people,
and kindly; always instruct his attendants
only to strike patient IN seifdefence,
and then only when their life was in danger.
There are 80 patients there, and as 4 gene
raj rule there is one attendant for every 10
patients. 1t is a leading feature of mental
malady TO complain Of real and imaginary
grievances. Have encouraged patients to
complain of anything they do not ike, and
in the vast majority of cases of complaints
md that the grievances are imaginary en-
tirely. Sick patients are visited according
to their necessities and according TO the
gravity of the case.
BY MIR. Mu'cbler saw Mr.. White When
he was trCpe ht o the asylum; he came there
with twenty others. Or. Chase designated
the room Tor him. They all came from the
soldiers lone, at Dayton, Ohio, in one
parry. Always obtain as much of the his.
tory of the patients as they can, so as tn
properly treat them. Are sometimes de-
ceivtd by the representations made about
TIE patients. White was not under charge
OF wifi esS, and saw very little Of him. DR.
Chase had charge of him while DR.. Morrell
was away. Attendants are required TO fur
nish recommendations before they are en-
ployed. Attendants are frequently changed;
they are employed on months trial
Attendants receive $50 per month and board
and lodging: Some stay there for as long as
ten years frequently three or four years:
three or four Eave been there three years
Only know Of the female attendants. Ofthe
twenty.ihIee or twenty four female attend
ants now there nine have been there for more
than two years. When Mrs. Taylor went
away witness went up TO the ward to exam
inc into the cause OF the seeming whipping.
Went there in twenty minutes after the fact
was reported. Did not discover the cause OF
the alarm. Went to the ward that Mrs
Taylor spoke of. She did not speak of any
particular room. Asked the ate ndants, and
received Information from them Tia at no one
had been beaten. The attendants could not
or would not point out which particular pa
tent II was who was screaming. They sim
ply said that II might be one of several pa
uents, but did not state any particular
patient. Do Bot know why the other pa
tients said, as Mrs. Taylor says, "Put her in
strong ROOM" Do not know why the cUr
tain was pulled down In the month OF July.
Would not think from that that there was
something wrong. If the patients wanted
TO, they could pull down the blinds. The
order to attendants is to drive persons away
from in front of the windows. II persons
want to come in they can do so. II Mrs.
Taylor was ordered away, IL was simply &C
cording TO the instructions that are given to
the attendants. Find that this is necess ary
On the third floor is an excited class OF fe-
male white patients.
Mr.. Voorhees,, counsel for DR.. Nichols, put
in evidence
TWO LETTERS WRITTEN BY MRS. TAYLOR
in relation TO her brother, Thomas y. White
The first was written when he was first sent
TO the asylum, and the second on July %
1875, stating that she had secured a boarding
place for him in the country, and that she
was perfectly satisfied with his trea fment
at tie asylum, and that she thought the
change would be beneficial TO him.
MISS ISABEL LOUISA ARNOR
testified that she resided in this city and was
for three years employed as an assistant
supervisor at the asylum. The duties of
supervisor is to look after the attendants and
patients, and TO see that the attendants treat
the patients kindly. She also did the mar
keting and looked after the clothing and bed
ding. In relation to the screaming spoken
of by Mrs. Taylor, she testified that She
was in Cherry ward; heard the screaming;
went to the window, and seeing Mrs.
Taylor approaching one OF the Win
dOws, told her IL was not the place
for visitors, but she paid no attention
10 her. The lady still approached the WIN
dow, and she spoke TO her several times
from the inside, but Mrs Taylor said MOTH
Ing. Afterwards, when she went TO the re-
ception room, DR.. Hamlin told her what
Mrs. Taylor had said, and she informed him
that 1t came from patient who was slap
ping a shutter in a private room. Have
never known OF but two attendants striking
patients, and they were Immediately dis
charged.
By Mr.. Mutchler-Mrs. Taylor was not
alone. The only reason she had for telling
L