The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-09
DR.. NICH0LSS MAD HOUSE.
BRUTAL EATMENT OF Patients IN
THE NATIONAL Asylum.

stous-IcsttmOny eboWtnu IN attempt TO
Bribe one Witness and to FriRhten Others.
WASHINGTON, May s.-Thero has been q
concerted effort made to again whitewash Boss
Shepherds side partner, Dr. o. II. Nichols, the
Superintendent OF the Government Insane Asy-
ium. witnesses who have given important evi-
denoe have been ciassed with lunatios, sore
heads, and inebristes. In doing this, the Ring
organs have aroused the Just indignation OF q
number OF witnesses who were reluctant to
publicly give evidence Of family eriefs. but who
are now resolved to sustain their charges by
proving their high standing and their character
for veracity. 1t is DR.. Mich olss misfortune that
the country has reason to have high opinion
OF Federal officials generally, and he cannot
mako himself an exception. The last evidence
before the Committee on Expenditures In the.
Interior Department Is q confirmation OF state
ments made by witnesses who had friends In
the asylum. II was that OF Mrs. Van Keuren of
Chicago, and shows that Pension Commissioner
Baker was in oollusion with DIR. Nichols in de-
frauding soldiers and sailors Of their pensiors
while confined at the asylum.
Mrs. Van Keuren testified that she has been a
| resident Of Chicago since 1855. She had a son In
| the Government asylum who was seventeen
when he went there. He was sent from the
navy. She saw her after he was sent
there, but could not see DIR. Nichols for many
days. She does not consider her son insane.
| He Ia epileptic. She had an interview with DIR.
| Nichols, and told him she wanted every care
taken Of her son. which was promised, tho doc
tor saying he would take q fathers interest in
him. She left the city In the full belief Of That
| promise. She came here . second time to
| see her son, but not intending to take him
| away. This was after the great nrc In Chicago.
She had always written, but seldom obtained
anv answer. Her boys pension was stopped,
and on writing to the Pension ONCE sho was In
| formed that 1t had been asserted that her boy
was abandoned by his friends, not having been
supplied with any clothing. The witness said
| she then came to " ashington and went to see
hours oi rsI and ID a half saw him. She hardly knew
him. He was haaeard old man. He screamed
Dearest mother, take me out OF THIS horrible
| and bis head was literally alive with vernIin.
He had been lust batbed, and was dripping with
with with Vcrmin. Ha Dr. 5 Morsn was present ss
the day before, and was very sorry for it. On
her return she went to Admiral Porter and to
sent from the city. The Surgeon q enerai OF the
Navy came to her and said he would write to
Dr. Nichols. He received a reply which be. be read
nyinR all else. Witness was accompanied by
lady Of this city, Miss Jenny De Bar. who was
present the whole time witness convcrsed with
| 1869, and left In 1873.
| Witness paid a visit to the Pension once, but
| Gen. Baker was absent. She went the next day
aad the Commissioner mad returned. He wished
TO excuse himself, being very tired having come
from long journey. An appointment was made
| for the next day. which was kept Gen. Baker
tod hsr letters had BEEN sent sS
Pr. NICHOLS by clerk Of the name Of Pryor.
Ssn Dass5 d wa WITH not coS
missioner ne acknowledged IL. The Com
missioner said many bills were sent by DR..
Nichols amounting to several hundred dol
lars. Witness said she would never pay one
cent OF It. She succeeded at last in convincing
VINO proved that her son was in that horrible
condition. Gen. Baker said II witness did not
| said he would send a clerk over to the asylum to
| see how many boys were there, as II was no
month. At the time It kept back 10y DR..
Nichols It was as. The witness said she
guardian OF her son, having established her
| clam In the pension once. The trouble with
Gen Baker ws' ,S Sg9r' % ss pension haynS
| that no clothing had been supplied. Gen. Baker
said Dr. Nichols thought witness had accom-
| panied a gentleman to California, when In fact
and his family. 1t was In September that the
| boy WIS taken out OF the asylum. Witness saw
u letter from Or. Nichols " Surgeon-Gen. Beale
Mr. Voorhees, here said he wished to put In
| the letter. The witness handed TO the Chairman
| letters from Senator Logan, the Hon. z. V. Far
well, and other Influential persons as 10 her
| reputation.
Mr.. Mutchler said he might have misunder-
| stood the witness, but did she not say that DR..
|
sent to her son, but afterward said to Gen.
Baker that he had never received any. Witness
| replied that DR.. Nichols had SO asserted, al
though on her producing his own receipts he
| confessed to Gen. Baker that he was mistaken.
and took several articles OF clothing and furni-
| ture, because there was no chair, table or bed
stead In his room, nothing but mattress.
| Mr.. Voorhees, asked the witness II she ac-
| knowledeed that DIR. Nichols always receipted
for the clothing sent The witness said that
| was just what she complained about, that DIR.
| Nichols told Gen. Baker there had been no
| clothing sent
| Witness went on to say that the mattress on
| which came through the roof. His body was
| covered with bruises; II was quite black. lie
| had been put In a strong room, and they had
| placed a strait jacket on hun. Her son told her
| this, and the attendants also and Mr.. Anderson
| through the wards once a week namely, on the
Sabbath that he cared more for the pigs and
| dogs than he di0 for the patients. On witness
| demanding to see her sons room, DIR. MorIsl
| objected, saying IL was against the rules, but
afterward consented. She found there no books
| or papers, which she had most liberally supplied
The witness then said, addressing the chair
| man, that during her stay In this city she was
called on by man frequently To know how
much money she would take to leave the city.
| She diu not know the mans name. She also had
| "a statement from a man that two patients had
| been killed, one white and one coloTed man,
| and that both were put Into one CONN.
| The committee have even stronger testimony
| in the case Of DIR. Dexter, OF the Police Board in
New Yoik, and finding that was T. be used, Dr.
| Nichols Induced another physician here IN
charge Of one OF the institutions which annually
| bleeds tho Ire .sury, to create the impression
that the evidence Of Dr. Dexter was not orLay of
| credence. In doing this both the doctor aud
| his brother, who Is u highly respected physician
| OF this city, will show DR.. Nichols that he can
| not crush out men Of eminent respectabllity
Dr. Dexter of this city declares that DR.. J. Harry
| Thompson's testimony before the Insane Asy-
| lum Committee is a perversion Of facts, aud en-
| trely contradictory Of statements made by DR..
THOMPSON few days ago In his presence
ana that OF others. DIR. Dexter has requested to
| he permitted to testify before the committee,
| and will do 30 at an eally day. lie will state
| that Dr. Thompsons testimony in regard TO his
| brother, DIR. Dexter of New York. was intended
| TO mislead the committee, and leave them un-
| der the impression that his brother was sim
| insane, and also that DR.. Thompson said TO him
| a few evenings ago that DR.. Nionols was entirely
| unit To manage the asylum Dr. Dexter will be
| curroboTated by several persons who we're
| present at the time this conversation took place
Gov. Rice's Escort TO the Centennial.
BosroN. MAY 6-tIoy. Rice, accompanied by