Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-26
The Insane Asylum Investigation.

TIE TESTIMONY To DAY.
Tie Committee on the Expenditures OF
the Interior department resumed tneir IL
vestigatiOn OF the L. :. Insane asylum this
morning
DR.. Nichols appeared before the committee
accomra nied by Hon. ID. w. Voorhees,, ais
counsel
Mr.. VOORHEES, inquired of the cha rman Of
the committee, Mr.. Mu'ChIer, " ne Lher all OF
the evidence against Or. Nichols had been
taken.
Mr.. Woodwork replied that as the COM
mittee understood IL all had been taken. eN-
cept the testimony OF witnesses yet u arrive
&c Boone said several witnesses were
or their way from Chicago, and several WHO
re lie IN THIS city may yet be called
Mr.. NoIHeeS replied that they intended To
answer ali the charges against ID. Nicdois'
ser.8tim, bat as they had 10 witreS e.
present, they would first reply 10 that of
Mrs. Taylor, given yesterday, but afLwaris
Trey would reply in the regular way.
THIS was satisfactory TO the committee
who thereupon adjourned 10 a larger room,
that of the Committee on Indian Affairs so
as to accommodate the large number OF per-
sons who were present, aud who were MA HE
TO set seats ia the Old room of the committee
Aftei getting comfortably fixed i'm the
,aLgef room the committee decided 10 hear
w. bIotneIton, Il witness against the man.
agement. who had just arrived in answer TO
the subpoena OF the committee.
ANOTHER EX-ATTT NDANT.
george ". Bro'heTtoa testified that that he
ployed as an attendant in Beech ward, where
there were very rough class OF violent
patients. There are three attendants in the
ward. Lett on his own account, as he did not
get enough wages, and did not like the trans
actions at the asylum. When ne iirst went
There, IN January last, there was not enough
clOtnlDg Tor the p9tients, or enough food for
them To eat. lie saw spiders, reaches and
Otner bugs in the food and has picked them
OF the food. This Wa on account of the neg
IlseEce OF the cooks. Have known patients
= among oh
other. They fight with the SpittOOas. Have
seen VeTmln on the patients number OF
times Carrolic acid ard blue ointment was
used. Oiten asked for fine tooth COMBS so as
10 comb them out OF the patients hair, but
could lot get the combs. Attendants were
occupied so much In mending clothes OF the
patients that they cannot properly attend the
patients. The wards at night time were
very cold; have known bean soup and pork
TO come up &c tie patieSts when il was rot
ten, ROac!eS could be frequently seen on
the dishes. II was necessary sometimes 10
stTlEe the patients 10 protect themselves
tthe attehdants.l IT was also necessary to
use !orce 10 put them Ia the baths. Toe pa
tlentS often threw the meat away, as IL
tmelled SO bad they could not eat il; did not
nave Clothes enough 10 cover the patientS'
nak.dness. one patient IN the ward tore up
his clothing, but only that one; don't re.
member seeing DR. Nichols IN the ward but
twice before the lDVes LEGATION commenced
Since this investigation began clothing has
teen very plenty. Stockings and under
ciOihing are there now in great quantities.
Tie food X q great deal better now than if
was, and there Is more OF 70, Or. Nichols
NlhllS Inc patients more frequently now:
never saw Dr.. Nichols go into a be i-To0n or
bathroom while witness was there The
board Of visitors hurry through part OF me
building, visiting about one fEirt pr rbe
wards; have not known any OF the b1ari OF
visitors 10 ask questions about the "a, tents
or 10 go into the wards. Or. Mnrrp'I asked
witness couple Of days ago 10 make a state
nleLt %
Mr.. sHFpNAT
witness ASKED DIR. MOTrell VINO sherman
was, ard Or. DoTTell said ne was one OF the
committee, and That ne should maze a state
meLt 10 him. Witness refused 10 say any
thing to this man Sherman. WitneSs ar.
teTWaTdS said that Sherman was recently
employed at the Capitol as an assistant en-
gi.eer. Have never had any trouble with
Dr, MOTel. except once, when the doctor
made him stop singing. Do not know why
DR.. MCTrell wanted him tomake q statement
before Sherman. Three other attendants
made statements before sherman last week
DIR. MOrrell did not say what particular
statement he wanted him 10 ma Ike, and il ne
witness did not go and talk 10 Sherman the
committee would subpoena him in forty
hours. DR.. Morrell said Sherman was sent
over by this committee, and that he was
member Of it, and authorized 10 take state
meDts Of the attendants there.
IN ROSS-ENAMINATION
witness said there were about fort y eight
patients in Beech ward. Ii was his duty TO
ask the ward master for anything that he
wanted. and not his place TO go in person 10
see DR.. Nichols and ask for il. IL took three
weeks 10 get one fine-tOOth comb, aud that
was all that was given for the use OF forty
eight patients; always put down such re
quests on book which is kept there Tor that
purpose.
The committee then, without further ex-
animation, adjourned the public session
until TO morrow, and held brief secret Ses-
sion. IL Is understood hat several witness eS
will he subj mnaed before the committee 10
morrow TO give testimony I'm relation TO tue
man sherman, spoken OF by the witness
BrOtheItoD.
Card from Mr.. Ciephane.
WASHINGTON, ID. Z, april %, lSI6.