Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-22
The Insane Asylum Investig alton.
THE tbs IIMONY TO DAY.
The Committee on the ExpandftuvaS r 2 thu


interior department resumed their investi-
cation into the affairs OF the u. s Insane
asy lum this morning.
MAJOR a. c. RICHARDS,
Superntendent of Police, testified that he
was frequently called upon TO send persons
10 The insane asylum. The certificate OF
TWO physicians that a person is insane is
neces sary To send patients there. In cases OF
paupers the same certificate is necessary
and another from the hOusehoders that the
patient is ln INDECENT circumstances. Have
never sent any Ferson there unless there
was a certificate OF insanity with him. A
great many Of the transient insane are
biOu ght TO police headq uarterS from about
the Presidents House, where they try u get
IN. and from there are sent 10 the asylum.
Almost always they are residents of states
If they are 10 condition, u be sent home,
transportation is given them The major
reciied q case which came 10 his Knowledge
couple of days ago, when p lady came here
from San Francisco TO assure herself VINE.
ther package which she had sent To the
President had or had not been received.
transportation was given her, AMI she
was sent back, as she WIS willing to 90. In
March last tie District Commissioners
called his attention 10 the number OF insane
paupeTs in the asylum; did not receive auv
o deTs in writing; was requested 10 see that
they were removed; 1t was stated that sew
eral OF them belonged in the Marlboro dis
trict, Maryland; the patients themselves
laid they belonged there or near there; told
his officers (COlnell and BaTclayD TO take
them there aud turn them over TO the au-
IL
The officers started at night time, SO that
tGey would reach Marlboro about daylight
the next morning; tie officers had some
trouble In getting vehicle 10 remove them,
and thought that owing To the very warm
weather the night time was the best
time 10 remove them; did not apply 10
the asylum for vehicle. The District Com
nissloDers furnished the necessary vehicle.
Patients were alsO sent to Ohio, Massachu-
setts, Virginia, New York, and othe, cities
wherever they came from. The matter was
talked over by the District Commissioners,
and they understood all about il. Did not
suppose that any of the authorities there
would receive them. Was carving ont the
instructions of the District Commissioners
III the whole matter. Suggested to the Com
mlSs1Oners that IL was au impoiitic move
but they decided to carry 1t out. The patient
that was sent TO Ohio was lady; she was
reported to him as not being insane. All OF
these patients had a Ges ire 10 return TO their
homes. All OF this was done at the request
of the District Commissioners. There were
twenty in all of these patients. COlyersed
with them separately AT The asylum. All OF
them were able TO take care OF themselves
except probably one, who was an i'm oecfle,
aud was sent TO Grafton, West Virginia.
There were some there who were moi in a
condition to be sent away. Do not know
that the authorities of the states where these
persons belonged were notified in relation 10
ineir removal; never requested the author
tiles OF Prince George county, NJ f., 10 call
al the asylum and take these patients away
Paupers, both sane and insane, are often
III IUIS CITY, ana Wnen their places
OF residence can be ascertained they are sent
back. Most of the patients sent away came
here on missions OF their Own. Ole or two
of the parties thought they were President
Tie lady who came from Massachusetts,
came here, she said, to marry a prominent
Senator, and had informed the Senator re-
ierIed 10 by telegraph, in advance OF her
arrival, that she was coming. and TO be on
the look ont for her.
MRS JANE BEATTY
testined mat she had been employed az the
asy lum. Left there on the August follow
ing The assassination of President Lincoln.
Was there almost three years as an attend
ant In spruce ward. Left there on ner own
accord, as The work there was too hard upon
her. Never saw patients abused badly, but
know that the patients did not have the
comforts that they should have. They did
lot have proper clothing or proper food. Was
formerly an attendant at the Pennsylvania
hospital, where the patients were treated a
great deal better. Had considerable exps.
riepce as an attendant Always attended
female patents; do not know anything
about the wards for male patients. Toe 70 III
vas not sufficient, the tea being very poor,
the meat often tainted. I'ne rooms were cold
10 the winter time. Have seen the fiDgers OF
some OF the lady patients frozen. Another
one had the top of her nose frozen.
During a Christmas week there were no
hT6s. Have often been required 10 put pa
tients in rooms without any beds. There
the wards. Nothing can be done without
the orders Of DIR. Nichols, who is engaged so
much outside that he cannot properly at
tend the patients. One time DR.. ichols did
not 60 through the wards for three months.
The visiting committee hurried through the
Have seen vernlin on bed clothing when il
came up from the laundry.
The committee then adjourned until Mon
day morning.