Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-01
The Insane Asylum Inv


Interior department resumed their investi-
CATION OF the affairs OF the L. 8. Insane Asy-
lum this morning:
En, G. Parks, bricklayer, testified that
ne has worked at the insane asylum Off and
on Tor is years. He said he knew about the
DOoy mat had been testified To as having
been buried without coffin, and that he
saw the body when IL was placed In the cof-
IN. All cases OF cruelty to patients were re-
Ported to DIR. Nichols. Witness never re-
ported case In all the time he had been
employed there, because none of the atteI .
ants had struck patient In mis- presence.
Or. W. ". GOddin testified that he resides
at Taunton, Mass, where he is superlntead-
ent of the Massachusetts state luCatic hos
pitaI. Has been there for six years. Mas
sachusetts has three asylums, and another
now In erection. Has nearly I0) pa.
tients under his charge. Has $50 acres
attached to the asylum, about one half
of which is woodland. Before going there
was about seven years al the Uuitei States
insane asylum here, as an assistant physi-
clan. Before going there had been three
years at an asylum In New Hampshire.
Thinks that be could unQualifiedIy endorse
the system OF Or. Nichols of Treatment OF the
II sane. Thinks that DR.. Nichols is admira-
bly, qualified for the position Of So perintend-
ent of the asy lum. Knew John y. Darling,
who was employed as clerk at the asylum.
Know that IN 1856 Darling was employed
n0minally as clerk, but really as copyiSt.
He did not act as steward, except at times.
In regard TO the iTTegularity OF paying oil
employees at the asylum, knew that there
Nah d ueldy III paying OH sometimes, from
various reasons. Tie "back'' wards are those
in the rear part of the buildings, where
troublesome patients were kept. Ii was not
true, as Darling said, that but little atten-
ton was paid 10 the patients in the "back''
wards Cannot recall any lack OF effort TO
keep those wards clean. Negligent and I'M
faithful employees were dismissed. DO not
mink the "back" wards were filthy. DR..
Nichols was supposed to have assistants
competent enough to take charge of these
patients. Did not think that it was pos
sible for DR.. Nichols to make a personal
visit to each patient every day. He (Dr. N }
generally visited all of the wards on every
Sunday though he often made visits to some
OF the patients during the week. Have
known of quarreling and fighting among
patients to take place at night IL was a
common thing. Separation always followed
Never knew death to occur from injury
received from one patient to another. Never
knew OF one patient killing another during
the seven years while he was there. Do not
know OF any death that was not recorded.
knew nothing OF patient being KILLED by
another patient by having his skull crushed
in by being struck with an iron bedstead
There were no midnight buriaIs there; gen
orally buried about dusk. Witness always
read the burial service, ana never used q
light for that purpose. Had there been any
midnight burlals he would have heard of il.
Witness was not IN charge OF The violent
wards, but was in charge OF the female side
OF the asylum. There were three night
Watchmen up all night, one on male side
Que On female side. and one on outside of tae
building. IL is not an uncommon occur
Tei ce for patients TO have vermin npOn Ihe EN-
when they come 10 the asylum; always lake
particular pains 10 rid the patients OF them
DO not remember that Darling ever testified
before IN relation TO the killing OF three pa
lients. Darling was witness before The
previous investigating committee. but did
not say anything in regard To these homi.
cides. Sightseers or unofficial visitors are
only allowed TO go through some of the
wards, and only those where there are no
eXcitable patients. Remember the Ambrose
case; The boy was an inbecIle. He was not
under his Immediate charge. The previous
1869.
By Mr. Mutchler-Don't think that pa
uEnts could have been Killed and buried
without him knowing OF il: was confident
that Dr.. Nichols could attend 10 all OF his
duties as superintendent Of tue farm Of 800
acres. superintend the construction OF
buildings, make all the purchases OF all
things, stores, &c. necessary, attend to mis-
duties as member OF the board of police
and also attend to the medical treatment OF
tie PATIENTS al the asylum. DR.. Nichols
made practice of going through all of the
wards of the hospital on Sunday. He also
went through with the board OF visitors the
first Tuesday of every month. The board of
visitors arrived some time after O'Clock
In the afternoon and remained there several
hours. After going through the asylum they
held meeting ia their own room. DR..
Nicfois was ex-olficiO secretary OF the board
of visitors.
Dy WI. I'LL ut Oh! Way ne Da1
TO ascertain what took place in other parts
OF the asylum, except the female side, was
TO go through the other wards every Sunday
with DR.. Nichols; and besides that ali cases
OF Importance violence, or anything unus-
ual, was reported 10 him, he being the first
assistant physician.
By Mr.. Mutchler-Do not remember OF
Mrs. Ambrose calling upon him and asking
TO see her son, or of having refused her that
privilege, or OF saying the boy was so violent
he would kill her.
DR.. Eastman, superintendent Of the insane
asy lum al Worcester, Mass, will be exam
ined 10 -morrOw.
In answer to question from the chairman
of the committee, counsel for DR.. Nichols said
that they would require this and next week
TO submit all their evidence. They wanted
TO answer all the charges that had been made
against the asylum.
The committee then Adjourned until to-
row morning.