Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-20
The Insane Asylum Investigation

FACTS BROUGHT OUT ON CROSS-ENAMINA
TION.
Daniel UUtidms the attendant at the Gov
eminent Insane Asylum, whose testimony
before the Congressional Committee on the
Expenditures in the Interior Department
was presented in yesterdays STAR, was
cross examined, and when asked if he had
anything against the institution answered.
that be did not think DR.. MorrelI had treated
him well; he had prevented his getting As
much wages as he (witness) thought he
should have. He SaihDr. Chase did not ask
him to tell anything but the truth. He ties.
titled that his patients had piece of beef
two and a half inches every way, one third
of loaf OF bread each, pint of soup, aud
plenty of vegetables. II did not rain out
two or three times while be was IN charge OF
the working patients, and he did his DUTY
and put dry clothes on them and took good
care OF them. They were no wetter than the
hlrsd men they worked with. This was ali
10 July; was out of tue ward part OF every
Sunday, and did rot know whether DE
Nichols came through or not.
M DOHHH,J testified that he made 40 com
plant OF the care or condition OF the patient
Murray 10 Dr. Nichols or To- his assistants:
that his .odge never did anything 10 remove
him,
To DAY.
4 special meeting oil the committee was
held this morning for the purpose OF examin-
Ing a lady, who made request OF the COM
mite that her name should not be made
public, though she gave II TO the com n lttee,
she said would corrObOrate her testimony.
The witness testified that her SOD, when Il
years old, was In attendance at Ford S thea
ter on the night of the assassination OF PreSi-
dent Lincoln, and that seeing Booth, whom
he knew, jump on the stage from a
boX. became SO excited that a few days
afterwards he showed symptoms of In
sanity. She went over to the Insane asy
lum and made arrangements with DR..
Nichols to send her son there for treatment.
She visited the asylum every day, and wait
ed there sometimes from morning until
night, but, although she was treated very
cCur;eonsly, she was unable to see her son
or Or. Nichols. She then had a consultation
were two officials, who said they would &C.
company her to the asylum and demand
that she be allowed to see her son, which
they did the next day. After considerable
discussion, she, with these two gentlemen,
was allowed to see the young man, whom
they found in cell in tue basement, in a
terrible condition, but not at all insane. He
Immediately recognized her. He had scarce
Iy any clothiag On, his dress consisting of a
portion OF of pair OF ragged soldiers pants
and shirt, which upon examination she
found TO be literally covered with vermiu.
The flesh ON her sons back was almost e aten
of with vermin, and his whole body was
covered with sores. She said Jlany of the
facts In relation to his personal condition
were too horrible for her 10 testify TO. She
took her son, who was in an almost starved
condition, to her home, and after two or
three months careful attention and nursing
he regained his health.
The committee will examine the two off,
Gals referred TO 10 morrow morning, hav-
ing Issued subpenas for their appearance.