The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-02-24
The Asylum
Weston, Feb. Is.

Editors Intelligeneer:
Some days ago according 10 The
Clarksburg Teltyram) q patient con.
aned 10 the Asylum a. this place was
bru.ally murdered by another inmate,
The attendants, watehful guardians.
knew nothing Of the matter until
ihe head Of the poor victim
was beaten TO ajel1y. No inquest
was held /; and l presume tho poor
creature will be reported as died. "
in the next annual report. This sor.
Of thing may DO all right, but a mum.
Der Of people here DO not think so, and
would thank the Legislature for a good
committee to Investigate the manage.
ment Of the Asylum.
Tho writer Of tho above evidently
intended to create the impression that
DR.. Camden bad endeLyored to conceal
the unfortunate occurrence referred to,
and tho spirit Of the writer is in full
keeping with the malignant spisi,
manifested in several other letters from
this place 10 tho last few months 10
reference to tho Asylym. Here are
the full particulars:
On ihe 3lst Of January, 1877, soon
af.cr the attendants having charge Of
ward number eight in the Hospital,
unlocked their sleeping rooms, and be-.
fore the patient mentioned in the above
paragraph bad fully dressed himself.
another patient, who had been moro
expeditions 10 putting on bis clothes.
slipped in upon him before hs lad loft
his room and struck him several blows
with . bel.alat, from which be died
Taese patients occupied rooms in diff.
ferent parts Of the ward; aud, as Sc.
forth in the accompanying certificate.
the one that inflicted the injury had
not previously manifested homicidal
proclivities. The attendants discov-
cred tho deed shortly after it was COM
mitted. and Of once reported the fact to
the physician, but the patient was in q
dying condition when The Doctor
reached him. Tho Superintendent
then made known tho facts to tho
proper authorities; but, owing to the
circumstance. formal inquest was not
thought 10 be necessary But at the
Doctors solicitation, tho Prosecuting
Attorney aud several physicians exam.
ined tho remains and questioned all
who knew anything relative to tue
case. The patisut that porpetrated
the act acknowledged that be did it ;
aud Ia very succip. manner entered
into full revelation. lie said tha. he
did il by the command Of God. who had
Himself been trying to kill him, but
net succeeding fast enough, had en-.
ployed him 10 do il. He also said that
il be bad not killed him. deceased
would have murdered him ; all Of
which, Of course, was the offspring Of
bis disordsred brain. Ills victim was
an epieptic 10 the lowest stages Of in.
sanity. fIe did not have mind
enough TO make any defence. nor 10
call for assistance, which he would
have received had no done SO. as there
were others III the hall who would
huve noticed any unusual noise or
commoiion.
The following certificate was given
on tue same day that tho accident oc-
CURED:
W. VA. HosrlrAL FOR lssASE.
January 3lss. 1877.
owe the undersigned, at tho re.
quest Of Dr.. 7. d Camleu. Supt.
/" viewed tho dead tody Of G. r. aud
!" find that he came /, lis death, BY
!" the hands Of j. NJ. an Insane pa.
"tient, BY blsws inaicred BY him with
ga bed.slat. upon the bead Of the said
IS frsctaring The bones Of the skull,
" And that the act was uuavoidAbly