The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-05

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF NATHAN oDENwALD-
MORE ACCOMMODATIONS NEEDED FOR TIL

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF NATHAN oDENwALD-
MORE ACCOMMODATIONS NEEDED FOR THE
INSANE.
At the investigation Of the death OF Nathan Oden-
valid In the Insane Asylum on Wards Island, which
was held in the Coroners office yesterday, the jury
found verdict which, while exonerating Keeper
Byrnes In measure sill holds him culpable Of undue
force and criminal negligence. In the course OF the
inquiry also found that there are abuses exist
ing in the institution which require speedy remedy.
According the ad OF the gentlemen who direct
10 there are insufficient accommodations for the In
mateA The apartments are not numerous enough to-
admit OF the taking OF proper precautions to separate
the violent patients from those whose mania 10
OF milder character and In this way insane people
who on admission to the Institution represented
to be violent are allowed to associate with the others
until, by some mad outburst, they prove, sometimes
with dreadful results the extent Of their madness
Keeper Byrnes when put on she stand yesterday,
told plain story OF the He said that be has
employed an attendant in the Lunatic Asylum,
on Wards Island since the 10th of last April On No
vember %, about five O'Clock A. ~, he was startled by
hearing some OF the patients in the large room calling
out ByfTnss By,ne there sSotng b imam E wing
out dressing himself he hurried into the room
and found Odonwald pressing patient named Ritter
upon his bed and cluschng MIN by the throat Byrnes
attempted drag the madmsn Oh. The latter was in
renxv. and rising from the bed, clutched the keeper
Lord another Keeper was brought to Byrnes' assist
ance He succeeded in separating them Byrnes rising
In exhausted condition, while Odcnwald wentto bed
again. Later on in the morning Byrnes was called to
the again by the report that Odenwald lying
upon the floor. He summoned Lord and they both
succeeded in partially dressing tho patient and placing
him upon a chair They lett him there, but an hour
alter Byrnes found him in another portion OF tho hall
unconscious condition. He says that
then told Lord report the case, but believes that
the doctor saw Udenwad only when he came to make
his usual rounda He also denies having ever used
violence to Odenwa before
THE VERDICT.
other corroborative evidence was taken and the
Jury brought IN the following verdict:-
ave hnd that Nathan Odenwald came to his death
on the morning Of November 80. from Injuries re-
ceived during q struggle with John ByrEes, on the
morning Of November Is; and We ind that while the
John Byrnes acted in SelI-dsience undue force
used by him and others We also find cupabe
negligence on the part OF both Lord and Byrnes the
Attendants In not assuring immediate medical attend
ance Tor man VINO was evidently In q critical
condition. We can find no negligence chargeabls to
any of the attending physicians From the evidence
submitted by the permanent physician we would re-
specially suggest and recommend further and larger
odations Tor patients afflicted it appears The
deceased was"
After the verdict was read Coroner Croker com ;
mtted both Byrnes and Lord to the Tombs in Aeault
al & 600 bail