The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-09
MAD HOUSE ABUSES.


MAD HOUSE ABUSES.
THE ALLEGED HEARrLEss TREATMENT OF oC-
TAvIA WALTER Ar THE FLATBUsH LUNArIC
AsYLUM-AN INVESTIGATION BEGUN.
Not long ago complaint made by the friends Of
Ohvia Walter, for some time inmate of tho Flat
push Lunatic Asylum, OF tho manner OF her trent
ment there, TO which rs mainly attributed tho illness
that resulted In her death shortly alter her removal
from the institution. The complaint, which, at tho
time 1t was made was published In Tho New York and
Brooklyn papers, charged either gross neglect some
thing worse. Olivia whose family is related to
Sheriff Walter OF Brooklyn, had been ,mbccilo
from childhood and had been taken
OF by her relatives prior to her confinement In tho
Flatbush Asylum, commencing last April Shortly be-
that time her father died and her brother and
sisters being married the homo in which she had al
ways bceu guarded aud protected was broken up and
she thrown tho cold charity OF the unity and
became paupcr inmate OF tho house for tho insane.
Occasional visits were made to the place by her rcla
tves and all such occasions Is said she found
IN u condition indicating harsh and unieeling treat
ment Her friends generally found her strapped to u
bench in the hall when they called noticed bruises and
upon her face and body and saw that sho
wasting away III body AS If from hunger and abuse.
When hrst incarcerated Olivia good phi yscal
q rather helpless lInbeciie; but when her brother
finally concluded remove her from the place she had
be borne IN The arms OF hor friends 10 carriage.
ON the 18TH OF January last she taken of Tho
asylum and on the 12th OF February following she
died. The attention of the Board Of Supervisors hav-
ing been called TO tho Investigation was
ordered, aud The first session Of special committee
appointed 70 inquire INTO The Gaze was held at the
asylum yesterday There were present. oil TINS coni-
mittee Supervisors Phelps, Nathan, Van Siclen and
Terney. Charity Commissioners Midas ana Raber
also attended The SESSION Opcnc at ten O'Clock. The
comm ication charging ilItreatment by the asylum
attendants was first read, and then Mr. Ernest A.
Walter tho brother OF Oclava. was called 10 testify
HER BROTHERS,
On being Mr.. Walter said he took sister
the asylum on the 9th OF Apri 1876 and she renamed
there until January Is OF THIS year Olivia was never
violent, but subject TO fits, On the approach OF
winch she would TALL Il not watched Al nome she
always guarded against these lals, and before
tering the asylum she had been On
18th OF February she died. being tncn thlrytw years
old The witness said when ne visited her last Deoem-
Der shc was greatly emaciated. Her sister, he said,
also noticed poor condition the 10th OF January
she had "a black eye and sores on her body The
nurse. who was spoken TO about these evidences of
abuse, said she got the black eye from another patient
while the doctor said sho had probably injured
herself Witness said complained of
the treatment she received, and was told he
could take her away II he didnt like it; that
there were plenty OF pay patients seeking admission
Hc called January Is aud took her TO his house. No.
ISL Marcy avenue. Shc was thcn weak, he SAID,
they had 10 her their arms TO tho conveyance
that was brought tor her
Mrs Walter wife OF tue previous witness, and Mrs.
Jcners sister deceased corroboratcd tins les
swarmcd with vcrmin when they took her home.
Mrs Waiter said The cxpupao on tho attendants gave
Tor tying Olivia that, II permitted TO
move aUout at will, she would do herself some injury
by falling down in ht or coming in contact with some
other patient
EVIDENCES or STARVATION.
John H. Jeters Ovias brothcr-in-law residing
at No. ISL Marcy avenue, testified that when his
tcr-in-aw taken bone her eye was biackencd and
sue had liberated upon her body lie mad visited
her IN December aud iOund her ted down To char
IN the hallway; on his arrival she was released, aud
the moment she got her liberty she noticed OF saucer
that stood ON tue heater some iood mat was being
warmed Tor u cat belonging 10 another patlcnt, and
rushed toward IL, dcvOurng IL as II she had not had
any thing 10 eat Tor long ,me; Mr.. JeIers SAID he
dil ask why she was tied; she looked very much
cnaciaed and acted as II she did not get sufficient
iOod
witness, also "a brother -n-law Miss Walter said he
saw her when she was taken away, ana she was then
IN u more cnac,atcd condition than he had seen
her before; Sue was pretty stout when first taken TO
the asylum.
AdoipE Wilson, No 446 Broadway, testified that
the 18th oil January last, the day Mr. Walter called
at tho asyum, witncss saw him, aud Mi. Walter was
not unucr Tho influence OF iiquor, as some OF the
asylum attendants have since asserted.
! MIR Walter again took The witness chair and one OF
tho Comm issloners said: -"You state IN your CON-
plant mat ol the nurses told you II you did not
Ike the treatment your SISTER was getting there wcrc
plenty Of pny patients and you could take ner away AS
soon as you liked. Do you know who that nurse isY'
NO. SIR; she was short, stout woman. -
Wnat haa you SAID about your sisters condition ~
| 81 mad mercy inquired now she happened TO DC IN
that ewaclaed condition and how her eye was
backcd." In reply To some further inquiries tho
SAID he lett The asylum with his sister about tour
O'Clock In the afternoon.
SIR Je1crs recalled and said that Olivia was
taken away at noon
| Toe Witnesses, when not under examination, were
excluded IRON the examination room. When Mrs.
Jcfcrs had been questioned the
tlgaton adjourned until next IN ursday
THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Charity Commissioners Midas aud Rabcr, of Kings
county nave presented report IN the case Of DIVA
alter, who, was alleged, cruelty treated by tho
nurses at the Flaibusn Asylum. They report that
alter most digcnt investigation there rs evidence
10 sustain the accusation aud soemny protest against
poIcai knavcs amt inposlors making capital AZ thor
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