Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-11-28
CONCLUSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Board Of Trustees and Treasurer
Should be Removed.
SUCH LEGISLATION NECESSARY
As Will Make it Criminal to Conduct
Affairs as Loosely as They
Have Been.
st. PAUL. Nov. ~. 1878.

0G. IAUl. NOV. ~, 10 70.
To His Excellency, John s. Pillsbury, Cover
nor of the State of Minnesota:
S1R: On the 22d day of February, 1878, grave
charges were presented to the Senate of this
State, against the management of the Hospital
for the Insane at ST. Peter.
The Senate at once resolved that special
committee of five Senators be appointed by the
president of the Senate to investigate the said
charges. The undersigned and Senator Edger-
ton We're appointed such committe, and was
instructed by resolution of the Senate as fol-
lows: viz:
RESOLVED, That the special committee ap-
pointed by the Senate to investigate the charges
against the management of the Hospital for
the Insane, be instructed to investigate fully
the charges and management and expendi-
lures of the institution and make their report
to the Governor, and to that end they are auth
orized to hold their meeting after the adjourn
ment of the legislature, with full power to
send for persons and papers, and to administer
oaths; and also, if they shall find it necessary,
to employ an accountant to assist them.
The committee on the call of the chairman
met at the Nicollet house, in st. Peter. March
Goth, 1878. After consultation, the commit
tee first called upon DR.. Bowers, the ply
pital, and stated to him that the committee
wished to look through the building. The
doctor informed the committee that the super
intendent DR.. Bartlett wished to see the COM
mittee at the new. hospital, before they made
any inspection of the buildings, but if the
committee wished, he, DR.. Bowers, would show
them through the hospital. The committee
then repaired to the new hospital, and were
there received by DR.. Bartlett. The committee
informed the doctor they wished to go through
and examine the building. To this request the
doctor replied that he had been instructed by
the trustees not to allow the Senate committee
to do so, until a committee of the trustees
could be present to accompany them, and that
he could not disobey his instructions. He fur
ter stated that if the committee would wait,
that he would telegraph the trustees
and they would soon arrive. The committee
returned to the Nicolet house, and forthwith
arranged for the taking of testimony concern
ing the matter they were to Investigate Sub
penas were issued for witnesses.
THE TRUSTEES AND THE COMMITTEE
DR.. Bartlett and q number of the trustees
came before the committee and asked to be
heard, and further that Mr.. Ives, their attorney,
be present, and that he should be heard also.
This request was at once granted by the com
mittee.
Referring to the refusal of the officers and
trustees to permit the Senate committee to ex-
anime the hospital buildings unless accom-
panied by q committee of trustees, it was
claimed that the Senate being but one branch
OF the legislature, had no authority to ap-
point a committee of its members to
investigate the affairs of the hospital.
The superintendent, DR.. Bartlett, took the ex-
IRENE position that neither the Governor or
the legislature had authority to empower a
committee to examine the hospital at its pleas
ure, and 1T such power did exist, that he would
Immediately resign his position.
The trustees claimed the right to be present
during the examination of witnesses and to
cross-examine them. The committee informed
the trustees that they disagreed with them as
to their authority, and further, that in case
any testimony was gwen rejecting upon the
management of the hospital the trustees and
officers would be notified, and an opportunity
gwen them to cross-examine such witnesses,
and to make any explanation they desired.
The committee at no time held secret ses-
sions while engaged in the examination Of wit
nesses, except when requested to do so BY the
witnesses themselves. This request was made
IN a few Instances by employees in the hospital.
large number Of witnesses were examined
by the committee, relative to the treatment of
patients by attendants at the hospital, and
further IN regard to provisions and family
stores furnished by the steward. The testi-
mony, findings and recommendations, are
herewith submitted as a part of this report
In conducting this branch of the investiga-
ton the committee has been DESTROYS of Sc
curing as far as possible fair and impartial
hearing for all parties interested. The investi-
CATION has been thorough.
THE FIRST WORK.
The committee first examined the parties
who made the complaint, then the officers and
employees against whom complaints were
made. We hope our conclusions will be salts
factory to your excellency and the people at
large.
In the examination of witnesses ample ia
cllltles were afforded for cross-examination by
the officers. DR.. Bowers and Mr.. Belts took
part IN the examination. In one or two in
stances the committee, in order to induce en-
ployes to testify at all, were obliged to depart
from the rule to allow the parties accused to be
present and CROSS examine witnesses. This
departure was necessitated by the exigencies of
the case, and we are confident has worked no
injustice to anyone.
THE MURDER OF M'DoNoUGH.
The main charge is against one John Belts,
who, for several years has been a supervisor of
the branch hospital at st. Peter The greater
part of the testimony as to i'll treatment on his
part of patients, centres around the death Of an
inmate of the hospital. one Terence McDonough.
who died August %, 1877, under circumstances.
which to say the least, looks suspicious.
: In the Cease book of the hospital the fol-
lowing record appears:
This morning while Mr.. Belts and the Off
GERS were trying to bind him (McDonough) he
resisted until he became entirely exhausted.
Was put to bed and gradully sunk and died"
Immediately preceding this, but entered on the
books Oct. %, is what seems to be an explana-
nation of this exhausted condition, to-wit:
That he had to be fed by aspoon, making him