Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-25
THE HOSPITAL FOR MURDER IND
s'sA BRUTALITY,


BRUTALITY.
The st. Peter Tribune, the organ, par
excellence, of the insane asylum, copies with
much gusto an item from tho insane asy-
lum's organ in this city, which doubts the
truth of the "cold bath" story of the GLOBE
correspondent. The only reason which that or
any other paper has for expressing doubt
relative to the statement is, that they say the
letter was "anonymous.' It is true no
name was signed to the letter, but the name
of the author was given to the editor Of the
GLOBE, as guarantee of good faith, and
because the author did not care, at present,
to appear before the public by name, it does
not initiate against its truth.
One Of the strongest witnesses ageint the
murderer Betts-the brutal official who
killed patient with wooden plug and hot
soup-was man who insisted on giving his
evidence in secret. He absolutely declined
to testify if his evidence was to be given tc
the public over his name. The committee
took the evidence in secret, and it more thar
corroborated the other testimony relative tc
the murder by Belts. Because that man die
not wish to make his statement public does
it follow that he cannot be relied upon
The GLOBE believes the "cold bath" state
ment to bsstrue. If it had not so believed
the tale would not have appeared in thes,
columns. The truth OF falsity of the state
nent can be readily shown by the commit
tee, and it is duty which they owe to tn
public to follow this and other alleged often
SEES to the bitter end.
What is there so incredible about thi
"cold bath" brutality? 1t has been prove,
beyond question that four men under the di
rection of the brutal Belts, laid patien
fat upon bench, one man sat across hi
chest, others held his arms while Bett
thrust wooden plug three inches down hi
throat and directed another attendant to tur,
soup from pitcher down his throat until b
strangled to death. Within fifteen minute
the patient was corpse. This was proven
beyond doubt, and still the man Belts in
stead of being sent to the penitentiary is re
tanned in the asylum.
When the GLOBE reporter who attends
the investigation first wrote that Belts wa
freely and publicly accused of murder, tn
evidence had not been produced, and tn
GLOBE, in its desire to do no man injustice
did not print this statement. When tn
facts came out and he was shown to be
murderer, refined in his brutality, the G1oB
i :koIo - -
by the proper name. And we say no,
that the retention of this man as an attend
ant in the asylum since the exposure, rem
ders DR.. Bartlett, Rev. Kerr, and all others i
authority there partsceps crsnsinss as acces
sorry after the fact. We have neither conf
dence, respect or regard for the management
of an institution which knowingly and vii
fully retains a brutal murderer in its employ
This fact, the refusal of the trustees to allo,
the committee to inspect the hospital, the in
famous defiance of the committee by d.
Bartlett in discharging an attendant in thei
presence, for complaining of his food (th
design being to intimidate all employes) hav
prepared the GLOBE to believe that only
very small portion of the iniquity of thi
Asylum of Murder and Brutality has see
the light of day. The organs of the Asylur
may howl as they please, they can neithe
intimidate or check the GLOBE. The G1oB
will continue to cry aloud and spare not uu
til the inhuman and dishonest men in charo
of this mammoth public institution are re
moved. Humanity, honor, economy an
decency, all demand radios
upheaval and the overwhelming ove1
throw of the brutal and unprincipled me
now in charge of the asylum at st. Pete
No ISLANDERS, or falsehoods will deter til
GLOBE from discharging the duty whic
every honest newspaper owes to the public.