Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-26
DON'T GO CRAZY
Till You are Ready
For a Wooden Coffin.
That Will be Fate
You Reach st. Peter
More of Brutal Story.
Frying Open Mouth
With Pair Of longs.
That Plug Exhibited
Fletcher Has a Brother
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

Especial Telegram to the Globe.
ST.. PETER, Monday, March 25.-Of course,
yesterday the Investigating committee did
nothing. 1t being Sunday, like good Chris
tan gentlemen, as they are, they attended
ohurcll-not at the handsome stone ediice in
which the Rev. d. Kerr is won't to expound the
doctrines of Christian truth and morality ac-
cording to the gospel Of st. Peter. Mr.. Doran
returned to LIE Sueur and Mr. Morton to st.
Haul Tor the Sunday. Mr.. Rice attended the
Scandinavian church here, and Messrs. Drew
ant! Edgerton, tho Episcopal church, at which
the Rev. Mr.. Livcrmore dwelt upon the i'm
portancc OF observing sacredly the truth,
remerkins that it would require all the fasting
and prayer OF o Lenten season to wipe away the
STAN OF single falsehood.
BARTLETT s LETTER.
In reference to DIR. Bartletts letter, tele-
graphed you Saturday night, explaining away
the position he took with the investigating
committee, referring to the reports sent at the
tlme, 1T will be found that his letter ''goes
round the fence, and not only that, but gives
statements that Dr.. Bartlett never used in the
oommlttee room. Your correspondent was
there the whole time, heard the conversation
and is positive DR.. Bartlett did not suppose any
l.
"he Legislature or the Governor had
the power to send sny drunken thief to go
over the asylum at any time, he was ready to
resign. He stated more than once that the
Legislature had constitutionally no such right
10 to send, without the consent of the trustees.
IN investigating committee. Mr.. Fletcher said
the same thing and when it was pointed out
to him that the Legislature had power over an
institution which they themselves created, he,
Fletcher, said But, gentlemen, you are only
one 81. eranch OF the Legislature" The letter was
sIko MI. Kerrs statement only backing down
from the high pedestal he had mounted and q
nat contradiction Of his former positive
Htatements. 1t would have been better for
the doctor who is considered here and by the
committee as d most honorable gentleman, if
ne lie haa from the first acknowledged that the
trustees had thrust him into his awkward cor
ner and then withdrawn and in the words of
prominent citizen here, let the Investigating
committee and the trustees skin their own
cats,'
DISCHARGED FOR CRUELTY.
since the committee have been holding their
court OF inquiry IN employe has been dis
charged from the institution for ill-treating
patient. Your correspondent was told the at
tendant struck the patient with q billiard cue,
hight ensued in which two other patients
joined md the result was the patient is in bed
and the attendant discharged.
There arc many old gossip's stories on the
street about human limbs and still-born child
rem being removed from the asylum in the
night soil wagons. The limbs, it is said, are
computations, and us for the other, rs the man
who circulated the report is not here, but has
left the State, it is hardly probable that the
committee viii trouble about it. 1t is gener
ally believed that the whole thing is san old
Woman's story.
MEETING YESTERDAY MORNING.
ia
sZessrs. Doran and Morton being absent MI
Drew presided. The only witness called was
s. GuDtavson, who perhaps was the most satia-
factory witness yet examined. He gave his
testimony in straightforward way
showing no bias or vindictiveness.
It might be said in regard to Senator Edger-
ton s restrictions upon Senator Rices mode of
interrogating the witness, that the same re-
strictions should apply equally to DR.. Bowers
IN his cross-examination, and to Belts
There were several citizens present. as we'll
as officials from the institution during the
morning session.
S. GUsTAvsoN SWORN.
Lives in Cottonwood county, so miles from
st. Peter; is 50 years old; was employed at the
insane hospital from May, 1872, till February
10th, 1878; was employed at outside work;
know John Belts the supervisor; have seen him
abuse the PATIENTS once saw him i'll treat Mr.
Mcdonald in using the plug roughly; got mad
with him; forced the food into him. once he
took the handle of pail; caught Mcdonald,
forced the handle into his mouth to stop his
aauealing and tied it back OF his head like q
bride; he was mad and said, 'I'll fix the d-n
hngger il he don't stop his noise" he kept the
gag in his mouth four OF five minutes; I saw
Mcdonald the day when he died; in the morn
ing when ] came in to dinner he was we'll and
walking about the hall sguealing; he did not
seem any weaker than he had been for several
weeks before.
Questioned by Mr.. Rice, the witness was pro-
Ceeding to state what he heard, when Messrs.
Edgerton and Drew objected TO questioning
witness as to what he heard
Examination resumed-Heard Belts say that
any man. not fit to take care of himself ought
to be smothered as they do in England; Belts
was mostly quarreling with the other employees;
Belts told me he would put my head upside
down if | did not mind what l said; we
were all talking ut the table. Mrs. Turner
had said Belts had misused Mcdonald; I said
You are good hand at putting an end to peo-
pc when he said he would see me about it;
this was afterI signed the petition; signed
The complaint because We thought if one man
was discharged for abusing patients he ought
TO be discharged; it was rule to discharge en-
ployees who abused patients; DIR. Bartlett told
us we could leave il we had mind to but we
should lose our wages; DR.. Bowers spoke for
Belts; Dr. Bowers always treated us we'll; never
complained Of us and was always pleasant;
Belts WAS careless in administering medicine;
did not care whether they took it or not; Belts
has often quarreled with Eva Holberg; Belts
once told her if she did not mind what she was
about he would sting her" and get her dis.
missed; three years ago a patient in the
kitchen peeling potatoes for the girls; it was .
boy he was sitting STILL but laughed, wher
Belts ordered the boy out; he would not go