The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-13
GRAND JURY.
wrxS. REPORT OF THEIR FINDINGS
ABOUT VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS.
m pgtjabHe Account of the Insane Asylum
and a scathlng Comment ON the
Bs0use Of Refuge.

On Thursday last the Grand Jury made a
Jpport to the Superior Criminal Court, but
owing to some cause which we do not yet I'M
slerstaud. but which will eventually be found
out. none of the city papers published the full
report. The reporter Of the DEMOCRAT,
upon inquiry at the courthouse, was informed
that the reporter Of one of the city papers
had the document. When this reporter
was seen he stated that he had had the docu-
1nent La his possession, but had returned it to
the court after simply making synopsis Of
the same. Yesterday morning we according
ly published q synopsis OF the report taken
from the evening papers. Our excuse Tor this
is that we could not obtain the document III
She court. Now we think that a report OF the
Grand Jury ought to be obtainable at any
seasonable hour In the courtroom. We do not
believe that the original document ought
TO be permitted to leave the clerks office. Ii
the reporters want to get at 1t, the clerk
ought to afford them every facility to copy
Ehe same, but no single paper should be al
lowed to remain in possession Of the original
document
If documents belonging to the public are TO
be eonfded at any time to some particular
Journal, then danger is created and some
thing OF interest to the public may be sup
pressed, or, at least, the requisite publicity
may not be afforded to a given document.
Being struck yesterday with the fact that
none Of the public journals of the city had
published the report of the Grand Jury in
full, We made particular inquiry about this
report, and having obtained and read it find
it OF such peculiar and material interest to
the community that we have determined upon
publishing it in full. 1t is an able document,
showing the faulty features in three Of our
most important city institutions, viz: The
City Irsane Asylum, the City Workhouse
and the Boys House Of Refuge It appears
from the report, that particular attention is
directed to the way in which the Boys House
OF Refuge is conducted.
Outrageous facts are therein stated, which
ought to be investigated,
A large portion of the boys are reported as
carrying scars on their backs, owed to cruel
beating and hard treatment. 1t is even as
serted by the foreman of the Grand Jury that
the boys are made to run the gauntlet.
GRAND JURY ROOM.
NEW ORLEANS, July 3, 1878.
~ tba Hor. VIM, H. Whitaker, Judge of the
Superior Criminal Court, parish Of Orleans,
Louisiana:
The Grand Jury having, In accordance with
your instructions, visited O portion OF the
public institutions in this city and carefully
examined into the manner In which they are
conducted, feel impelled to make a special
report with respect to the management of
some Of these, and to point out evils and de-
Eects which they consider worthy of notice,
with the hope that those having charge and
conduct Of these institutions may apply tie
proper eorrectlves
CITY INSANE ASYLUM.
We found at the Asylum l43 patients, under
The charge OF the superintendent and seven
male assistants; there is also a matron TO
look specially after the female inmates and
10 take char ge of the laundry, but she has
not been provided with female assistants.
We regret to have to report that we found
4his institution in very unsatisfactory con-
dition. The arrangements for the care, pro-
lection and comfort of the inmates are mad
enuate In many respects, and If this asylum
ia to be continued in its present location radi-
cal changes should be made as soon as posi-
ble In its arrangement and in the manner OF
its being conducted.
He found in the dormitories beds unpro-
vided with sheets or mosquito bars, many
OF the mattresses torn, and the moss exposed,
and there was an offensive stencil in all Of
them, that was not only exceedingly dtsa-
rreeable, but which must also prove I'M
healthy to those who are compelled to live
l., In thni
midst.
The parts of the building occupied by the
female patients are not kept sufficiently dis
finct from those occupied by the males; nei-
ther do we think it iudicious or proper to
have the white and colored patients mingled
indscrimInately together. We were informed
that neither the superintendent nor the ma
fron remain In the building at night, and as
there are no female assistants to take her
place during the absence Of the matron, the
women patients are entirely under the charge
OF the young men assistants at night We
earnestly recommend that at least two female
assistants be employed to assist the matron
and that this portion of the asylum be kept
entirely under female control at all times AND
4he aid of the male assistants only invoked
when absolutely necessary to repress violence
Separate eating rooms should also be provid
ed for the males and females, and ample pro
vision made for bathing.
And In view of the possible Improvement II
the mental condition of the unfortunate in
mates of this asylum-under judicious ant
careful treatment-and as a question OF hu
manity with this end in view, we recommend
the selection of competent physician to re
side In the building having the entire charg
of the institution.
We think that suitable employment ant
recreation should be permitted to the pa
tiants, and proper reading matter allowed t
those who desire and could profit by it. Man
of the patients might be employed in garde
work, and even If they could not be brough
to work to the advantage of the institution
raising vegetables, the labor would serve t
divert and occupy their minds,
We have reason TO believe that Mr.. Hami
ton is very attentive to the duties OF his pos