The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-03
SENATE COMMITTEE.
The Investigation at Longview Asylum.

The investigating Committee resumed
its labors to-day at Longview Asylum.
Senator Johnson was not present. having
gone home last night. The testimony was
as follows:
Kate Depp, of the laundry department,
testified that she once saw Sa!lie Easley put
wet towel over the mouth of Mary Scan
lon to prevent her from using bad Ian
guage. Mary's conduct was very mean and
rough. The witness saw no other patient
undergoing this process or taken down.
Kate Richardson often assisted in applying
the wet towel. Mary Scanlon was not
duoked in cold water.
Mary Jackson, of the ironing room, gave
similar testimony.
Mary Savers of the laundry, testified
that she had applied the wet towel to Mary
Scanlon's mouth during DR.. Bunker's ad-
minStration. Dora Dek assisted in the
operation. She never saw Sally Easley use
the wet towel on patients. She thought
there is now less trouble with the patients
than heretofore.
DR.. &. II. Foertmeyer testified that he
was examining physician for Longview; he
had sent out many violent patients, who,
in the Probate Court had to be handcufied
and have their feet tied; noisy patients are
often confined in the strong rooms at the
Asylum; it sometimes becomes necessary
to handcuG patients; cold baths at GO are
great tonics for patients afflicted with mel
anchoia; think the use of q wet towel over
a patients mouth is justifiable; he diag-
nOsed the case of Scllmerber; his condition
was very bad, and his system broken down
by intemperance.
Katie Sauers, of Ward 5, testified that
she never saw Sallie Easley apply a wet
towel to patients; she applied the process
herself, however, she gave cold baths to
five or six patients kept them in the water
for about three minutes and ducked their
heads for about second. The baths were
kept up daily for about three weeks some
times the patient objected to baths, and
some force had to be used; she never saw a
patient struck or kicked; sick patients got
medicine and special diet; sometimes they
refused to eat, suppose because they had
no appetite; she never saw Sallie EaSlcy
mistreat patients; she never saw any pa
tient being struck with a towel or other
instrument; Mary Scanlon is very rough
woman using rough language, and ready
for fight at any time; she had to be often
put in the straight jacket; Mary Scanlon
never was pulled by the hair.
Fannie Doyle test fed that she was an at
tendant in female ward eight; she never
saw any patient mistreated; the sick have
always received proper medicine and food;
Dr. Samuels visits them two or three times
day; their diet consists of milk toast, eggs,
fresh milk, fruit, eggnog, ETC.; when they
refused to eat, egg-nog, milk, etc. had to be
pumped into them to preserve their lives;
baths were given to patients; the patients
always felt very comfortable, and showed
that the baths had good effects.
Dora Deicke testified that she had been
four years in the institution, and up to two
months ago had been in Female Ward 8;
the patients always had good treatment;
they always got what they asked for in re-
gard to special diet; baths were given them,
and the result was beneficial; she never saw
a patient beat with slipper or wet towel;
she knew nothing about 'spread-eagleism.
Mary Scanlon is very violent and often at
tackled the attendants; once attacked the
witness with lump of coal; the witness
never saw the wet towel applied; as far as
she knew, Salie Easley was always good and
kind to patients.
William Thomas testified that he was
farmer; that he never saw any patient i'll
treated, except once, when a patient was
pulled down the steps, but he was not hurt;
that he once saw basket belonging to the
gardener (Truitt) filled with bread belong
ing to the Asylum the bread had been pill
fered: that at another time he saw onions
and parsnips in the same basket, which had
been put under wheelbarrow by Truitt
Samuel Haig, engineer OF the Asylum,
testified that the average temperature of
the house was seventy degrees; that he
never saw any cruel treatment. and he
would have seen it if such had been resorted
to; that he saw cotton, duck and leather
sleeves put on patients to prevent
them hurting themselves; that in the |
laundry Mrs. Richardson used language
woman; that he complained |
to DR.. Miller that she came down TO the |
engineers shop too often; that he never |
saw Sallie Easley mistreat patients, and |
that he never saw any harsh usage on the
part OF other employees to patients.
Jennie Gordon. who has charge of the |
house during the night testified that there
lad not been much trouble lately among
the patients at night; that she would visit
the female wards, laundry, etc, at least
once an hour; that she always kept time
indicator with her To show that
she had always attended to
her duties: that she hardly ever had
trouble with the patients, some OF whom
are very dangerous that she never saw any
patients ill-treated. The Committee then
adjourned for dinner