The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-27
TRAGEDIES IN AN ASYLUM.
FIVE YEARS 4 PATIENT IN TIKI INSTI-
TUITION IN KALAMAZOO.
Not the'RavinR Of u Maniac, but the Recital
ofn Woman whose Sanity - Vsuched For
Patient After Patient Borne Away Dead.

made and published wholly in the interest Of
the poor. dependent inmates OF tho Michigan
Asylum for the Insane Mt Kalamazoo.
Inasmuch ms the la1y. q part OF whose expo
rlonco there it s-and who WAS mover violently
insane-was n resident OF Port Huron before
she WINS sent to the asylum. and has reeided
here quietly with her son and daughter for Elk
yenrs since her escape; as she has bought her n
home and paid for it; has gone into the Circuit
Court. and by virtue Of her own unshakcn tcs-
tmony. sustained and corroborated. reclaimed
property that her husband had endeavOred TO
nloh from her: as she has demonstrated her
sanity in many ways and because her story
now told Is corrohoraied, we feel called upon TO
ask from her ngighbors careful reading.
Mrs. Henry kcwleys account OF hcr flvo
ycnrs' Incarceration IN the nsylum.
was taken to the asylum about eleven
years ago | WIS really insane at the iime.
though | was improving. and probably never
been n loyal. honorable man. remember that
! soon noticed cruel treatment Of the patients
10 hill No. TO- Tho attendants In our hall were
all women. DR.. Van Deusen visited the hall
about once n month at that time. | think. but
did not allow patients to make complaints.
ono cruel practice the attendants INDUCED
In was that OF reaching down and Jerking
patients feet from under them. Sometimes the
i've weeks before went TO the asylum acct
dentaly ran a needle into my right foot. and II
remained there. 1t often caused mo pain. and
was anxious TO got rid of It. some two or
three months after entering the asylum WIS
standing looking out Of q wi ndow 1t was the
beginning OF n very cold day. and we were
about to be called TO breakfast A stood
there. felt tho needle pain me. and 1t occurred
out. so raspcd my foot against the bnse, or
mopboard two or three times with that object
6al m my Il" goVeEd shoS as R bad nG made
marks on the white dashboard; but ono
% 'n nss a wd SNu deng ogden
kewloy" she said and pointed to the marks on
The wall For the first time now observed tho
To nNn Ina fhnv,
Tho attendant quickly jerked my feet from I'M
dor mo. and struck fairly on my hack. The
got w Immediately II left alone, But Lecty
called her sister Louise. and at the same time
leather nun to secure my hands and buckled
a heavy belt around my waist. drawing Il 80
then assisted me to rise and. as gasped for
breath they forced mo to walk, pulling and
TsSgins M ne HSSgt forty feet to bedroom
The room was known as Mrs. Readers
room because she was kept in that room and
often TO the bed at night for two and a half
years. Her hands became dclormed from the
o more violent hall. and there she died.
The mum Is something Ike a lady's nun
In shape. but fastens tho hands securely. In
side that room they fastened mo in a sitting
posture near tho open window. l could move
my foet. but not my hands or body. a mixture
OF sleet and snow was falling. which blew in at
the window and settled on my shoulders. |
was given no breakfast. l saw no one. and was
The snow on my back. on the seat beside me,
on the floor about my feet was moro than half
Ogden came and offered mo food. hut would not
releaso my hands nor loosen the band around
my waist. | objected 70 eating out Of he, hand
around my waist was oosened. She re-
fused 70 do either. l offered 70 clean
release me, but she said she would show
:hem to DR.. Palmer and he would order
me kent whore was month. then asked
her to lower tho window. and she said | de-
served what was suffering she would teach
lease the belt around my waist at r. NJ. and
tho rush OF blood that ensued caused me to fall
10 the floor helpless. she grasped mo by the hnir
sailed her sister. and they took OF my clothing.
THOR violent behsvioL attracted the attention
OF another patient. Mrs. Blakely, who never
struck them, saying, You have frozen aud
you shan't Antaze her any longer They
then left me. jerked her feet from under her.
melted until they had subdued her They then
put on the mum and the restraint holt around
TOO weak TO assist her or should have done so.
She was len In the room and with the restraints
on all night.
70 tho new. or No. IA hall Not many weeks NJ
terward saw horrible crime committed. Be-
tween 10 and ii ono spring morning, was sew
ing on one side OF the hall II was chilly. and
was on bench near the steam coils, which ran
sIonG9de he wall BY my side SAT a patient
ways. and had habit Of chew ng paper as gum.
n a2E sG 5eS as a1G mmn attend
that boxing her ears vo%nty' Id do @Y' Know %S
ESma can TIE fs' latter nF qr Ged '2> s HAMS as
she fell ' her from head noS Came s0r in 'S sonat
with the iron steam coils. making 9 noise that
a pistol Mrs Hamilton gave a shrek. and
Miss Emma threw herself upon the woman's
chest. and called 10 another attendant her
sister. to bring the restraints. Mrs. Hamilton
struggled 50 frantically that they desisted from
s fasiT Efforts d to put them on but the rye ruth
her into bedroom. slamming and locking the
Il had struggled 10 maintain my composure
remembering from former experience that
could do nothing but get into trouble myself.
and after she 6ad been IN the room about tan
minutes, told Miss Emma that / wanted to try
1t on. She answered that she was. writing
note. and after sending II down TO tho offlca TO
be mailed she would open the door. She I'm
ished the note, went down stairs with it. and
tho door. We both started back with horror.
Mrs. Hamilton had turned the bodstead. a small
oak frame with nailed hoop iron Stats on ono
end. and had torn "A strip from a sheet and
hanged herself. She was dead
Mrs. Kewley is very much excited. Doctor
said Miss Eumn. when | tried to tell DIR.
Palmer what had been done.
Go TO your room. Mrs. Kewley.' said DR..
you taken there and put under restraint
They led me- away. as also all the other pa
tients and locked us in the dormitory a large
room which was originally intended ms a sit
ting room. Mrs II. was carried away that
night In accordance with the usual custom.
and buried-or her body sold-I never knew
which.
Ahcrward four or Ave times. approached
Or. Palmer aud tried 10 relate what preceded
Mrs. llamiltOn's death but no said. with waVo
Of his hand ana n shake or working OF his FIN
gers, Never mind. Mrs. Kewley. he passive be
passive; We know all about that. Don't disturb
yousrN II you eyer want to get well. don't
brood over these things.
Two ycnrs or more aftorwArd was down in
No. 10 hall. cutting out suits Uhey were pre-
pairing for theutricalsl. and while at work in
company with the nlutron. | told her the whole
story. She evidently told the Doctor IA soon IA
sLs met him. and within two or three days /
had reason 10 know II,
60 Occnsionay had been given the privilege
OF visiting hail No. 10. md knew many Of the
patients on that hall SOH day or SO anerWard
! saw Dr. Palmer in hall No. II. whore be-
longed and wont and asked his permission
to visit hall No. 10.
- would ike very much 10 permit you to go.
Mrs, kewlcy but you will talk
Tals, Doctor. OF course talk: but what do
you menn by that remark; to what have you
refcrpncrY
Well, the other day you told the matron
about Mrs. Hamilton. and the patients might
have overheard you, and such things are likely