The New York herald., 1879-08-05
CHARGED WITH CRUELTY.
A TERRIBLE STORY TOLD BY AN INMATE OF
TOWN CHARITABLE INSTITUTION HIS ARM
BROKEN BY A KEEPER TWO WEEKS AGO AND
NEGLECTED EVER sINcE-THE KEEPER
DENIAL.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. |

NEGLECTED EVER sINcE-THE KEEPER S
DENIAL.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.l
NORTH ADAMS. Mass, August 4. 1872
There has been good deal of excitement here to-
day the reported crueltes practised on in
mate of the poor farm and the recital the wrongs
has caused much indignation in certain circles.
The whose woeiul story has at
tracted much attention is named James
Brolley. nearly sixty years old. and for
the past six years q rheumatic inmate of the town
farm but formerly liquor dealer and real estate
owner worth $50. 900. He sent word Sunday to
the Selectmen that he suffering terribly from a
neglected broken and the cruelty of the Poor
house keeper, H. l.. Smith. An investigation
ordered, and the Selectmen of North Adams and
Adams held meeting this afternoon. and Smith was
discharged from his position. Brolleys right arm
was broken below the elbow on July %. and
is fearfully swollen and bruised. He must have
suffered intensely within the past two weeks. This
evening he etherized by Drs. Lawrence and Ma
loney and attempt was made to reduce the frac-
ture. The HERALD correspondent started to inves-
tigate the matter. but found considerable difficulty,
owing to the rules OF the institution and the cona
tion OF the patient.
DioILEY's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Brolley makes "a statement which, condensed.
contains the following points He says, that last
spring he complained to the town authorities
ABOUT the TODD given to paupers on the poor
farm, and that since that time lie has
been marked man; that all manner
OF cruelties have been practised on him. especially
by Smith On July - he walked to this town, about
mile away, to attend a circus. 1t rained, and fear
ing that he would catch cold. he stopped night
with friend. The next morning he returned to the
farm, when Smith declared he was drunk and should
De locked up Broley protested AID returned to tho
town, where he got a letter from the Select
men saying that he was not drunk, and ordering
Smith not to punish him at all. Walking back upon
the railroad track he met Smith and his hired man.
Marshall Murray. driving TO the village in lumber
wagon, the road being about twenty rods from the
railroad. Smith and Murray came to him and or
'dered him to get into the wagon. Brolly refused
and said he would walk when they both assaulted
him. kicking and pounding him numerically, and
into the wagon When he reached the Poorhouse Brol-
ley locked up and has been kept confined most of
the time since, no attention being paid his
broken arm which, from neglect, Is now in serious
condition He MAKES other charges of cruelty prac
tised at various times during his stay the poor
farm, but as this the only OF which official
notice has been taken they not pertinent to the
present case.
THE OTHER STORY
Smith, who has been discharged for these
of barbarty, says, in extenuaton, that Brolley has
always been druken. quarresome fellow, causing
continual trouble; that he drank on the morning
referred to and making another disturbance
when he told him he would lock him up. he denies
thaehe assaulted Brolley, but says the latter when
he attempted to restrain him from going back to the
village, reached into his pocket and threatened to
blow his CUTS out that when he and his hired man
attempted to make Broey get into the wagon he
drew knife, and that in attempting to prevent
him from doing mischief a scuiile ensued. during
which Brolley fell and hurt his the track
Smith admits dragging him to the wagon and lock-
ing him ny afterward, but supposed he had author
ity conllne refractory pauperA according to his
judgment. He says he did not kno Brolley's arm
was broken or he wonld have had it attended to.
He admits reading the Selectmens letter. but
thought he knew the circumstances better than they
did and acted accordingly.
The official reason gwen for Smiths discharge is
that he disobeyed the written order OF the Select
men. The people of the town are divided in opinion
as to the guilt OF Smith and tho relinace to be
placed on Brolley's story. The Selectnen are non
committal. tonight. They have dismissed Smith
for q breach OF duty without reference to the
charges preferred full investigation will doubt
less be made, when all the facts may be expected 20
come out. The Selectmen admit that Smith has
managed the farm to the satisfaction OF the town
and that he was efficient officer. Broley's con
dition is precarious, and the developme ns of the
future will depend largely on his case.