New-York tribune., 1879-03-28
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
AN rNsANr woMAN,s SAD DEATH.

AN INSANE WOMANO SAD DEhAh'
MRS. EMILY GRAHAM BEFORE HER DEATH DECLARES
THAT SHE WAS BRUTALLY TREATED AT THE
ASYLUM on BIACKwEIL's IsLASD-HER HUs-
BANDS STORY.
Among the certificates Of death which were re-
ceived at the Bureau of Vital Statistics yesterday
was one sent by Dr. James NJ Duncan, of No. lO2
Columbia-st.. stating that Mrs. Emily Graham, age
81. had died from lnanition at No. 1G4 Lewis-st on
Wednesday evening. Accompanying the certinca'e
was the following note:
Emily Graham was brought to her home from
the insane asylum Blackwells Island, on me ziVlI
instant when was first called TO attend heT'
found her extremely emaciated, her person very
filthy, and her body covered with sores fer IelS
tiyes saw that she was beaten starved, ana otheI-
wise abused but be tins as u may ayte5 mus ~ least
carelessness and neglect on the PaTt OF heI a.
ants. JAMES NJ DCNCAN' "' ~
This note, together with the certificate, was
handed by DR.. Nagle to Coroner Ellinger. who Will
begin an investigation of the case to-day
TRIBUNE reporter last evening visited NO.
1914 Lewis-st.-a very dirty tenement-hOuse
and found the top floor wake
in progress. dozen men and women
were seated in a small room which was hled
with the odors of whiskey and tobacco smoke The
body of Mrs Graham was stretched on bench ana
scantly covered with sheet at side of the room
Candlesticks with lighted tapeTs were placed near
tbe head On the other side of the room stood
n plain coffin. The corpse presented
shocking appearance. 1t was much emaciated and
the flesh had darkened in color from being eXposeu
70 the warm air in the room. On the surface OF the
bodv were many large Sores-sOme of them as large
as trade dollaTs-whch left the bones exposed 10
view. ., - .ho
room and In reply 10 questions said: MY wl1e
was arrested last October and accused OF Deing
drunk and disOrderlv. She was sent up 10
Blackweii's Island, but before she, had. been
there long she was put IN the insane
asylum. | brought her home in November, and she
seemed 10 be rational enough then. was away
from home in December, and the neghbors got
afraid of nv wife and wanted her taken to the asy
lum again, so her mother had her sent tle1e.
didn't see her again until last SATURDAY. hen went
up to the Island and found her IN room lying on
bed She asked me TO lock the door of the room LOT
fear some one wOuld come and beat her. she tolQ
me they had often beaten her. and had
starved her also. She had lost so mueh
hesh and seemed so low that was
she was IN was very cold. promised to come ana
take her away on Monday. While i was there a
man came i'll and asked me who was, IN a r9ugn On
manner, My wife seemed afraid Of him. tOld MN
/ was a poor labOTng man, but cOuld auOTu
10 pay him couple Of dollars II he would give my
wife lit lie extra care. He said he couldn't take
money, but if liked could bring him some cigars
when | came again. On Monday went IN wagon
with my mother-In-aw and brought my vic
home. She not able 10 speak theH.
A nurse M the asylum helped remove her. My
mother-in-law asked the nurse how my wife had
been treated at the asylum. The nurse shook her
head and said she did not dare TO tell for fear or
losing her place" . -
Dr. Duncan said last evening: when | was
called to attend Mrs Graham she was in bed and
was unable TO speak. saw right away that she
was past all hope, and that nothing could save her
life. fed her some beef tea and bread, ana sne
devOured the food in raYenous manner III was
evident that she had been starved. also noticed
the sores on her body. / do not know how they
came there j suppose the authorities at Black
wells Island will have TO explain that. They were
evidence of neglect or of cruel treatment or both"