Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-03-27
ovr or An INSANE AsYLUn.
A Released Pasienrs Remsrksbis
ktOrx OF CrueI Treatment.

story OF Crue1 Treatment.
, On CRY, Penn, March 24.--SeverI
months ago Robert G. Ingersoll lecture
J in this city, and among his audisnt
was Q resident named John Carol
Some Of the statements Of the lecture
so worked on Carroll's mind that b
became somewhat deranged. He wa
sent by his family 10 the Dixmont In
sane Asylum at Plttsburg. He wa
recently released, and now makes q r.
inarkable statement as 10 iphumsl
treatment he alleges he received in tn
asylum. lie says that when he entere,
the asylum he was suffering from tn
effects OF brain fever. On undressing
for his bath, his two attendants treatet
him roughly because he did not re
move his clothing as quickly as thel
thought was necessary. He told then
not TO DO so harsh, as he was still IL
from fever, and was suffering with ,
blister on. his back, which was covered
with q plaster. One Of the men said
ooh, we've heard Of you BEFORE" and
taking hold Of the plaster, tore it from
his back, pulling the skin Of the bills.
ter with It. In giving him his bath
they rubbed his raw back with fish
brush, unmindful Of his pleas and
suffering.
He was then dressed and placed in .
rsom by himself. He walked out In
the hall, when he was put back, and
the door looked. He knocked on the
door with his hands. A keeper named
Harper unlocked the door. when
walked out" says Carroll, che knock
ed ne dswn, and, with three others,
beat and kicked me until ! was sense
less. When came to my ssnae'I was
In cell. had on strait-jasket, and
was lying on q bare, damp floor. There
Was no furniture in the room. About
s o'clock In the evening Harper and
two others came TO the cell and wanted
me to take some medicine. l was
afraid It was poison, and refused. Then
l was beaten; but Istill refused to take
the medicine. This was followed by
more kicks and knocks, and then was
CHECKED and the medicine poured dswn
nv throat. Twas then left IS was
alone in the cell-with the strait. acket
still on. Daring the night managed
TO get the Jacket of. In the morning,
when Harper came in and saw what /
had done, he exclaimed with an oath,
you'll pay for this !" He then
brought in two men. They came at
me, defended myself IS we'll as |
sould. They kicked and beat me, and
one Of them, by the name Of Lowell,
caught me BY the hair and dragged me
around the floor. The others kicked
me in the ribs at the same time, break |
ing some Of them. My spine was badly |
injured, and suffer from that still, so
much that | am not able to do any
york. After this abuse, l was dressed
Ind put in the strait-jsckst. l was
AIKEN to another cell, but when the
blood was washed up 10 tine first one,
vas returned to 1t before the floor was
Try. was given q straw-tics and
pillow, and remained there all that day
md night. The next morning came
o my senses and understood my situa-
ion at once. Before my mind was
lot clear, end any stubbornness
howed was because Of that. When the
ell was opened told the keeper not to
buse ME, and / would do anything
at was reasonable. Mr.. Brown, the
ining-room attendant, then took me 10
ct my breakfast. entered Q room
there half . dozen insane men were
Gated on the floor, eating. The break
sst was bread, coffee, cabbage, and
oiled meat. The next day | gave
rown the sign Of an odd-fsllow. He
answered 1t. why didn't You give ,
40 TRAILING sign" when you were
cling abused!' he asked me. told him
did not think OF 1t. When the keepers
'und that l was an Odd fellow l was '
Gated better than the other patients. !
nslly managed to smuggls letter to
friend outside, giving the situation l Q
as in, and this resulted in my getting
y release" II
uAIPeFS Cuo A0ePeIJ SAIoA bAyh,
carried bunch OF keys that weighed &
tween one and two pounds. With r
is he frequently struck the inmates y
.rd blows. he also had 3 strap with :
buckle on one end. This he used on
EN-, sometimes welding it with both :
.nds. There was q patient in the asy.
m named Swanson, ayoaug man from
arren County. One morning he b
uld not find one Of his stockings. !,
q attendant seized him, and scuffle +
sued. When the men fell, Swanson Y
IS on top. Another keeper pulled e
m off, and held him while the other [
cked him until he begged some one, {
r Gods sake, to kill him. He was 81
lrt so badly that he could not rise, q
ID lay doubled up on the floor crying. b.
/, God, take me away from these bad az q,
an! 1t was the most heartreuding y
int ever witnessed. While he lay
the floor, Swanson had three violent
) in succession. When he came to 81
Q asylum he was strong, healthy
ung mau, and quite inoffensive. In
ew weeks he was reduced to almost q +
nlotnn -