New-York tribune., 1880-02-05
THE INSANE ASYLUM HOMICIDE.

CoRoNEK's INQUEST CONTINUED-TEsTIMONY or
MRS. STEVENS THE NIGHT NURSE ~ CHARGE.
The inauest in the case of Maria Dttmer an
inmate oi the Blackwes Island Asylum FOR Lundtlcs
who was alally injured on January Fl by her room-
mates was continued yesterday afternoon before COrc
ner Ellinger. Mrs. Mary Stevens, the night nurse In
charge was recalled read extracts from her report
book entered al the time Maria Ottmcr was an inmate
OF Retreat No These extracts showed that from De-
comher 81, 1879, until December 80, whom she was
removed TO the hospital, Maria was sick and was
source OF great annoyance other patients One
try read: Maria ottmer very sick. sale Way was
around the room all night annoyed by Maria So she
beat her and dragged her out OF bed" Following Is
the testimony of the witness given IN response 20
questions by the Coroner: No medicine prescribed
20 be gwen to Maria Oitmer night, and do not know
that she was gwen any medicine. One OF my reports
called Dr. Pikins attention TO her case, but he did not
look at her After her removal to the hospital became
SICK and nfst knew OF her presence in Retreat No
January 81. She was then in the with Elizabeth
Christ and Mary McDonough. had once reported Mrs.
Christ noisy aud violent. only enter the rooms OF
patients who reported to Inc by the day
requiring attention. There s way OF seeing into the
rooms without opening the door and patients always
carefully looked after. made report to DR. Mcdonald
the Wednesday after the accident, In which said;
Alto D. m. my attention was called By the day nurse
to the patient, whom found out OF bed In nude con-
dition and very much excited The bod-cothes were
thrown around the floor. In the room with her were
two other patients, Mrs Christ aud Mary McDonough,
who were very much annoyed by her getting OF bed
and CRYING. / obliged 10 put her In bed several
fines during the nighi. At Jl0 Whle sllllng ~ the
ale making tho report OF the night was startled
by noise OF pounding. went dt once toward where
the souud came from. and opening the door 'uuud
Maria Ottmer the floor between tho two bedseaf--
be patient Mrs. Christ. who was after beating her,
iumtng INTO bed. ] ri once went for help ana while ]
was down the Eall calling my helper who the
next floor her the second time S1c beat her.
idgng from the sound and the position found her in
chiefly on the chest. She cut her On lifting
Maria into bed that she was IN very exhausted
condition. and tclegraphed for physician"
Gross s-ex amncd by Dr. Mcdonald, tue witness said
al am always IA telegraphc communication with the
central olcc. IL Is not customary to Telegraph for
physician patient IL dangerOusy III, acc
dent has happened There are now no patients sleep
Ing the floor, and three patients do not occupy
the same room
10 the by Dr. T. G. Sptzka requesting that he
would permit representative Of the society aid him
In the Investigation. Dr. Mcdonald objected to the
presence Of Dr. Spitzkn both hs the representative OF
an uncnartcred society without legal ludng his
personal enemy. lie ylsLed the Abuoes which he ad-
IDited had not been able 10 in the msnths
OF his connection with the institution to be fully ex-
posed but protested against tic appearance OF his
official aud personal enemy. Coroner Ellugcr said he
would hear questions from Dr. SpzSi and himself
udgo OF their pertineucy. lie would exclude all perao
nalItIes from the gatOn which lie designed only
To expose 10 light the abuses charged II they eIsted
In reply questions by DR.. SpEka the witness said
that there In the Retreat containing
several violent patients but she could not say how
many such rooms tbcro are Patients we're prevented
from sleeping the floor shortly after DR.. Mcdonald
came but rule Orbiddng three patients In one room
was adopted after the accident