Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-10
OVER AT LAST.
All the Testimony in the
Hospital Case In.
And the People Anxiousl1
Await
The Verdict Of the Committee.

ANU vcAu4Ct VI Lie COmmltGSe.
The Hospital investigation was resumed in
the senate Chamber last evening. DIR. Har-
low was the first witness called. He gave an
account of his connection with the ins,;,u.
ton from 1851 down to the present time.
when the Doctor first went 10 the HosnitaI
there were but l0e patients now there are
over 400. Additions have been erected :.
modern improvements made. so that the
Maize Asylum is now on par with anv public
hospital for the insane in the country Rnr
the greatest change has been made in the
treatment of the patients. 1t is the object of
the Maine Asylum not only to cure as MANY as
possible, but also to make life As pleasant
and sunshiny for the inmates as their un-
fortunate condition will permit. DIR. Harlow
Is prominent member of an association COM
posed Of physicians who make specialty of
nervous diseases, and endeavors TO keen
abreast the times in all that pertains to his
branch Of the profession. He is a believer
IN the nOn-restraint system as far AS it is
possible to carry it out, anil it is the theory
of the Maine Asylum to allow the patients all
the liberty possible. The Doctor gave a
description of the appliances in use at the
Asylum when he first went there for the pur-
pose OF quoting refractory patients, which he
mas discarded. Dangerous madmen are
sometimes brought to the Maine Hospital
manacled, and chained to the wagon floor.
The first method of treatment is to remove
the letters, and put the maniac into the
lodge rooms. Attendants are carefully
selected from large number of applications.
and politics never enter into the question
DIR. Harlow stated that he never turned away
an attendant because Of his politics; that he
does not know the politics of one-thrd of the
attendants at the institution. There are no
cases in which attendants abuse patients
where the attendants are retained.
CrosS-eIdmined.-In case of a fire at the
Hospital, l think we could ge: all our
patients out. We have apparatus on every
foor for extinguishing fire. Within five
years three fires have been put out without
the knowledge of the patients so that there
was no panic Think we could go through a
much more severe drought than that of last
summer without getting short of water.
After the conclusion of DIR. Harl0w's testi-
mony, Mr.. Baker submitted a mass of doc
umentary evidence as to the efficiency of the
officers of the Maine Asylum. He read let
tiers from DIR. J. p. Bancroft, superintendent
of the New Hampshire Asylum, from DR..
Pliny Earle of the Northampton, Mass,
Asylum, ard from II. NJ. Quimby, M. d., of
the Worcester, Mass. Asylum, expressing
mending his skill in the warmest terms.
This closes the evidence for the defence.
William N. Wilson was then called for the
prosecution. Witness is assistant engineer
at the Hospital. Have seen Sampson, the
engineer, take Peter Haynes by the coat with
a pair of tOngs. Have seen this twice. Samp
son sometimes snapped Peters ears. He also
gave Peter water to drink out of dirty wash
basin, and occasionally threw water at him.
Peter does not work in the engine room now.
Sampson requested this as a personal favor.
Peter was apparently happy while at work
under Sampson.
Cross-eramined.-I have been badly in
jured by patient Never saw Sampson
grasp Peters flesh with the tongs, only his
coat. Have worked with Sampson some four
years and a half. Don't know as | can call
Sampson cruel man. He is rather gener-
ous-hearted man; of nervous nature. Never
saw him touch Peter in anger. l have lighted
Il piece VI paper p'it IL uo"h ~ wv Si"N
of Peter, when he was asleep on the floor, to
see him hop up. Didn't mean TO hurt him.
James w. Knowles. employed in various
capacities about the Hospital for four years.
called Have seen Sampson abuse Peter
Haynes. Sampson would swear at me when
he got impatient.
With Knowles the prosecution closed its
testimony.
Mr. Sampson was questioned on few
points Have tossed handful of coal ashes
at Peter to wake him up.
This ends the testimony. and the arguments
will be made this evening. The committee
have held nineteen sessions, all of which
have been fully reported in the Journal.
"Davy Crockett"
Our theatre goers have a rich treat in store
for them. On Friday evening Frank Mayo,
in his creation of "Davy Crockett" support
ed BY a strong company, appears in Granite
Hail. The play is purely and thoroughly
American. The play-bill calls it an idyl,