Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-05

The Insane Hospital investigation was
continued yesterday afternoon. The testi-
mony i. now nearly all in, and another after
,oon will probably see the matter closed
nm except the arguments of the counsel.
G. Wakefield, Esq, of Bangor, re.
..ned. think that Mr.. Sampson. the en-
.;,ser at the Hospital, is man of truth aud
.s,seity. and should believe anything that
be might tell me-
cros,-eramined.-Mv acquaintance with
a.mnson ceased in 1877. | saw him every
fine I visited the Hospital.
N B.. V, Chase of Augusta recalled. hav-
mo finished his direct testimony at a previ
ons session of the committee. A manuscript
,enort made by a committee of the Council
amounted to investigate the charges of en-
belzlement against Mr. Leighton. the former
steward of the Hospital, was shown witness
Mr.. Chase's name was appended TO the re-
mort but he stated that it was written by Col.
Dow of Portland. When the report was read
~ the Council, no signatures were affixed to
!, Had nv name then been signed by Mr.
Dow should have noticed it. The Council
Register for 1872 was produced by Mr. Baker.
II contained the transcript of the commit
tee, report. which completely exonerated
Ur. Harlow from any suspicion of completely
With or knowledge of the misdeeds of the
steward. Mr. Chase's name was written
after this report in his own handwriting
Witness stated that he signed this report
without reaiing it; that he did not agree
with the conclusions reached. At the end
of the year lie put his name to a batch of bus
mess, without taking the trouble to read it at
ALL
Bv Mr. Baker-Do you not know that for
several months after Mr.. Leighton's resigna-
ton, and before his successor was appointed
Dr. Harlow acted as steward and treasurer.
without being asked to furnish bonds even
to the amount of one dollar:
Ansner-He was put in charge Of the
funds; do not know about the bonds.
Re-direct.--My habit was to sign my name
to the Council Register. in its proper place,
without taking the trouble to read all that
was written there
By Mr.. FaH-Will you state your grounds
for believing that DR.. Harlow had criminal
knowledge of the defalcation Of the steward?
AnSrer.-Miss Carruthers. Il former patient
at the Hospital, told Dr. Harlow that she be
heved that Mr.. Leighton was short in his
accounts. dskeu lf- Harlow II he HaI
any suspicion that anything was wrong in
the stewards accounts. The Doctor said
that he did not asked him if Miss
Carruthers had not called his attention to
the matter some time before this. He said
he believed she had but that she wasn't quite
right here pointing to his head.
Abram Mclaughlin, an attendant at
different intervals from 1872 to 1880. was en-
ployed one winter in keeping the '.lodges."
Never saw the ''lOd re" rooms cold enough to
be uncomfortable to a patient. Knew Dan
iel Palmer, the patient who, it is alleged, was
put into the g lodge" room naked one cold
night, and died from exposure soon after.
Mclaughlin stated that Palmer was never
put into the ''lodge" room without any
clothes on, although he sometimes tore them
III after he had been in the lodge" short
time. Do not think that Palmer could have
suffered from the cold without my knowing
t. Know a certain patient who has
been previously referred to. Remember
that on one occasion he struck two
patients at the table. He was taken
Immediately to the lodge by Mr.. Mitchell.
TN attendant. Witness denied 'schurning"
the patient, as testified to by Motherwill.
In the eight years in which was at the
Hospital never saw patient used with I'M
due violence. haze seen attendants brutal
~ beaten by patients. Ihad my left eye PIT
cut by piece Of broken crOcFery a. the
hands Of maRiaf. Cannot see anything
out of 1t. | know Sampson. the engineer,
and Peter Haynes and Sweeney. never
saw Sampson treat these men in any thing
but kind manner
Cross-eramined.- saw the ''lodge"
rooms cold enough to be uncomfortable. 10
not think Palmer would feel the cold like
sane man. He would sometimes throw the
blanket out of the 'lodge.'' Heard the term
"ehurning'' at the Hospital some seven or
eight years ago. Never saw a patient at the
Hospital who who not treated kindly. Saw
an attendant at the Hospital this morning
with black eye. While at the Hospital
saw half dozen cases where attendants were
hurt BY patients.
John II. Yeaion of Chelsea called. Am
member of DR. Buffers church. worked
the Hospital twenty consecutive years. |
mad charge of all the repairs. Am car
penter by trade. My business called me to
every part OF; the Hospital, at Irregular
tunes. During this entire twenty years | had
KEYS of my own which gave me access to all
parts of the Hospital. Nearly every dav !
visited all parts of the institution to see If
AZ pairs were Iete'leu. Live W ltiiiii db'N'
anile and half of the Hospital. Know
all the patients Think | see what is going on.
hnew the attendants well. The patients
poured out their complaints to me freely.
Onrthg the entire trenty years nerer sdT
d SOLITARY case of abuse of patients by AZ
n E rhieh thought rorfhy Of reporting;
Inc worst case that a patient ever compliance
70 me about, was that of patient named
christopher Wood. Noticed that one day he
looked dumpish. Wood said that an attend
anu abused him. cut his ears, and would not
,et him sit at the table long enough to eat
ms meals. ! asked the attendant II
ne abused Mr.. Wood. He SAID
mat it was none of my bust
ness, and asked me what l was gong
70 do about it. I told him that | should re-
port him to DIR. Harlow, who would discharge
MN. but before he went | would give INN
sucf threshing that he would never abuse
man again. After this Wood was used well
nave seen patients who would try to be as
aggravating as they could towards the attend
ants. 1t is my opinion that DIR. Harlow IS
man Of great executive ability. At the hos
pitai. they are often compelled to take atteh'i-
anus as they could get them, but poor at
'endants stay but short time. DIR. Harlo"
can't know all that is going on at the nos
pital; it would be impossible for twelve men
70 Know all that is going on. l do not WISH
70 go out to the world that there are no
aouse at the Asylum. for l believe that some
do t~.x- a