Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-19
NAMES INSANE.
Are the Unfortunates at the Hosn;t.,
II Treated?
.he Investigation Slowly Proceeding

alleged abuses in the Maine Insane asv,nn,
sir. Charles G. Fall of Boston. appeared as
counsel for DIR. Butler in his ipvest;o.,;ors
Charles Crowell, for two years an attendant
al the Hospital, said that while EMPLOYED at
''iat institution, he always had notice when
the visiting committee was in the build;ng
ne mad noticed some abuses of patients "a
he thought, while he was an attendance A,
one time he found patient named Daniel
falmer, very violen: man, in the, s.lojpe-
without any clothing on and shiver;nr with
coid- Upon his suggestion Palmer was taken
out OF the ''lodge' and put to bed. few
weeks after this occurred the man died.
witness could not state whether Palmer's
death was caused by this exposure or not.
lie mad seen patients ''churned'' by attend
ants. Saw an attendant named Bradford
'churn patient who made an attack upon
LIZ oanDorn. Another attendant struck
patient IN the stomach, who was meddling
with the lights in the verandah. DIR. Harlow
saw the blow. and demonstrated with the
man but did not discharge him. About two
|
had some dispute with DR.. Harlow and gave
his notice. After DIR. Neal came to the Hos
pital, the abuse subsidized in some measure, as
DIR. Neal made his trips through the buildings
at irregular intervals, which made attendants
more cautions in their behavior towards
those III their care. Witness had been
| ordered to put patti, hts into the .'lodge'' in a
naked condition. but had dsobeyed this
order. The first year that he was at the
| Hospital there was no means Of heating the
lodge except through tlues in the walls.
Small heating coils were put into the halls
! afterwards.
By M. Baker. DO YOU not know, sir,
| that underneath the lodge there is system
of coils for the express purpose of heating the
placer
AnSmer.-''I knew that there was some
heating pipes under the verandal.''
By NJ. Baker.-"WiIl you testify on
oath before this Committee, that you were
ever directed to put patient into the lodge
naked. when the temperature was at freezing
point:'
1nsrer.-"I have
by NJ. Boker-'sCan you name any such
instance:"
Ansrer. az remember the case of one
man named Marcus Smart, who was put into
the lodge one cold night. He had no
clothes on. and was compelled TO kick around
rather lively to keep from freezing"
r.. Pal
happen?"
Aaswer.-"About eight years ago."
By NJ. Baker.-'.Can you give the name
of the patient who was struck in the presence
of DIR. Harlow"
Ansrer.-''Isaac Ellis"
By Mr.. Baker.-''Whatw was the attendants
name:'
Insrer.-ssCharle Bailey"
The witness here testified that DIR. Harlow
gave the man Il severe talking TO, and that
the Hospital.
BIZ Ds. Eatoa.--.'Did you ever 'chnrn'
patient while you were at the Hospital:"
1usper.-..I do not wish to answer that
question:
BIZ Dr. Eaton-''Is it custom ut the
Hospital for the attendants to make the
patients do their (the attehdants) work.
1asrer.-'It is. to a certain extent"
Witness stated that he did not consider it
his duty to interfere with attendants in other
departments He let them fight their own
battles.
DIR. S. Cakes of Auburn, one of the trustees
at the Hospital, was sworn. He was ques-
TONED on matters connected with the BUSH
ness of the Asylum. Wallace w. Morse
clerk in the steward and treasurers office,
was discharged because they had man AT
the Hospital who could do his work at a less
salary than Mr.. Morse received
Timothy Harrington of Augusta, formerly
an attendant at the Hospital, testified that on
several occasions he had found that the meat
for the patients meals was not good ana hau
called DIR. Harlow's attention to the same
sfhe Doctor smelt of the meat and pronounced
II all right, and it was put upon the table.
Some of the patients ate the meat, and some
did NOT. While at the Hospital he generally
knew when the visiting committee were
coming. He had seen patients struck BY at
PENDANTS. but could not recall the clrc"m-
stances now.
cross.eramined-In the Mccarthy case as
near as | can recollcct. the man was TAKEN
down by an attendant without provocation'
and ..churned." Patient was making con-
siderable noise at this time. Mccarthy was
an epileptic patient, and was liable to sudden
outbreaks of violence. think the patients
have enough to eat.
The committee adjourned at 1870 CLOCK
m meet again this afternoon at = CLOCK.
The Maine State Agricultural Society mas
made public its report of the fair held al
Lewiston, last fall, from which the Lewiston
Journal CLEANS the following figures Atthe
mark there were 500 entries of cattle, horses,
tro,,iuc horses. sheep. swine and agricultural.
;mnlements, for which the fees receive"
,o,,,,sd 70 50 POS: premiums paid, Sf,2lo;