Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-16
THE INSANE.
The Legislative Committee Making
aSearching Scrutiny
into the Management Of the Maine In.
sane Hospital.
The Inveatigation still I'm Progress.


ives Hall, yesterday afternoon, to witness
,hs investigation Of the affairs of the Maine
Insane Hospital by the Legislative Commit,
200 Rev. Dir. Butler appeared for the in,
,estisation, and O:ville d. Baker, Esq, f.,
tho Hospital. The witnesses were put upon
9TH Kew. Dr. Butler stated that technical.
ir hi, was the ease of the people of Maine
rains, the Hospital, and that, as the Trus
- had employed an able lawyer. it was no
more than fair that the Committee should
commend that an attorney be retained on
the side of the investigation. Senator Pat
.angall. chairman of the Committee. stated
.bat the Committee had no power to take
snrb action. Hon. Arson p. Morrill, wished
20 correct the assertion of DIR. Butler, Il at
hi. was the case of the people against the
Insane Asylum. Not a single petition had
hoen presented to the Legislature asking for
a, Investigation of the institution. DR..
Rotler had attacked the management of the
Uosnital: he had asserted that he could
MOVE that it was badly conducted. 1t was
The case of DIR. Butler against the Asylum.
The Committee. after explaining that they
had no power to employ lawyer, proceeded
10 examine the witness.
George Motherwll, formerly an attendant at
the ASYLUM for seven years, in differerent de-
nsrtments, mostly in the private wards,
stated that he had seen a patient named
Daniel Mccarthy brutallv kicked by an at
,endant. The attendant threw the man
down. planted his knee in McCarthy's stom-
arh and "churneG" him,as it is called at the
HOSPITAL He did this until witness interfered.
He did not report this case 10 DIR. Harlow,
az there was feeling among the attendants
that such things should not be reported to
the superintendent. One Of the private pa
tients struck another patient at the breakfast
table. He was taken by two attendants and
punished by being thrown down, choked
and .'churned.'' After this, the private
patient was locked up in the lodge" Wit
ness did not report this case TO DIR. Harlow.
There was an inmate by the nam. of Hill
who at times was violent. and the attendants
had 10 put straps" upon the man. DIR. liar
low heard the noise Of the struggle in which
Hill was thrown down. He came in and
caught the attendant 'churning" the man
The attendant was not discharged. At one
time patient named Sleeper, who made some
disturbance in the chapel, was taken out by
two attendants. They took him down, and
regulations for the Management of the Hospital,
were frequently violated in minor points.
Patients were awakened at an earlier hour
than the regulations prescribed. Witness was
once instructed by DIR. Harlow to put man
named Captain Hartman into the lodge, take
his clothes away fror. him. and give him cot
OF straw to sleep upon.
Cross Eramiaed The abuse Of Mccarthy
occurred about three years ago. He was
passing by the door of an attendants room
when the man called Mccarthy in and
abused him. Witness was discharged from
the Hospital for not obcyng the rules of the
Institution. That was the reason DIR. Har-
low gave when he dismissed him from the
employ of the ASYLUM. The name of the
attendant who abused Mccarthy was Boiler
These abuses occurred while DIR. Neal was
in charge of the male wards. DIR. Harlow
never missed going through the wards, in the
early hours OF the morning. to see if the at
tendants were on duty. The Doctor WAS ac-
eustomed to examine the food of the patients
to see if it was wholesome and well cooked
Questioa.-"Did you leave your post and
70 party few days before you was dis
charged
AHsrcr.-'.I did,
Questioa.-"W What time did you get home
that ng!lt.'
4nsrer-"At about two or three o'clock
in the morning
Questioa.-"Was this the first offence?''
Aasrer.-''l had left several times before,
to attend similar parties
Question by Dr. Eaton.-''Was it not the
custom at the Hospital for attendants, after
getting permission from the Supervisor, to
attend parties and dances?"
.iRsrer.-''It was
Question By Dr.. Bvtier.-'In your
opinion, why were you discharged"
4nsrer. Because / voted the greenback
ticket
by M. DGker-''You had been 4 DEM
ocrat and greenbacker for the seven years in
whchyo were at the Hospital, had You not"
Aasrer.-"Yes."
by NJ. BdkeF.-"And you now think that
after being kept seven years, you were at
,ast discharged because you were q green
backer
Mrs. Cora Motherwill was the next witness
called. She had been an attendant at the
hospital, at different intervals, for about
n,ite years At one time patient named
mrs Nelly Reed was delivered of pre-
mature birth. DIR. Harlow was called. He
vent In alone, examined the patient. and
said that 1t was "a case OF excessive tiowage.
ana II she was bandaged it would be all
I9ht The Doctor said he would see Miss
nam, the female supervisor of the ward. DIR.
sanoorn was called, and the patient was at
~hded TO. After her delivery she grew
.Ap"ly better and apparently recovered her
reason, but in her weak condition she soon
selapsed into mania.
ny w. Baker.-'In the nearly four years
~ winch you were an attendant i'll the female
.A'us' did any case of personal abuse come
tyour notice."
l@ witness hesitatcd several minutes,
DID," '''''
by VI. Baier.-"Can you recall any
Particular case:''
dasrer.-'T cannot"
cDy w. Baker.-.Can you state to the
so.hiiltee single case of personal abuse
.ns The time you were at the Hospitals.
hHsFer.-"l can. | saw woman taken
.s' .n and ehoked so severely that the blood
,.s iea under her eyes. This was done IN re-
naauon for some misbehavior. did not re-
f'l, ''s case TO the Doctor"
,Dy NJ. Baker.-"Did you refrain from re-
,.ans THIS case from desire to shield the
nnAsrer.-''I did,
10y W. Baker.-'Mrs Motherwill, will
M STATE the name of the attendant"
r",uaess.-''No, sir"
-, ue committee insisted, but Mrs. Mother