The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-02-28
THE INSANE HOSPITAL,
DR.. Butler and Superintendent
Harlow Examined.
SEVERAL ALLEGED CASES OF ABUSE
DENIED.
Especial Dispatch to the Press.l

AUGUSIa, rtD. ~.
The Insane Hospital Committee continued
their investigation of that institution this af-
teInoon, when Rev. DIR. Buffers cross-examin-
alton was resumed by Mr.. Baker. counsel for
the hospital trustees.
The witness stated that he had refreshed his
recollection with reference to one item in his
testimony, which he desired to correct. He
stated that he went to the entrance of the fe-
male ward actuated by a generous impulse
Went there on account of scream of agony
he heard. The voice he thought he recognized
as being that of the lady patient he had before
Spoken of. The lady patient is DR.. Buffers
wife, Was satisfied the scream did not come
from her. Did not see the improperly of go
ing where she was. Ordinarily it would have
been very improper for me to have gone. Did
make objections to DIR. Sanborn to having the
public visiting the hospital in charge of the
officers of the inst tuition. Did not believe it
should be made public avenue. 1t was un-
der an impulse of terror went to the ward
when heard the scream. Did not satisfy my
self what the scream was 1t is common
thing to hear screams in lunatic asylum.
know the voice of the lady patient referred to
and the voice was not the one thought it was.
Don't know what the cause was. 1 only stop
ped long enough to see that everything was
quiet and as usual. Had no intention of
breaking over any rules. The lady patient was
in charge of an attendant whose qualities 1
have praised 80 highly.
Have not taken keys when th officers were
not about without their knowledge or permits
sion; still 1 may have done SO. Was received
there on such friendly terms that I may have
taken keys and gone where 1 pleased. Do not
remember that on particular occasion l OBJ
tanned the keys and went to see my lady "a
tient; still may have done it. Think at two or
three times took the keys, and without attend.
ants visited the wards, although it was against
the rules. 1 don't know whether the insti-
tuition is lacking in medical knowledge, but I'M
der its present regime it is lacking in some
thing. Don't know how much DR.. Harlow,
the superintendent, is lacking in medical skill.
I am no expert. 1 consider it important the
superintendent shall have medical skill.
have theory of my own on the management
of the hosp ital. Don't make any objection to
the management on account of medical skill
and knowledge.
The lady patient was troubled with constipa-
ton. called the attention of DR.. Harlow to
it. About ten days passed and found no re-
suits had been produced. I called his atten-
ton to it again, and asked him his objections
to doing anything for this fruitful aggravation
of Insanity and the cause sometimes of insan-
ity, when he expla ned that the patient would
not take any medicine, and that she was very
low, and that nothing could be done for her
I then saw DR.. Hill and got prescription
from him and gave the medicine to her, and it
did her good. I thought DR.. Harlow did not
know how to deal with the case. l did not
know that DR.. Harlow was then using reme-
dies; but if he was he was using none that did
any good The lady patient was in a low and
reduced condition.
Witness denied that he had offered to COM
promise and stop the investigation if DR.. Har-
low was removed and Mr.. Lakin appointed in
his place. Didn't know whether he
ever advised the appointment or candidacy of
Mr. Lakin for superintendent If l had any
conversation with him about it it was a private
conversation, and as casual remark 1 might
have asked him whether he was a Mason. He
said he was not; but 1 knew that his word was
as good as that of a Mason Can't say whether
talked with him about being superintendent,
but thought he would make a good one.
Have talked with DR.. Neal about the condi-
ton of affairs at the hospital. Don't remem-
Der whether he and ever talked about inves-
tigation when he was in the hospital. After
he left did Talked with him few days be-
at Brunswick about it. 1 went there in the
cars and we met there at my solicitation.
wanted to know the facts as to the internal
management of the hospital. A few letters
have passed between us about it. Don't re-
member if he ever urged investigation. About
the interview at Brunswick my memory is pre-
Dictated about the running of trains. Think it
lasted b hours. We probably did talk about
whom we should have for witnesses. He
has given me the names of some of the dis
charged attendants. The greater proportion
of witnesses have volunteered their testimony.
Some of them have been discharged honorabiy
and some have not
Dr. Neal did not call my attention to cases
OF abnse that can remember. In casual con-
versation he informed me who had boon there
He did not mention the name of Miss Car
ruthers before the investigation commenced.
saw the article in the Boston Globe of Feb.
23d. 1t does not express my sentiments in
every particular. Should never have headed
an article of mine in the way that was headed.
The purported substance of the evidence it
contained was not wholly correct; there are
some errors in it, would not say that there are
gross perversions of testimony in it. There
are statements in the article, which the editor
or reporter or anyone here, supposing them to
be here, if they heard the evidence given,
might be called gross perversons; but perhaps
the authors might have misunderstood it.
Don't know whether there are things in it
that do gross injustice to the institution; none
of the alleged facts were communicated by
me; have no knowledge of its authorship.
Direct resumed by Mr.. Fall.
Don't mean to say man should be superin-
tendent who should have medical care of pa
tients, but one who should have executive abil-
ity; that is my theory; 1 would put three or
four medical men in charge of patients; med
ical men should have charge of moral and
curative departments
Question-Who is the promoter of this in
vestigation?
DR.. Butler-I think the Lord has more to do
with it than anybody else. Don't know who
started it; perhaps did. The history is, the
trustees challenged investigation; I don't use
the word Extensively; 1 mean they invited it
before the Legislature, and then several of us
accepted the challenge; DR.. Neal was one;
don't think he advised it; said he would come
before the committee he did not furnish me
list of witnesses. My purpose was to awaken
attention to the real condition of the hospital;
letter from all parts of the State; witnesses
have volunteered to come before the commit
tee.
By Mr. Baker-You dou't think Dr.. Neal
has promoted this investigation?
No, sir, don't. 1 think he wanted to come
here and make his statement.
By Mr.. Fall-You did not know that he Of
fered to come before the committee till he was
here?
No sir, did not
BY MIR. Baker-DOn't you call that the
statement in the Boston Globe that some 20
maniacs were left together aud in the hroil
that ensued one of them was badly hruis-
ed and her face became very much swollen
and she did not have any care from the attend
ant till the next day] doing gross injustice to
the institution?
Yes, sir, I do. The editor has put two
cases together, and has conveyed a wrong i'm
preston.
By Mr.. Baker Have you ever stated that
on that occasion when this lady patient receiv-
ed blow, that the officer of that institution
said it did not make much difference about
trying to do anything for her for she was going
to die anyway?
No officer in that case made any such re-
mark to me- That statement was made at
in to see what could be done for this lady
when she was sick; he might not have used
that language exactly.
MISS CLARA WHITES TESTIMONY.
Have been an attendant at the hospital for
six years, in two different wards was at one
time in charge of the lady DIR. Butler spoke of
for some weeks; she was "a very difficult pa
tent to take care of land was liable to provoke
other patients to violence if she went out
much; left her locked in her room good
deal of the time; when she was injured by the
other patient, was absent from the room
giving off waiter" [this is taking the food
from the waiter that comes up with it, and
placing it on the tables 1t takes about ten
minutes] and Miss Randall struck her with a
slipper, at least Mrs. Butler said SO; she al