The Portland daily press., 1883-04-03
TRwKsBURY Aims HOUSE,
Tales of Horror Told by the Witnesses

Boston, April 2.--The committee on public
and charitable institutions this afternoon re-
snmed the hearing OF evidence having relation
to the management of the state almshouse at
Tewksbury, the room being packed,
The examination OF ex-watchman Dudley
was resumed. When he had detected Mr..
Marsh, as he had before testified conversation
had ensued, Marsh telling him to keep still
about what he had seen of loading of bodies at
the deadhouse,
pay for our trouble of taking care of these crit
ters." Witness gave details of the case of the
man who was put into q cell Intoxicated, and
and died in fur days from neglect He saw q
light in the trunk room at night several times
after the inmates retired, and going in quietly
one night saw Capt. Marsh's wife opening
pauper's trunks and taking clothing from them.
Mrs. Pope, housekeeper, who is now employed
at Middletown, Conn, told him she had seen
the same thing, and that the most valuable
dresses were taken by Mrs Marsh to her prl-
yate storerQom and made over for the Davis
girls Cher relatives) Hearing evidence about
Mrs. Pope was only admitted after long discus
sion. The witness told of some twenty chill
dren In ono ward who used TO cry at night be-
cause of hunger They were placed at table
with older inmates and had 70 look out for
themselves. One night he went to the burying
ground and saw four bodies resurrected and
driven of in wagon The state OF food for
the inmates and insane was always very poor.
The bread was sour nearly all the time, and
the quantity very small, especially for those
who had TO werk abont the farm.
spuke about 1t once TO Capt. Marsh and re-
ported especially the condition OF the hungry
children. lie said he guessed they got enough.
said that thought that they didn't and /
them pieces OF bread Tie told me he did not
want me TO do that any more. The allowance
OF other food was very slender. A man who
drove the hospital team told witness he had
taken up 6S bodies in eight months. The man
was dissatisfied then, but next day showed
hve hundred" which he said Tom (Marsh)
had given hun. The witness was afterwards
appointed with his wife TO the care Of the fe-
male insane. The trunks of the insane had
been taken away. Beds of straw in rotten con-
dition with insufficient clothing were furnish
ed. Most Of the females were with
out under clothing, shoes and stock
ings, having only their calico dresses.
(This was in July.) The cells also we're in
filthy condition. The witness detailed one
case OF an insane woman in dirty cell in the
attic. She was entirely without clothing and
almost skeleton. (The assistants said she
was violently insane and would tear clothes.)
She had had only one meal a day, carried 10
her by an idiotic girl who said that she had al
ways taken care OF the woman watched, and
found she threw food away and came back
with an empty plate telling witness the woman
had eaten all the board. In five or six weeks
he had the woman ont of The cell and down in-
to the sitting room, so changed that her hns-
band did not know her. Her name was Mary
Barrow.
Gov. Butler. -ewhat was her husbands
name?"
witness.-"I don't know. He lives in Bos-
tom
Gov. Butler.--"Sever mind The newspa-
pers will bring him to me tomorrow morning.
On cross-examination the witness said of 73
children came there in year, only one
lived. His previous testimony was mistaken
Witness testified the unattention of physi-
clans to urgent cases and especially when sent
Tor insane women we sent from one part OF the
institution to do worK IN another besides doing
their own. Also, TO sick wards to take care OF
women sick with all kinds of diseases and
which might be contagious. Witness com.
planned to Capt. Marsch, but was told that in
sane persons could not take diseases. Com
planned also that they could not work on food
given them. Capt. 9farsch told him they were
brought there to die. Telling him so at least
thre times.
A woman named Kate..an inmate. told him
she had found a way to keep babies quiet, and
showed him bottle containing preparation
OF morphine which was given her by the day
nurse. She said she didn't care hog many II
killed. She was removed in about two weeks
after he complained. During the year he was
there there we're infants born and brought in
as fcundlings. 0at of these only one was alive
at the end of year OF the babies who died he
knew nothing further than that they went in
to fhedead honse.
Gross examined--His wife had had sorae
trouble with Mrs. March which caused their
leaving, never had threatened the Msrchs.
Dsctars told him cost the Institution enorm ous
amount for medicine. After reading scme
recommendations given Dudley at other III str
tutions the governor asked for the books Of tie
inasfFasson shswfng All nuYchsses for ths last
five years
Adjourned till tomorrow.