The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-17
TUESDAY MORNING. APRIL II, 1888
TEwKsBURY ALMsHoUsE.
a Specimen of Tanned Human
Skin.
Alleged Cruel Practices by oalcers.

RosroH, April 1G AT the Tewksbury in
sestigation to-day Mrs. Jennie Pope testified
ihat whom an employe ct the almshonse che
saw Mrs. Marsh bring ont large quantities OF
clothing from the baggage room; that rugs had
been made from the clothing and she had seen
blankets and other materials sent away TO Ex-
ater, N. III. She had se0n Mr. French take an
insane woman by the back OF the neck and
Kick her along the yard until out OF sight, the
woman meanwhile screaming loudly. Upon
visit OF committee Capt. Marsh apologized
ior preparations made in half an hour, when in
TACT u week had been spent getting ready for the
visitors ltwas the custom TO take all children
except small babies from their parents when
feceivod, and one Canadian woman was
punished for crying for her child She was
put into a cell for three days and after that In
the insane hospital. A woman about to be
confined was kept steadily sowing and died In
labor. 1t was said she would have lived had
xefelse been granted her. Mrs. Marsh had
visited the founding hospital and insane
building but once during the witness stay.
She was sure that Mrs. Marsh had appropri-
eted the clothing OF inmates
Frank Barker was recalled and forcibly de-
nied that he had ever taken stockings or other
property from the almshcuss when employed
there, not even dead bodies
DIR. Sanhorn testified that while a student at
the Dental College on fremont street In lS78,a
man with o covered wagon had offered him
body OF female from Tewksbury for S14, and
John L. Mctaovern, VINO worked as tanner
at Woburn, said that the skin OF a negro. un-
tanned, was brought TO the tannery by w. II.
Morrison, who wanted II tanned. The latter
said he brought ii from Harvard and that 1t
came originally from fewksbury. Morrison
claimed to be student.
Pieces of the skin were shown, and Mr..
Brown asked for a tit OF IL, which the Govern
or cut off and gave him.
Frank Barker was recalled and said that
Margaret Honesty, patient was put IN q
cell badly ventilated. DIR. Lathrop paid her
no attention. Captain Marsh said that II
Lsthrop didn't attend 10 his patient, 10 let her
die She was taken olt in September aRd
rubbed with oil. She was set up where Lath-
rop couldn't help seeing her. When he did
sea her he said, Hello, who's this?'' She was
finally sent away so crippled that she could
not walk straight. Another patient was put
In cell and Marsh said let her stay there IN
ill she would eat. She was not insane. The
witness thought one inmate was noisily insane,
and DIR. LathroD said he kept his (Lathrop's)
wife awake. He ordered witness TO give him
medicine which would quiet lin, il that failed
TO choke him until he stopped. Ono woman
was chained 10 post and kept there all day.
There were Is or 20 women who were crying
for clothing. Captain Marsh said he guessed
they had enough clothing. One woman had to
be carried up stairs, and DIR. Lathrop helped
her along with the toe OF bis boot harder than
the witness would want to be- kicked. He un-
derstood that the trustees visited the almshouse
to get good dinner and 60 home, and ia fact
one OF them had knowledge that such was
bis duty.