Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-27

sYLvANIA INSANE ASYLUM.
PIrrsBUKo, February 26.-The Dixmspt
Iusaue Asylum investigation wss resumed
10 day. The morning session was taken mp
entirely with the testimony OF ID. @. Carroll,
sn inmate in 1879 He stated that When
first taken there he wss received very rough
ly. He refu ed 10 tske medicine, and was
knocked down, kicked and choked. After
the second day he never received any more
abuse, but saw plenty of others maltreated.
One of the worst cas- was that of a pitient
named Myers. Harper, an attendant, APP
peared to have special dislike for Myers,
and abused him on all occasions. One day
patient named Lowell struck Myers and
knocked him against bench, when Harptr
rushed in with leather strap and struck
Myers on the back with buckle and chased
him into his cell. Harper had a bunch OF
keys with which he used to strike psiieu in.
the face. Wires was placed in a cell
with two others, one OF whom was uucon-
trollabls. The cell was filthy, the ventilation
poor and the atmosphere unbearable The
straw ticks were not changed, aud were of en-
coated with filth Another case was that al
patient named Swanson, tall and slim, ard
subject TO fits. Oae day Swanson lost bis
sock and could not fud it, An attendant
named Jameson said he would make him
fad il, aud struck HIN. They clirched and
fell, Swanson on. top. Jameson managed TO
gat up first, however, and began kicking
swanson about the body in horrible and
brutal NJ tanner. The latter plead for him to
quit, and offered q regular prayer TO God for
help. He then went into fit, and Janleson
left him lying on the floor. Startling stories
Of Il-treatment and brutality have been told
during the Investigation, among the worst of
which are the following:
A. p. Hopkins, who spent six months in
the asylum isst summer, in his testimony
said: Zone day, while sitting at the dinner
table, thought il would be good joke on
the attendants 10 pref nd 10 take spssm as
another man was accustomed TO 30. / stiff
ened myself and threw myself back in my
chair. / was immtd ately seized aud taken
to ward No s, where some stropg me dicine
wss given me. Then Leggatt Hsmiltcn,
R ,berl Parks, John Gerneff, and another
attendant tried 10 put a sirail-jscket on me.
resisted and struck at Genneff They threw
me down aud choked me, jumped on me
with their knees, and b.oke rib on my
right side and one on my left. | was exam
ined by two physicians, who said some of my
ribs were broken. lean bring certificates from
them" The witness said he had never con-
suited any OF the Dixmont pbysicians, as the
patients generally Understood that they were
not allowed TO speaK to the doctors. "After
throwing me down." continued the witness,
They put the strait oket on me ard kept
il on for nearly ten days, during mcs! OF
which time l was tied dowu 10 the b d. The
pain in my arms was excessive on accoun, OF
the impeded circulation. This ioiury TO my
ribs was inflicted on me about three months
before / was released, and j felt the effects
of it Tor some time afierward"
Another instance OF cruelty was cited BY
Mr.. Hopkins IS follows: "T'here was man
named Miller wko had been aent from the
Western peniteniiary. Miller makes affida-
Wit, which / have in a letter here, that he
saw a man lied down 10 bed and 30 badly
abused that he died two hours afterwsrd.
Miller himself told me that be hsd been
bsdly injured by his treatment while there.
On another OCCASION" said the witness, "ene
of the attendants kicked Swede in the
mouth because he told him TO get up. The
Swede did no, do so because he did not IN
derstsnd. Letters that patients wrote did
not reach their friends"
Dr. Sewn, of Erie, who was sn inmate Of
the asylum for two year,, was also examined
and cited many instances OF cruelty. "An
old man" said be, manned Morris, who was
insane, wsnted 10 get Out. The attendant
opeued the door and threw him on the floor
and squeoz him brutslly TO make him
quiet. | cav that. i often heard CRYING
from rooms which came from cruel treat
ment. There was q German there named
Thumm. don't know how long be we in.
Thumm one lime asked an attendant for q
broom, and he wss thrown into his roou
He had been IN my room, and | saw he wac
insane. Alter that / heard fall, and when
the door Was opened ard Mr.. McMss.ers snd
others picked him up there was blood on
his face, and in few days he was dead
The keeper did not abuse him further than
push him into his cell. cannot tell whether
the push made the fall. The fall occurred
sf.sr the door was shut"