The Portland daily press., 1883-04-25
TEWKsBURY ALMsHOUSE.
Further Damaging Statements by
Former Inmates.
What the Defence Say They Can
Prove.

BOSTON. April 24.--The Tewksbury investi-
gallon was opened today by Attorney Brown,
who, after ailudng to the removal of the trus-
tees by the Governor, commenced TO review
the latters statements regarding the removal
| made In an interview with a reporter last
night. But the Governor interrupted and
protested against the discussion OF topics not
germane TO the investigation He. the Gov
ernor, was entitled TO express his personal
| opinion In whatsoever manner he chose to
adopt. Mr.. Brown was about to talk OF some-
tning Tor which the Governor was not respon-
slbis TO the COMMITTEES. He was alone respon-
sioe 70 the people OF the State. Tremendous
After considerable pickering it was decided
that Mr.. Brown should not have the privilege
OF making his intended remarks.
Margaret Perry Of Boston testified that the
nurses at Tewkssury were rough In their
treatment OF patients, striking them aud hold
ing pillows over the mouth Of insane patients
70 prevent their asking for necessaries. The
witness detailed outrages inflicted upon va
rious inmates from tlme 10 time.
Mrs. Abbe E Wheeler saw nurse named
Dnnning jump upon the stomach OF patient
With her kneet six times, because che wouldn't
take medicine, Thomas Marsh, Jr., was very
familiar with sne nurses,
Mrs. Bridget Dolan had a daughter and a
grandchild at Tewksbury last February and
made several attempts to get them out as her
daughter begged 10 be taken away. She did
not succeed and ber daughter died In Tewks-
bury. The child had been treated so badly
that II lost Its speech and could not walk.
While the daughter was dying of consump-
ton she was fed upon piece Of black sour
fish, two water-soaked potatoes add bowl of
skinned milk. This was but four weeks ago.
No word was sent to her until after her daugh-
ter's death. The witness was not drunk at
Tewksbury but only excited. Some OF her an
swers were very contradictory.
Two tanners taStiffed that eertain human
skins were brought to them to bs tanned by a
student, but could not say they were from
Tewksbury.
Adjourned.
The legislative committee on the Tewksbury
investigation having refused today TO allow
Mr.. Brown, counsel for the defence, TO reply
during the hearing to newspaper statements
made BY Gov. Butler, Mr. Brown, In an inter
view this afternoon, made statement which
is substantially as follows:
desire To call the attention OF the commit
tee TO the fact that up TO this point nothing has
been proved which touches the institution at
Tewksbury. In many instances the witnesses
can be readily impeached, in other cases their
story is SO improbable that no fair-minded
person can believe IL In some instances the
story OF what took place as seen by the wit
nesses could only have been seen BY looking
through two-story building In other in
stances, as in the matter OF bathing, the fact
will appear and has already been shown in
so many persons were required, as is alleged,
to bathe in large tub or pool, there was am
pie convenience for individual baths ready at
hand. One OF ths most notable instances is
in the case OF Mrs. Thomas Marsh, Jr. She is
charged by five witnesses introduced by the
Governor with dereliction in duty, and the
instances cited are since December, 1875. The
fact is, and the Governor could readily ascer-
tain II II he had the perseverance TO examine
the public records, that Mrs Thomas NJ arsh has
"a
December, 1875, and that all the tune which
she has spent IN the sewing room has been
gratuity prompted by her own feelings OF be-
nevolence and earnest desire to assist the poor
and unfortunates who have visited that insti-
tuition In fact, since 1875 she has been abb
sent but very small part Of the time, and
while present at the institution, scarcely day
has been allowed 10 pass in which she does
not spend from one 20 five hours in the sewing
room insiructtag the inmates who are able 10
perform that work and giving general direc-
tions in regard 70 the cutting aud sewing Of
garments for the use of the patients. The case
OF Mrs. Marsh is q fair illustration of the tes-
timony which has hitherto been offered. In
my iadgmsnt, aud / consider my Judgment
OF my defence infinitely better than that of
the Governor, we shall have ne difficulty in
wiping out all the allegations thus far IN ade.
propose 70 60 on with the examination and
put IN my defence II the people OF tue COM
m0nwealth by their representatives in the
legislature are willing and do not intend TO
stop until they say must. Letters are pour
ing IN on me every day informing me OF the
character Of the witnesses called by the Gov
ernor, and they are not altogether fattering
Many Of them have been inmates Of penal in
stitutions, others bear bad reputation in the
neighborhood where they live for truth and
veracity, some have been discharged from 9TH
er institutions for the same cause for which
they have been discharged from Tewksbury.
Mr.. Brown has had no intimation that the COM
mittee has given up the matter, as has been
stated.