Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-17
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TEWKS BUR .
Testimony o. Deed. too Bad to be Trse,

BosroN, April l6.
At the Tewksbury investigation today. Mrs.
Jennie Pope testified that as an employee at
the almshouse. she saw Mrs. Marsh bring
out large quantities of clothing from the
baggage room; that rugs had been made
from clothing and she had seen blankets and
other material sent away to Exeter, n. IL.
Had seen Mr.. French take an insane woman
by the back of the neck and kick her along
the ward until ont of sight, the woman mean
while screaming loudly. Upon the visit OF
a committee, Capt Marsh apologized for
preparations made in half an hour. when in
fact week had been spent in getting ready
for the visitors. 1t was the custom TO take
all children except small babes from their
parents when received.
A Canadian woman was punished for cry
ing for her child. She was put into cell
for three days, and after that into the insane
hospital.
woman about to be confined was kept
busily sewing and died in labor. 1t is said
she would have lived had exercise been
granted her Mrs. Marsh had visited the
founding hospital and insane building but
once during the witness stay. Was sure
Mrs. Marsh had appropriated clothing OF the
inmates.
Frank Barker was recalled and forcibly
denied that he had ever taken stockings or
other property from the almshouse when en-
ployed there. not even dead bodies.
Dir. Sanborn testified that while a student
at the dental college on fremont street in
1878, man with covered wagon had offered
him the body of female from Tewksburv
for fourteen dollars and the body was ac-
cepted.
John F. McGovern. who worked as tan
ner at Woburn said that the skin of a negro
unnamed was brought to the tannery by w.
L. Morrison who wanted it tanned. The
latter said he bought it from Harris and that
it came originally from TewksbuIy, and
Morrison claimed to be a student. Pieces
of the skin were shown and Mr.. Brown asked
for bit OF it which the Governor cut off and
gave him.
Frank Barker was recalled and said Mar
garet Hennessey, patient, was put in cell
badly ventilated. DIR. Lothrop paid her no
attention Capt. Marsh said that if DR..
Lothrop did not attend to his patient to let
her die. She was taken out in September
and rubbed in oil. She was set up where
Lothrop could not help seeing her. When
he did see her he said, ''Hullo, who's this?'
She finally sent away SO crippled that
she could not walk straight. Another pa
tent was put into a cell and Marsh said let
her stay there until she would eat. She was
not insane, the witness thought.
One inmate was noisily insane, and DIR.
Lothrop said if he. kept his (Lothrop's) wife
awake to give him medicine which would
quiet him, and that failed, to choke him until
he stopped. One woman was chained to a
post and kept there all day There were
| fifteen or twenty women who were crying for
clothing. Capt Marsh said he guessed they
had enough clothing. One woman had to be
| carried up stairs. DR.. Lothrop helped her
along with the toe of his boot harder than he
| (witness) would want to be kicked. 1t was
| understood that the trustees visited the aims
| house to get good dinner and go home,
and, in fact, one of them acknowledged that
such was his duty.