The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-08-15
AN ASYLUM TRAGEDY.

Tostin oByas to tho Dca,h OF Patient at
Nor1istown, Pa.-The Attendant RESPONSE
BE.
PnILADELPHIA, Aug S-Tbe Trustees OF
the State Asylum at Norrisiown have shown
determination 10 clear the institution from
suspicion Of scandal. and, though it is by No
ms ans certain that the death Of " J. Fiss
can be laid at the door of James Gaaaey, the
attendant with whom he had the altercas on
which resulted in his death, they have Of
fefed a reward Of $500 for his arrest lie
disappeared from the Asylum IS soon ss IL
wes ascertained that Fiss' ini iuries were seriA
Gus. There were no witnesses Of the assault
VhlCh resulted IN the death Of Mr.. Fiss.
Richard Lackian testified today that
ing to his fist and 70 Gaf'ney), as
II in bTaysdo OF what be had done.
He fUok charge OF Fiss, cleaned his mouth Of
blCCO, aud examined him. finding no marks
ofinjuIy On his body. Ganney says Figs bit
him and he returned the blow. Witness
hsndsged Frs mouth, and he talked lot OF
nonsense witness could not understand He
botsted all dey of what he had done d Gaff
Dey, and was sometimes very crusty aud also
dirty in his habits.
DE- Robert Ii. Chase. the Resident Physi-
ciea.syGas called and testified that in ihe
morning of July he was informed that Iii
aud GahDey had had 9 disturbance, and that
Ffss had been struck aud bruised about the
face, though it was not serious. He con-
tisued II detected that his lower Jaw
bone was broken bat found no other injury
on his person. l told the Ward Captain
TO have Gaffney packed out and sent
to, the office for his pay, and TO tie
up Fiss' face temporarily and have il proper
IL dressed. When / got back to my office
(toHrr.- Ipr-t Of "a of
the injury, and said tbat he old not mean to
hart Fiss He bad Given notice that ne vas
going away, and demanded two weeks pay.
He had an infamed eye which was bag n
ming 10 turn, and declared that hs had been
severely injured by the patient He went
out, and l never saw him afterwerd."
DR.. Chase detailed the treatment for the
frsctured Jaw, and declared that Fiss had not
mind enough to know that he was injured
and il required sn attendant 10 be cons tantly
with him night aud day to prevent him from
pulling of the bandages. pr. WeSVer of
NornstowD, was called in, and there we're no
grave symptoms until August ,, when Frs
became quite sick. That was his first day in
bed.
The patient expired Sunday morning of
pyemia, or blood-poisoning, resulting from
'lDiuries received from the hand of James
Gefney, an attendant at the Asylum for the
Insane at Norristown, while deceased WAS On
inmate of said Asylum, unGer treatment for
insanity Such was the verdict of the Jury
to-day. The Special Committee of the Board
met Immediately afterward and adopted &
resolution that it shall be the duty of resi-
dent physicians TO forthwith report TO the
members of the Executive Committee or 10
the Board of Trustees at It's next meeting all
hurts or injuries sustained by patients by
any cause whatever. The Steward OF the In
stitution was also directed to procure war
rant for the arrest of James Galiney. and the
Committee further concluded TO offer 2 re-
ward of $500 for Gaffney's arrest and cOnvic-