Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-25
TEwKsBURY.
Butler Claims the Right OF Free
Speecb-Alleged Abuse of the
Patients at the AlmshOuse.

BOSTON, April "a.
The Tewksbury investigation was opened
today by attorney Brown, who, after alluding
to the removal OF the trustees by the Gov
ernor, commenced to review the latter's
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 Governor)
was entitled to express bis personal opinion
in whatever manner he chose TO adopt Mr.
Brown was about to talk of something for
which the Governor was not responsible to
the committee. He was alone responsible
to the people Of the State. Tremendous
applause.)
After considerable pickering. it was de-
cided that Mr.. Brown should not have the
privilege of making his intended remarks. :.
Margaret Perry of Boston testified that the
nurses at Tewksbury were rough in their
treatment of patients, striking them and
holding pillows over the mouths of insane
patients to prevent their asking for neces-
saries. The witness detailed outrages III
fcted upon various inmates from time to
time.
Mrs. Abbie E Wheeler saw a nurse named
Dunning jump upon the stomach of patient
with her knees six times, because she would
not take medicine.
Thomas Marsh, Jr., was very familiar with
the nurses.
Mrs Bridget Dolan had a daughter and
a grand-child at Tewksbury last February
and made several attempts to get them out
as her daughter begged to be taken away.
She did not succeed and her daughter died
at Tewksbury. The child had been treated
so badly that it lost its speech and could not
walk. While the daughter was dying of
consumption she was fed upon piece Of
black sour fish, two water soaked potatoes
and bowl of SKINNED milk. This was but
tour weeks ago. No word was sent to her
until after her daughters death. The wit
ness was not drunk at Tewksbury. only ex
cited. Some of her answers were very con-
Trajectory.
Two tanners testified that certain human
skins were brought to them to be tanned by
student, but could not say they were from
Tewksbury.
Adjourned.
The legislative committee on the Tewks
bury investigation having refused, today, tn
allow Brown, counsel for the defence, to re-
ply during the hearing to newspaper state
ments made by Governor Bailer, Brown in
an interview this afternoon made the state
ment, which is substantially as follows:
mittee to the fact that up to this point moth
ing had been proved which touches the insti
tuition at Tewksbury. In many instances
the witnesses can be readily impeached. In
other cases their story is improbable that no
fair minded person can believe it. In some
instances the stories of what took place as
seen by the witnesses could only have been
seen by looking through two story build
ing. In other instances, as in the matter of
bathing, the fact will appear, and has already
been shown in the cross-examination, that at
the very time when so many persons were re-
quired as is alleged, to battle in large tub
or pool, there was ample convenience for. in
dividual baths ready at hand. One If the
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 Mrs.
Thomas Marsh has had no official con-
nection with the institution since Dec, 1875,
and that all the time she has spent in the
sewing room has been gratuitly prompted by
her own feelings of benevolence. Since 1876
she has been absent but very small part of
| the time. and while present AT the institution
scarcely day has been allowed in which she
does not spend from one to five hours in the
sewing room, instructing the inmates.
The case of Mrs. Marsh is a fair ilustra-
! ton of the testimony hitherto been offered.
In my judgment, and consider my Judgment
| of my defence infinitely better than that OF
the governor, we shall have no difficulty in
wipng out all allegations thus far made.
! propose to go on with the examination and
put in my defence, if the people of the COM
monweath by their representatives in the
| legislature are willing, and do not intend to
stop until they say | must. Letters are pour
| ing on me every day, informing me of the
| character of the witnesses called by the gov
ernor and they are not altogether f1atterlng
| Many of them have been inmates of penal
| Institutions; others bear bad regulations in
the neighborhoods where. they live fol
truth and veracity. Some have been dis
charged from other institutions for the same
cause from which thev have been discharged
from Tewksbury.
Brown has had no ntimation that the COM
mittee has given up the matter as has been