New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-14
UTICA ASYLUM ABUSES.
AN INVESTIGATION BY THE ASSEMBLY.
. COMMITTEES APPOINTED TO INQUIRE IaTo THE
DEATH OF EVAN D. HUGHES.

| A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INQUIRE IaTo THE
| DEATH OF EVAN d. HUGHES.
| FROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rR'BuNhl
ALBANY Feb. I3.-Evan ID. Hughes, il Is charged
| in resolution passed by the Assembly to-day, deu
| in the Utica Insane Asylum, on January 20 last
violent death caused by injuries received at the
| hands of his attendants" Two attendants at
| tempted to put Hughes into restraining chalr.
| He resisted, and after violent struggle the chr
was upset. and Hughes received injuries IRON,
which he died The doctors discovered that several
of the mans ribs had been broken. and 1t was
charged that one of the attendants had used MS
| fists during the struggle.
| The Asscmblymen were made highly indignant oS
recital of the particulars of the case Assembly
man Ackroyd Of Utica, vanly PLEADED tia' ~ we
| the first case of violence IN the asylum ia M
years The statement was vehemently denioo' 'no
| Rev Mr. Olin asserting that he had before nearu VI
charges like this that they had been coming aiohs
YEAR after year. shocking the sympathy OF CHRISTIAN
| neonle. Ii was then recalled that there had peeh
several Investigations Of the asylum in recent years
Mr.. Erwin charged that the reports OF the iegsia-
tive committees on these investigations had been
stolen bv persons interested in the asylum. lie also
suggested the suspension of DR.. Gray the super
| ptendent of the asylum, while the present Assem-
bly, investigation was in progress. Altogether, the
Assembly worked itself up into "A fever OF iudigna-
ton over Hughes death and finally ordered an In
vestigaton of it by q unanimous vote.
CRUELTY IN STATE INSTITUTIONS.
n sbould be said that an Assembly committee
which is now investigating charges oil cruelty MAUI
against the management of the House OF Refuge al
Rochester, brings back reports of much mhumah
treatment of the children The members of the
Legislature are therefore in a temper to make
tboronph investigations of any cases of cruelty in
~ - a. ingtIt
brought to their notice. The Governor also it IS
said. suspects that the State asylums do not re-
ceiye that careful supervision at the hands OF the
trustees Amounted by the State which they require
He has therefore followed policy of appointing
new men as trustees of these institutions whenever
he has chance in the hope that these men VIII DE
| more energetic in attending TO their duties.
| IL was Mr. Haskell of Madison County VINO miro
duced the resolution calling for an Investigation.
| The resolution declared that the Pupc nave ,oSe
cotidence in tho management of the Utica insane
ASYLUM and regard with horror the atrocities aeBe9
| to have been committed" Mr.. Ackroyd, OF
Utica thought it was premature TO nnk 20 az orn the
circumstances of Hughes DEATH; lie also tnonghs
! that investigating committees did NOT 90 WORK o,
any value. He inquired what the WORK hau
amounted to done by an Assembly committee OF In
vestgation year ago.
PLAIN STATEMENTS by MIR. ERWIN.
| Mr. Erwin replied as follows:
Grave charges have been made against this INSTITUTION
not only this year but years before have no doubt
%at t}nes been done that ought Investigated
and II what alleged Ia true the whole lnsututon ough
10 be sspended the head OF the institution ought 10 e
suspended. He ought not tn be permitted ID Tue insut
tion or around t In the while the lnNesugalon
takes place. III were Governor and THESE c5rEes %
to me that believed them, would Suspenu MN u
| the end OF this investigation
REPORTS or COMMITTEES STOLEN.
Where Ia the report of last year, IL was made ana
passed TO this House by the chairman of that commtee
II was made thorough report and you can't find 1t to-
dav TWAS purloined away by the men. "a have been
told who hang around this institution and come down
here TO do this very thing. Where is the
rennrt that was made by the Senate Committee In 1850
and 1881 You caUt find it to-day. Ii has been taken
from the reports. Take that OF last year, reer 70 the IN
dpx You will find the number all right, You VIII ma u VI
dexed-hu where is repOrtf IL was made ana the
man who drew report told me this morning that ne
made II. tell You there Is something wrong or they
would not be puTonlng these reports that ao MAUI hoi
REMARKS OF THE REV. MIR. oIIN.
| The Rev Mr. Olin then SAID in substance:
| Twas surprised hear the gentleman from Oneida
Nfr Aekroyd) tnat this was the rst Instance OF t
accnsailon did suppose had heard OF accusations IKE
this. aud they have been coming along mere every
Ear shocking the sentiment and the sympathy OF the
Christian people OF this Commonwealth And 1t Is APP
paling II rlians be employed In these lnstltull0n
breaking mems laws breaking their rlps, anu GROWING
the life out OF them 10y brutality that IS equal TO the III
fernal Why sir when taken care OF our poor we
ought not 10 be nggards wheh We are takne cure ~ o
unfortunaes ought not 10 he brutes we can ahoIu
10 Dou gh and harrow that institution as II Is until every
false aud cruel thing shall be brought to light there -
anywhere within the STATE where the nqusiuOnal eye OF
this body has right 10 co. 1t Is where we spend our
money avshy for the poor and the unfortunate: ny
motion that the special committee ought W 10 W no
| bottom OF things.
Ninatv votes were recorded in favor of the inves-
| tigation and none against it: Speaker Sheard ap-
| poin ted the following committee OF nVe 70 make
| The investigation: Howe, of NewYOrk, chairman;
DIN of Broone }. H. Brow9 OF ocnohare ilaS-
| mitfee will begin its work at Utica next Friday.