The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-28
TREATMENT OF THE INSANE.
A Specimen Of the Cruelties Practiced
Upon the Unfortunate Patients.
More and Worse than Mr.. Albert Thayer Has
Published-A Baptist Preacher Outraged
and Abused by the Attendants.

The following affidavit tells its own brutal.
sickening story, as well as affords the people of
the State an insight into the kind of manage
ment that prevails at the Hospital for the In
sane The affidavit was voluntarily made by
Mrs Mary johnson, of Henry county, respect
able, intelligent lady of unimpeachable charac-
ter and veracity. She is the daughter Of David
Vance, who, during all his life. was of the
leading Democrats of Henry county. Mr.. john
son, the womans husband prior to his insanity,
which was OF mild form, was a minister of the
baptist Church, and we'll known throughout the
State. He has, also, been Democrat all his
life
Let the people of Indiana read this affidavit,
and then, putting it with the other disclosures
made in the Journal. determine whether there
should not be change in the management of
the benevolent institutions of the State The af-
idavit is as follows:
State of Indiana, County of Henry, S.
''Sprineport Oct 20, 1861, Mary johnson.
being duly sworn, say that I am resident Of
Sprngport, Henry county, Indiana; that am the
wife of Joseph A. Johnson; that he was fifty
eight years old on the 28th day of May, 1856;
that he was, up to the time of his mental de-
rangement, to-wit, in the month of March, 1884,
Baptist Minister that on the 9th of January,
1852, my said husband was. by due application,
admitted to the Asylum for the Insane for treat
ment, at Indianapolis, Ind. that he remained
there for period of nine months; that at the
time my said husband was taken to said asylum
! furnished him three full snits Of blue cloth and
one suit OF cashmere, and ore half-dozen white
shirts Of good, new linen and muslin, one half
dozen mems hose and one $55 overcoat; that
after he had been there eight months visited
said asylum and found that he was dressed in an
old pair of jeans pants that I investigated his
wardrobe and failed to find any of the clothing
with which had furnished him, except small
amount OF underwear; that went immediately
and asked DR.. Thomas where all the clothing
was that l had sent with my husband;
he replied that they were all right; that they
were in the laundry and would be brought out
the next day; that in six weeks from said time
brought my said husband home and have been
caring for him since that time; that at the time
he came home they did not send with him any
of the clothing had furnished him, but that he
was dressed in q new suit which had sent him
to wear home; that two days before sent for
him l received letter from DR.. Rodgers want
ing me to send my husband two new suits OF
clothes and four suits of underwear, which re-
fused to do, except to send the one suit for him
to wear home; that l afterwards wrote to DIR.
Rodgers TO send me the $50 overcoat and the
suits of clothing, shirts, socks and underwear
which had furnished him that in answer to
said letter received from said assistant new
cotton blouse marked "Kissell," which / re-
turned and demanded the goods again. and they
then sent me the overcoat and said that was all
the clothing belonging to my said husband;
that at the time visited him he was dressed in
a slouchy manner. with dirty, ragged jeans pants,
dirty shirt and dirty. ragged socks; that he was
in dirty, filthy condition; that my said
husband told me that upon one occasion
they made him carry a mattress up three
fights of stairs and one of the attendants
walked by his side and slapped him in the face
and over the head to urge him up; that upon
other occasions he was slapped and beat over
the head with large brush while in the bath;
that said treatment was frequently repeated;
that at one time my said husband forgot to carry
from one room to another the white bed-spread,
which he was required to do, and for which neglect
the attendant threw him on the he'd and jumped
on his stomach with his knees, and slapped and
choked him; that he never had any coffee fit to
drink, no milk during all the time of his stay
there; that butter would frequently come onto
the table too rotten to be eaten; that he was
compelled to eat old hash that was, as he ex.
pressed it, $50 rotten that it stunk." know my
husband was horribly abused, rnistrea:ed and
is,bbed of his clothing that no was compelled to
eat old, strong and diseased meats and other
victuas. MARY JOHNSON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me at her resi-
dence Springport, Ind, this Goth day of Oc-
tober, 1856. CHARLES S. HEMLY,
Notary Public"