The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-19
INSANE HOSPITAL ABUSES.
What Former Employees Say About the Pres
ent Management Of the Institution.

j. III. Hoffman, of Martinavilie, is a capable
mechanic and is stanch Democrat He is the
man who, for several years, was the head car
penter at the Insane Asylum, and who, rather
than be made party to the rascality which he
saw was going on around him, less than g year
ago handed his resignation to President Harri-
son, with statement to the effect that he would
not remain longer in the employ of scoundrel
A Journal reporter who met MIR. Hoffman yes
terday was greeted with an inquiry as to whether
or not Harrison had begun his sweating process
yet. ''You needn't be afraid of him making
anybody sweat" said Mr.. Hoffman. II am
strong Democrat, but knowing as much as do
in regard to Harrison and his Infamous methods.
/ am ready to condemn him in the strongest
terms +"
You ere ready to reiterate all you said to the
civll-service committee, are your
Indeed l am, and / didn't tell half that /
could tell. read that report through carefully,
and as man who was for years intimately con-
nected with the institution, l say there was not
a misstatement in it, and it very meager
recital of the infamous methods that have been
IN vogue there for years, and which | attempted
to expose over year ago. feeling that the peo-
pie of the State should know of the abuses The
management of the institution is rotten through
and through. know of abuses of PATIENTS but
never had charge of a ward, and in regard to
that matter l will not talk. | know
that in the carpenters department Harrison
discharged good men whom l had employed at
So per day, and imported men from his own
county who had never worked at the trade and
gave them s.. 5O per day. know that Dr. Hall
was kept there TO pay political debt when, as
Dr. Fletcher once remarked to me. They had
no more for him than a cat had for two
tails He was employed as ook-keeper. when
IN fact. he was away half the time and his work
was done by another man. l know that en-
ployeS bought beef of butchers in Mount Jack
son and had it charged to the State. These
were things that came under my immediate mo-
tice, and of which l can speak without fear of
contradiction. There will be but thing for
the Legislature to do in the matter when it
meets and that is to investigate the whole in
stitution, and tell you there will be some eye
opening facts revealed. There is no danger of
that man Harrison making anybody sweat over
these matters"
William Cain, a prominent young business
mai, of Martinsvile for several years was
employe in the institution, as an attendant So
outrageous were the abuses of patients that he
could not keep quiet on the subject, and carded
the papers about two years ago in regard to
them, asking for reformation. He was imme
diately discharged. When asked by a Journal
reporter if he had anything to say about the
matter, he replied. II have statement of what
| know written out, and [ propose to have it
published Being as am, Democrat working
IN the interests of the party, / do not feel
like talking in the face of the election.
for the Infamous management of the hospital
has already made much capital for the Repub-
lican party, though every word that has been
said is true. I will give you an interview
though and I can fill just as much space as you
want with cold facts in relation to the abuse of
patients that came under my personal observa
ton"
A young man, now a student in the State
University, who does not desire his name made
public, was for long while an attendant in the
Insane Hospital and says that it was a favorite
pastime of the big, burly men in charge of the
wards to knock the patients down on the least
provocation And" said he, 'when the patient
was a good-szed man, attendants from other
wards would gather around and all would unite
III pummeling him until he was laid out"