The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-20
INDIANA'S BURNING SHANE
New Disclosures of InhHman Treatment
Practiced at the Insane Asylum.
Dumas Contains Nothing BaIf So LaWlpss and
Pitiful-Patients Beaten, Fed Pntrid Meat,
Neglected in Sickness and Tortured.

A representative OF the Journal bad an In
formal talk. yesterday. with gentleman from
the north part of the State. who twice an
inmate of the State Insane Asylum within the
past TWO years. in that time being confined in
the institution fourteen months. He is man
of character and intelligence. and. despite the
misfortune which has twice overtaken him. his
statements are entitled TO perfect credence. On
being asked to recount his experience while
patient he made the following statement in sub
stance; 1T is true I have been insane. and, il
ever should become insane again. want the
protection which the laws of the State intend TO
give patients confined in the asylum.
was first confined at tho State asylum in
the spring OF 1886, and was discharged four
months later. Was again taken there early in
1887, and was again discharged ten months
afterwards. The frat recollection I have
finding myself in '.Ev ward. where the patients
were roughly treated. was so treated by sew
erai Of the attendants. the unjust treatment
being, mainly on the part of two of them. whose
names now withhold On one occasion one OF
these men was teasing another patient and I
walked up TO the attendant and sung my arms
as II was going to hit him, at which he quit
teasing his victim and knocked me down.
put his knees me, picked
ma up again and threw mo down on to bench,
Selling my neck he twisted it over the edge of
the bench, in his efforts 6lliag his nails with
flesh torn from my neck, until the blood came.
This was in February March, last winter,
and the cruelty made me wild. The attendants
leased other patients great deal. have often
seen three attendants on top of one patient.
kicking and beating him. One of the attend
anita wore my shoes, telling me had none.
turned down the elastic of the shoes he was
wearing and saw my name there,
at which he kicked me for my
pains When my ehoes were returned to
me they were badly An attendant was
one day transferred down to my ward from one
above. and we patients changed clothing with
out taking our baths. The fellow from up stairs
called my name and said. Come in / didn't
know he meant me, as there were several of
that name in our ward. Finding / did not go
he exclaimed: 80 you'll I'll teach you to
come when want you and struck me in the
abdomen. On two other occasions he kicked
my feet from under me. The pieces attached
TO garters and other articles of under
would be taken by attendants
and used instruments of torment
TO patients, while the latter were bathing,
pinching their flesh seeming to afford infinite
amusement. This kind of torture applied
to me while in ward until was afraid to I'M
dress.
patients humanely. and refusing 20 join in
ing and beating these unfortunate charges. were
soon shown disapproval on the part of the old
attendants, and the newcomer did not remain
long at the institution. When DR..
Fletcher went away aH the patents
seemed to feel they had lost their best
friend At the asylum. / never any OF the
trustees in the wards in which I was confined
to my knowledge. II to DR.. Harrison
the day DR. Fletcher was removed, asking him
have the two worst attendants removed. AID
that they be obliged TO state. before the board
OF trustees, and in my presence, the reasons
they had for abusing me. DR. Fletcher said
never heard OF il afterward and the com
planned of were still at the asylum when left
As as saw DR.. Harrison thought had
nothing to expect from him.
'"Fhe trouble existing at the asylum arises,
mainly, from employees being selected from the
saloon and bumming element Once, when
was struck by an attendant, / think he
drunk.
"The food furnished the patients was not
good. Very often the meat was tainted, and
got so always smelled 10 before eating it Dur
ing the winter pigs tongues, with most Of the
throais of the animals clingine to them, were
served to US I once took chicken gizzard
offered me- and found attached to the
end of it some of the fowTs
entrails. filled with corruption. That took away
my appetite for chicken, and / mentioned the
matter to colored man employed about the
asylum, and he said there was no use talking
about II, that such things often happened, One
OF the attendants said to me, before left the In
stitution: iii give YOU pointer, - your
soul If you know when you're we'll offyou won't
tell about things here for Il you ever have to
come back You may get killed.
II knew of men who killed there. One
patient told me he went into his bedroom to get
handkerchief, attendant entered and
showed him ont, causing the patient TO trip on
the sill and fall to the floor, when other attend
ants rushed up and stamped on the fallen man
He was badly hurt, and the black and
blue places where he said they had kicked him.
His wife to see him, bat
he was afraid to tell her of
the abuse visited upon him. This man
after died. and If the doctors ever paid him
any attention never knew of it. While this
unfortunate being unable to get about some
visitors at the asylnm stopped to notice his case
but the usher hurried them and away from
him.
An inquiry being made if the narrator OF the
above had the names of patients and attendants
alluded to, he replied that he had. and could
furnish them when OCCASION demanded.