New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-16
BAD MANAGEMENT AT MORRIS Plains
THE ASYLUM INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE PROB
ING INTO MORE ARISES


THE ASYLUM INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE PROB
ING INTO MORE ABUSES
The New-Jersey Legislative Investigating COMMITTEES
resumed its investigation into tho Moris Plains Asylum
management yesterday, the testimony Of the ex
storekeeper, John j. Lyonk The witness said that no
was forced 70 give out wormy oatmeal and beans because
he had become discouraged repeated failures TO
prccurc better food stated further meat eggs
and provisions had been tho institution that were
not 1T for dog aud although at the time he had
protested strongly to Warden Monroe against It's accept
anee. but no attention was paid his appeala Mr..
Lyons also charged that personal accounts were charged
the asylum BY the Monroe family such silk and plush
dresses and linen collars for MIRA Monroe several boxes
OF cigars and quantities Of liquor for Warden Monroe
and sundry costly articles usefulness for the wardens
motherinaw, for all of which the asylum had TO pay
The Warden, the witness said, carried the key Of the
whiskey room, and took refreshments many six
times day On occasion the witness was present
when the Warden empted gallon OF water into four
gallon barrel Of whskey under the plea that IL was too
strong for the patients. Mr.. Monroe is the warden,
Charles Monroe soFekeeper and Mrs Monroe matron,"
said the witness in conclusion
Freeholder Palmer, Of Hunterdon County, offered
strong protest against his county being forced to pay
$1,000 per annum TO maintain sixty PATIENTS and Free
holder Salmon, of Morris County, had similar complaint
to make Dr. T. p Westenbaker, now Of Virginia, test-
fed that he had been ply the asylum from 1855
to 1887, when he had resigned. He said: az had
been In the asylum long before 1 that the dual
system would not work well, and there continual
clash The attitude Of the Warden toward the medical
faculty was antagonstc and he appeared though
he owned the institution The management became 80
bad that charges were made against the Warden and
laid before the Board OF Managers in 1856. whas
became Of the charges never heard Certainly matters
were not improved"
The next witness called was Dr. wertenburger whose
testimony was presented for the purpose Of corroborang
certain evidence given at former session. He said that
the charges made we're true, and that the management
under Warden Monroe was Of the Kind that tha
food was unit for and when placed before the pa
TENTS was refused by them Counsellor Solomon repre-
sensing the Board of Feehoders and Paul A. Quinn pre-
sented numerous bills rendered articles pur
chased Among the articles eight pairs OF shoes
and seven dresses for one female patient covering period
OF fifteen months
Warden Monroe called and asked If it were true that
he had purchased clothing and other for one price
and sold them for another and for his own profit The
Warden admitted that he had charged than he paid
for the goods, but that the prOat to the State
William Brewer, the gardener testified that he had been
connected with the asylum for three years. He did not
have help enough 10 work the garden farm properly
and tho Warden refused allow him sufficient help say.
ing that some Of the patients could help him. In April
twenty patients worked the farm for days when
the force cut down to The witness said that
large amount Of vegetables purchased outside Of those
raised the farm and that considerable quantity
spoiled and ruined This spring witness was told by
Warden to inform George E. Voorhees, OF Morristown that
he should like reduction from his bill account
ceivng such large orders and deduction Of Is per
made the bill
Henry Freeman president of the Board Of Education Of
Morristown testified in regard TO Mr. Lyonss application
for authorship Of Of the public schools and said that
he asked Monroe and Thatcher about Lyons's char
and they said that Lyons had been discharged
drunkenness Witness said no had knowledge Of .
conspiracy against the Warden by Dr. Booth Lyons
George A. Halsey president Of the Board Of Directors,
asked why the butcher had been discharged since the last
session Of the committee and he replied that the butcher
dismissed because he did not properly attend TO his
duties The committee then went into executive session
prepare list OF witnesses TO DO subpoenaed to attend
the hearing to-day.