St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-09
Were None Too Good for the
Attendants of the Asylum
Of st. Peter.
But Patients Got Neither, and
Drank Coffee Minus Milk
or Sugar.
Warden Stordock Gets a Pat
on the Back for the Pris-
on's Shape.
State Board Of Charities and
Corrections Discusses the
Institutions.

The quarterly meeting of the state
held yesterday. there being present
Messrs. Amundson. of st. Peter; Vivian,
of Alexandria; Willis. st. Paul, and
Williston, Red Wing. The business
before the board was the report of Sec
rotary Hart, who has made an investi-
eating visit to all the state, institutions
except that of the soldiers home. Much
of the report, in regard to Mr.. Harris
impressions of the management of the
various institutions, has already APP
peared in the GLOBE; but there
was some additional and interest
ing matter respecting the insane
hospitals, state prison and reform
school. The Rochester asylum
investigation has made the state officials
look alive, and DR.. Hart reports that
register of injuries has been introduced
at Rochester under DR.. Kilbourne'S
management. sit is significant fact"
the report runs. that with all the care
that has been exercised, twentyeight
cases of injuries were reported during
June, most of them resulting either
from falls of epilectic patients or blows
received FROM other patients" DR..
Phelps, assistant physician at Roches-
ter, informed the board that for the
year ending July so, 1883, out of an
average of 800 female patients, 45 were
habitually dirty, 1923 doing some work,
4 were in bed, II under restraint. The
attendants average one to fourteen pa
tents. This is higher number of pa
tients to attendants than in other state
aSylumS, and the rate of wages paid is
also considerably lower.
FOOD AND TREATMENT AT ST. Pr TER.
Secretary Hart reported that on June
%. John Weigund complained of the
treatment of patients at st. Peter hos
pital. He was not abused as a patient,
but stated the attendants threatened
him. He mentioned Edward Jones, W.
Jones and Emil Swanbeck, attendants
guilty of abuse. Judge Tyler, of the
asylum board, and Mr.. Hart inveStigat-
ed the complaint, and the latter now
says, ''We did not find that Mr.. Weig
uEd's charge of abuse was sustained, al
though there was one of the attendants
with regard to whom we were in doubt.
The manner in which he answered our
inquiries, aroused some suspicion as to
his treatment of patients. have
learned that he has since been dis
charged by superintendent Bartlett"
1t appears that the food supplied in
mates at st. Peters asylum is not what
it should be. Mr.. Harris report reads:
lit was the opinion of Judge Tyler and
myself that there was some ground for
complaint. We reached the hospital
just at dinner time, and went without
warning to examine the food furnished
at the mems detached ward. The pa
tients had boiled beef, potatoes, bread
without butter, gravy made with the
meat and oatmeal pudding, and cold
water. The attendants in the same
room had in addition to the food fur
nshed patients, coffee with sugar and
milk, milk to drink, baked beans and
strawberry shortcake. We are of the
opinion that the patients diet was too
meager, and that there was no good rea-
| son why the patients and attendants in
| the same ward should not receive the
same identical fare. This is the rule at
| Rochester, and works well. If the food
furnished patients is not good enough
for attendants, it should be made So"
PAT FOR STORDOCK.
| A reference was made to the state
prison and Warden Stordock gently
| rubbed up, the report stating that he
| left the prison in excellent condition.
The discipline had been reasonably
good, although there had been number
of escapes, and in Nh. Harris Judgment
the warden had been too anxious that
the "boys" should be well satisfied and
attended to. Mr.. Stordock had worked
to great disadvantage owing to the dis
organization of the prison labor.
The reform school is Overcrowded.
Many children are sent to this school
who ought never to be sentenced at all.
There have been several cases where
little children, mere babies, have been
sent to the reform school. Such cases
were Scandalous and ought not to occur.
The trial judge had the power to either
send these children home. or to the
state public school.
The board adopted Mr.. Harris report
and decided that at st. Peters asylum
butter, with some warm drink, should
be furnished the inmates. DR.. Vivian
and Secretary Hart were commissioned
to represent the board at the national
convention of charities San Francisco,
in September. 81