St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-13
ADJOURNED TO JULY.
The Combs Investigating
Committee Suspends Its
Session.
H.
An Attempt to Pump Beck
man and Peterson Proves =
Abortive. q
All the Suspended Officials
Still at the Asy-
lum.
The Grand Jury Continues
the Examination Of q
Witnesses.
Snecial TO the Globe.

Investigating the Combs case was re-
sumed at a. m. DR.. Bowers was re-
called and questioned as to what Beck
man and Peterson said when he repri-
manded and discharged them. 81 would
not let them explain" he said, ''for l was
satisfied that l knew all, but Beckman
said on leaving: I'VE cannot let our
selvesabe killed." MIR. Kerr was then
called and questioned as to the same
matter. He could not remember what
they said, but opportunity was
given them to talk, but the
substance of what little they
did say was "We did not propose to be
injured by that man." They were
apOlogizing for it and did not deny the
killing. AS John Date was to be the
next witness called, it was decided to
visit the ward in which Combs was
killed in order that the committee
might better understand his story. The
Mushroom, clothes room, corridor, crib
room and all the different points at
which the acts of the Combs tragedy
took place were pointed out to the COM
of the building was traverSed and in
spected. On returning to their room
John Date was Immediately called, and
the only sane witness again told the
story of
SICKENING BRUTALITY
which Combs had received at the hands
of Beckman and Peterson. When Ques-
toned as to whether he had seen any
other cases of brutality towards patients
he said he had seen patients choked and
otherwise abused when he thought
there was no just cause. He also stated
that employees made it rule never to
report any such cases to the Superin-
tendent. Coroner Moss said when ex-
amined that he had no suspicious as to
the cause of Combs death until May 80.
During the remainder Of the forenoon
the following witnesses were exam
ined and told what they knew
in reference to the Combs
affair; s. Fl. Date, father of John Date,
Supervisor John Howe, Robert Ely,
hospital apothecary; William F. Pat
rick, an attendant who once had charge
Of Taylor Combs. At the afternoon ses-
sion Acting Supt. Kilbourne brought
matter before the committee for inves-
tigation in which there was suspicion
had kicked patient by the name of
Charles Loeb and broken his leg. The
principal witness in this case was pa
tent by the name Of Gus Anderson, who
claimed to have seen the kicking.
What little could be obtained from
him, however, rather tended to show
that another patient, Mike Dwyer.
since discharged, was the one
who did the kicking, but he said that
Rasmussen was present. Two attend
ant from the detached building in which
the accident occurred were examined;
but the drift of the investigation tend
ed to show that not the attendant Ross
musson, but the patient, Mike Dwyer,
did the kicking that broke Loch's leg.
The affair occurred but few weeks
since in a ward in DIR. Randall;s depart
ment. He was called and
EXAMINED AT LENGTH
by the committee upon this affair and
management in general. This eXamin a.
ton demonstrated the extreme difficulty
of gettidg Cat a definite understand
ing of an affair occurring within
the walls of an insane asylum. At
o'clock the committee closed the in
vestigation at the asylum and returned
to the city for the purpose of interview
ing Peterson and Beclzman. Judge
Start was requested to grant an order
giving tAC!a pellntooioii W CAdiuIiic 1ilc
two defendants. Their attorney, Charles
C. Wilson, objected. The court, how
ever, granted the following order. in
substance. as follows: "That the COM
mittee be allowed to go to the Jail and
have the defendants brought before
them for examination, notifying de-
PENDANTS counsel of the time of such
examination and allowing him to
he nreSpnt but that the conrt
would not take the responsibility
of compelling them to answer
any questions" The Red Wing
member of the committee took it upon
himself to exclude reporters from the
self tine responsibility of violating the
CATION should be open to the public. On
leaving the Jail, however, one of the
committee told the GLOBE representa-
tive that the men made no statements.
The commission has adjourned until
July 2, when the investig alton will be
continued according to the order of
Gov. Merriam. The investigation of the
Combs tragedy is completed, and abso-
luteIy no information new to the public
has been disclosed. All the suspended
officers are still at the asylum apparent
Iy having as much authority as ever.
Attorney General Clapp left for st.
Paul this afternoon. Secretary Hart
and Mr.. AmundsOn will leave for their
respective homes tonight. The re-
mainder of the committee will not go
until tomorrow. The grand jury has
examined eleven witnesses, to-day,
mostly asylum attendants, but no report
has been made vet