New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-10-09
s5DR. BOWERS RESIGNS.
After the Committee of Investigation
Makes Its Report the Doctor
Resigns,
Expressing Himself Thoroughly Sat
isficd With the Vindication of
His Regime.

DR.. Bowers has resigned the position of SUI
perlntendent of the Rochester hospital for
the insane. iTheiletter of resignation is as
follows;
Having heard the-reading Of rhe.report OF the
committee appointed bv his excelency. Gov.
renee of the deatMof the patient Taylor Combs
and other matters connected with the second
hospital for the insane. I find that am thereby
acquitted of any direct blame Intentional
wrong, and thatSI am fully exonerated from the
charge OF negligence or mismanagement. But
Che report admits that, considering the numer-
GUS and arduous duties required of me. / per-
formed these faithfully and honestly. When it
is admitted in the report that of the ninety
charges and complaints Of abuse to patients by
attendants only twenty We're sustained by
proofs, and moreover, when the further fact is
considered that these charges covered period
of ten years and half. and that during THAI
period 1000 patients treated it is certainly
a small percentage. OF the twenty con-
sidered some were never brought to my knowl-
edge until theyewere mentioned at the 1nvestl-
CATION.
Gentlenen.fI admit without any reservation
that my failure to report the circumstances
connected with the death OF Taylor Combs was
8 grave error of Judgment, but to err is human,
and many another man might have made the
same mistake if placed in the same dilemma.
For twentv-one yearsI have been in the service
of the state and have helped to build up two
enormous institutions, which l have no hesila-
s1cn in saying compare favorably with any IN the
country. I feel the inward consciousness that
during the long service have ever striven to
discharge honestly and faithfully the RESPONSE
bilities ',devolved upon me; first, as assistant
physician for ten years at ST. Peter and later for
ten years superintendent of the hospital at
Rochester. Those. of you. gentlemen. who know
me best will give me credit for honesty OF pur-
pose. for hard work. for never-fagging interest
In my speciality and constant efforts to obtain
the best possible care for the unfortunates COM
m1tted to my charge My aim, as you we'll
know, has always been to restore all durable
cases to health ofEbody and mind and to promote
: the welfare and greatest possible comfort OF
those who needed care on account OF chronic or
ncurabe insanity, but with the least possible
The board well know that by thoughtful and
careful management have saved the state many
hundred dollars various improvements and
= have worked out more liberty and less restraint
for the patients know from experience that
hospital like this is no sinecure. know also
that have not merited or deserved the severe
and unjust criticism of portion OF the public
press OF The state. Ease and comfort and free
dom from annoyance are not found in the hos
pital superintendent position, and, surely, the
emoluments connected Herewith are not sui
hcient, from the interest one might take
In grand and noble work, the
care and treatment of the insane and
caltY, to compensate for the unpleasant ass ocla-
lions and the risk of life one takes from within,
Or the unjust criticisms to which the incumbent
may be subjected from without. Heretofore
have not been in a position to resign, because
was under suspension and investigation: but
FELT confident that I should be indicated and
that Justice would prevail.
Gentlemen. it is enough for me that have
been fairly exonerated by an impartial, pains
taking and honorable committee, who have pa
tently heard and carefully sifted all complaints.
Il have neither the inclination nor necessity to
hold to this thankless Office, and in order to re-
lieve your board and his excellency. the gov
error of the state, of any further embarrassment
u aereby very respectfully tender my resignation
az superintendent of the second hospital for the
Insane. J. E. BOWERS, A. NJ, NJ. D.
THE RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.
The resignation of DR.. Bowers caused
some surprise, but after brief discussion it
was decided to accept the same, which was
done by these resolutions:
Be it resolved by tine board Of trustees of
Minnesota hospitals for insane, That whereas
I'VE have received the resignation of DR.. J. E.
bowers superintendent of the second hospital;
that in accepting the same as we now do, we de-
sire to bear personal evidence Of the loyalty, IN
tagging devotion and industry with which for
over twenty years he has served the state. We
take this opportunity Of testifying our entire
confidence in the integrity and ability Of DR..
Bowers. We observe with pleasure that most
searching inquiry and closest Investigation of
his management OF the said hospital has tailed
to develop anything rejecting on his character
or integrity, and that his profession al standing
Is not questioned We assure DR.. Bowers that
our best wishes go with him into whatever field
thanks of the board for the faithful and efficient
service he has rendered the state, for which he
merits the gratitude of its people.
No action was taken by the board in the
matter OF selecting a successor to DR.. Bow
ers, and adjournment was taken until next
week without any further business being
transacted.
RESULT OF THE INQUIRY.
The report of the Investigating committee,
addressed to the governor, is quite lengthy,
and is accompanied by the voIuminous tes-
timony taken during the inquiry. There
were 1873 witnesses examined by the COM
mittee, and The fullest opportunity was
afforded to all persons having complaints to
present them to the committee The report
first alludes to the death OF Taylor Combs as
result of cruel treatment by the attend
ants, Beckman and Peterson, and all the in
cidents connected with That tragedy are re-
lated at length without any comment on the
part OF the committee Upon the other
matters submitted the committee found
That the superintendent and physicians have,
as rule endeayOred to faithfully perform their
respective duties, with the exception that the
superintendf Xhas not given, or caused to be
given, to the a. sendants that thorough instruc-
ton in reference to the1r duties in the care and
management of patients which. In our judy
ment should have been given. and except fur
ther that few cases Of accidents happening to
patients have come to the knowledge OF the
committee, which accidents would not have
happened had there been taken all precau-
vent the possibility of the happening of
such accidents, and the further exceptions
hereafter mentioned: That the supervisors
and attendants have been grossly negligent in
the matter OF reporting to the superintendent. or
any OF the assistant physicians. cases Of ILL
treatment of patients by the attendants. This
neglect rises largely from the fact that there is
and has been an unspoken agreement among the
attendants that none of them should make re-
ports of any wrongful acts committed by an as
socia:e. The rules of the asylum require that in
all cases of injury to or ill-treatment of pa
tient the attendant causing or having knowledge
of any such injury or iIl-treatment should forth
with report the same TO the superintendent.
some one of the assistant physicians or super
visor. This rule has been more honored in the
breach than in the observance. The immediate
supervision of the attendants in the perform
ance of their daily duties in the care and man.
agement of patients has been entrusted to a
supervisor and his assistants. whose duties
have been to be upon tine wards as much Of the
time as possible. observe the manner in which
the attendants perform their duties. correct
such errors and Irregularities as might come to
his knowledge and could be remed1ed by him,
and to make report to the superintendent of any
misconduct or neglect of duty on the part of at
tendants. In addition to such duties other
Iabors in connection with the care OF the cloth
Inc of the patients were required OF him. This
supervising force has never been sufficient.