New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-06-12
DR.. BOWERS PLIGHT.
Further developments in the Rochester
Insane Asylum lnyestig alton.
Roo#EsrER SPECIAL TELEGRAM JUNE A.

was ushered into the presence of the Jury.
He was with them nearly two hours, relating
what he saw within the brick walls OF the
madhouse on the fatal LIST of April. The
fearful details of the revolving crime and the
atrocious manner in which Peterson and
Beckman crushed the life out of their vic
tim were related once more, and listened TO
with deep attention by the horror stricken
jurors many of whom then heard the facts
In all their naked barbarity for the first
time Date was closely questioned regarding
the time when he informed DR.. Bowers
of the manner in which Combs came to his
death. His testimony was similar in all the
essential facts to that given before the
trustees last night When he was through,
DIR. Bowers was called into the jury room
and he told his story He could give no sat
isfactory explanation OF his failure to notify
the authorities when the facts Of the muir
der were first reported to him by Date. As
to his failure to bring the matter before the
trustees at their meeting in May, he declared
there was no opportunity and ne intended to
tell his story at their meeting in St Paul this
week. When the doctor emerged from the
Jury room perspiration was standing out on
his forehead and he was almost as limp as
rag. The strain of the close cross examina-
tion had told severely on his nerves. With
the close OF
. I. BOWERS TESTIMONY I
the Jury adjourned until morning, when DR.,
Collins and other witnesses will be examined.
It is probable that the jury will complete the
investigation tomorrow, and indictments
anay be expected in the afternoon. Whether
there will, be one, two or three is yet prob
lematical. There is no doubt that Peterson
separately OF jointly has not yet been set
tied 1t is asserted on good authority to-
night that the jury discussed briefly the
question of indicting Bowers as accessory
after the fact, and with this view they ques-
toned Date particularly regarding the cir
cumsrances of his story OF the crime to
Bowers, and severely cross-q Questioned Bow
ers on that point Dr. Collins will furnish
additional confrmatory evidence regarding
this question II he tells the same story to
the jury that he did last evening to the
trustees the probabilities are strong
that Bowers will be indicted tomorrow
and the issuance of the warrant will tend
greatly to that end by infusing backbone
into any members of the jury who are at
present in fear Of doing anything to injure
\ him. 1t is also possib Bile that DR.. Collins and
odd man Date, father Of John, may be IN
dicted as accessories, for they, as well as DR..
Bowers, We're equally cOgniZant of all the
facts. AS far as Collins is concerned, he adj
fmiJJed that in his examination before the
trustees. Tits stated in a very positive man
ner that Bowers even went SO far when he
discharged Peterson and Beckman from the
employ Of the asylum as to advise them to
skip out They did leave town for several
weeks, but, finding that nothing had been
said of the affair, venuured to return. But
murder will out; and, as DR.. Bowers and all
others Kept quiet Peterson and rBeckman
when in their cups began to talk Of it them
selves. 1t was in this way that the story
%5@ CAME TO CORONER MossE,
and Dr. Bowers rushed to swear out COM
plant Thus was presented the spectacle of
an accessory causing tine arrest of principals
and posing as one of the complaining wit
.nesses. BONN Gund, a saloonkeeper and a
very Intelligent man, had an interview yes.
6erday in the Jail with Peterson and Beck
man, and talked over the circumstances of
.Coombs' Death. They admitted killing him,
but claimed 1t was done IN se1f-defense. Last
fall Coombs attacked Peterson and cut his
ihead frightfully, his lower lip being cut in
two Peterson says that on April Combs
rushed at HIM threatening to kill, and shout
revolver would soon fix you" Then fol-
lowed the assault which ended in Combs
.murder. What else could YOU dog" said
Peterson to GuEd.a aWould you let him eat
you up like that?" Thomas Combs and Ell
ration to sift this terrible affair to the very
bottom
Blood is thicker than water even II it did
come In August. said the elder Tonight and
. never desire to see all parties punished. but
4 naturally / say frankly that we consider DR..
IA Bowers equally guilty, and think that he should
no longer be retained at the head of the hos
SHARES Re OF
der quiet for two months until some one else
found it out how we tell if there have not
4 been murders in the hospital before which were
flushed up?
85zi DIR. BOWERS POSITION.
u ] made avisit to the hospital this morning,
and was very courteonsly received by DR..
Bowers. The unpleasant and decidedly dan
gerous position in which he is placed has told
vislbty upon him, and despite the thorough
draining in self-control gained through
. fv VI IF
fthis character he is exceedingly nervous
when talking about this terrible affair. OF
course he deeply deplores the event, but so
does every citizen who takes the slightest in
sane hospitals Il have to depend" he said,
.sato a great extent on every employee and
/ thus L am virtually at their mercy. One or
\ two men may, as in this case, entirely de-
!, stroy the reputation which Lave been
building for years. Yes, there is no doubt
fpoor class OF attendants. The fact is, / have
to take any person can get When came
here the female attendants only received
4s$1 @ month In ten years have succeeded
dn securing an increase on graduated scale
Il according to term OF service, SIG being paid
after the second year. This offers small
Inducements to them to remain for several
years. But this salary is not large enough
to secure educated and refined help such as
are needIn an institution OF This character.
have to take ordinary servant girls, some
times u broken-down school teacher or a
seamstress, but women VINO are able to earn
y a living as clerks or at other genteel employ
mem will not come here at, the wages Of
q fered. So it is with the male attendants
They are to great degree rather rough
and ignorant class, entirely unframed in
.self-control, which is essential to make a
good attendant But what can you expect.
when they are only paid from S18 to $50 q
,month? There are several attendants who
have been with me three or four years. and
with the experience gained during that time
they are excellent employees and thoroughly
competent to fill their positions But l
capnst give them more than $25. thougia
they have frequently asked me for more, and
! think their experience should make their
services more valuable. So it does, but I
am limited by the MANAGERS ana can
Give no more Under such cir
ii cumstances, knowing they can make
more money elsewhere, it is not to be ex-
& pected that they will remain here very long. :
lThs doctor frankly admits that he committed
an error In not promptly giving publicity to
she facts of Combs murder and notifying {;