The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-05-09
BRUTALITY.
Horrible Outrages Perpetrated by
the Attendants In an
Insane Asylum.
Patients Whipped and Beaten InJo
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ruse of Reporter.

CHICAGO, May 2.-Coroner HEATH and
jury began o-day an investigation in the
cause of the death of Robert Burns, a
patient in the insane asylum of Jefferson
Attendants Richardson, Crogan and
Presha who are charged with beating him
to death, were present. The dead mans
widow and his brother testified Burns
was in good health when he was sent to
the asylum and that the only abrasion on
his body was on one
of his legs, which had been injured.
The most damaging testimony was that
of Charles Brent, a reporter who success
fully played the insanity dodge and was
admitted to the asylum where he was an
eye witness of much brutal treat
ment which reduced Burns in ten
days from a strong man
to complete physical wreck, resulting in
hls death The story was one of the most
revolving and heartless cruelty.
The witness detailed, at great length,
the repeated acts of cruelty which the
the unfortunate man. He declared the
patient was not unruly, but seemed dazed
and incapable of understanding what was
wanted of him. Brent said upon their
arrival at the asylum they we're given
cold bath, and then he and Burns were left
shivering in a cold room for fifteen
minutes. Then, after examination by the
doctors the attendants took charge of them.
- II.
seemed not to understand, and did not do
SO. Whereupon he was violently thrown
down upon it, rising in dazed and help
less way. Attendant Richardson kicked
him violently in the abdomen. Burns
caught him by the collar and threw him
to the floor, and SO the brutality was con-
tinued by the three Observation-Disclosures
son, Crogan and Becha-esch of the trip
tIcole taking part in beating the helpless
lunatic in the side and stomach,
striking and cutting and bruisIng
his face with their fists. They
undertook to dress his wounded
leg, jerking him about roughly and caus-
ing him excruciatiug agony, meanwhile
continuing the blows. When this was
done, Crogan picked up one of Burns
shoes, and, baking it by the toe, beat the
unfortunate patient over the head with
the heel of it, cutting great gashes and
covering the unfortunate victim with his
own blood. By this time he was In
semi-comatese condition and was fast
| losing consciousness. He was then jerked
out of his seat, which was covered with
blood that had run down from his head.
| That night witness and Burns were put into
the same CELL Burns WAS ordered to re-
move his clothes, but not complying was
slapped and cuffed. Finally the attend
| ants stripped him, and then Richardson
kicked him in the abdomen, kicking him
across the eell At another time, witness
said, he heard the sound of blows in Burns
cell and loud cries from Burns, lasting sew
eral minutes. Attendants SohulZer, Gro
gan and Richardson were there. Then a
pail of water was brought, and the door
was closed and looked. The attendants
evidently came to the conclusion that
witness was too lnquieitive, and he was
| removed to another part of the building.
The reporter came out of the asylum at
the end of ten days. Burns was then re-
duced to a skeleton, and was ssllow and
hollow eyed. The reporter told how, when
friends secured his release, Doctor Ker-
nan, superintendent of the asylum, shook
his head ominously. He declared the
reporter to be incurably insane, and that
he knew this because he had watched the
case very closely. Doctor SCHUYLER, of the
staff, coDcurred in this opinion. Recess
was then taken by the coroner.
SUPERINTENDENT KEENAN,.
CHICAGO, May 2.-Superintendent Ker-
nan, of the iosaue asylum, is having a
troublesome time as result of Robert
Burns death there at the hands of his at
tendants. He was summoned to appear
before the coroner to-day to testify at
Burns Inquest; he was also notified that
the grand jury would visit the asylum this
afternoon to look into the condition Of
affaire.
Strikers In Pittsburg.