The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-05-09
THE WRECK COMPLETED.
How an Insane Patient was Hur-
ried to the Grave.
Brutal Methods Of Teaching an Unruiy In
mato of an Asylum what HIS Keep
ers Desired Him to DO.


ers Desired Him to DO.
CHICAGO, May S.-Coroner Hertz and
jury began an investigation into
the cause of the death of Robert
Burns, q patient in the Insane Asylum at
jefferson. Attendants Richardson, Gro.
gan and Pecha, who are charged with
beating him to death were present A re-
porter named Black, who gained entrance
to the asylum by playing insane, and who
witnessed the acts of brutality, was the
principal witness. He said that the pa
tient was unruly, but SCENE incapable
Of understanding what was required OF
him. Once when Burns was ordered to
sit on q beach he did not do so, where's
upon he was violently thrown down
upon It Rising, in q dazed and helpless
way, attendant Richardson kicked
him violently in the abdomen. Burns again
arose and tried to walk away whom
Richardson caught him by the collar
and threw him to the floor, Richardson,
Crogan and Pecha each taking part In 1t,
kicking the helpless lunatic in the side
and stomach; striking and cutting and
bruising his face with their fists. When
this was done, Crogan picked up one Of
Burns shoes, aud, taking it by the toe,
beat the offending patient over the head
with the heel of 1t, cutting great gashes
and covering the unfortunate victim with
his own blood. BY this time he was in a
semi. comatose condition and was fast
losing consciousness. He was then jerked
out Of his seat, hlch was covered with
blood that had run down from his head.
That nj ght the witness and Burns were put
into ths same cell. Burns was ordered to re.
move his clothes. bu., not complying, was
cuffed. Finally the attendants stripped
him, and then Richardson kiched him in
the abdomen, knocking h IN across the cot
At another time the witness said, he
heard the sound Of blows in Burns cell
and loud cries frcm Burns lasting several
minutes. Attendants Schulzsr, Crogan
and Richardson were there. Then mop
and a pail Of water were brought aud the
door was closed and locked. The attend.
ants evidently came to the conclusion that
the witness was too inquisitive, and he
was removed to another part Of tho
building. The reporter came out of the
asylum at the end OF ten days. Burns
was then reduced to a skeleton, and was q
sallow, hollow-eyed idiot The reporter
told how, when friends secured his re.
lease, Dr. Kirnan, the superintendent of
the asylum, shook his head ominously and
advised against it. He declared the re-
porter to be incurably insane; that he
knew this because he had watched the
case very closely. DR.. Schulzer, of the
staff, concurred in this opinion Richard
son, Scroggiu and Pscha, under advice of
their attorney, Fraacis T. Colby, refused
to testify or be present at the subsequent
proceeding, preferring to remain in
Jail. Drs. Herman and Schubert, Of the
asylum, were on the stand, as were mum.
ber of other witnesses, but nothing i'm.
portant additional was elected. A verdict
was reached in short order by the Jury
finding that Richardson and Scroggin
caused the luna.ic's death. The pair, with
Attendant Pecha, are already under in
dictment for murder. There seems little
doubt that Drs. Herman and Schubert
also will have bills OF some sort presented
against them by the grand jury.