New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-06-19

tie 9superinte ndent ana others connected With
the management of the hospital did know OF
had reasonable cause to believe that the death OF
Taylor Combs was caused by the use of unjusti-
fable force used upon him by the two attend
ants, Beckman and Peterson; that. knowing this
fact, the superintendent and others connected
with the hospital omit ed for period OF nearly
two months to report the same either to the law
officers OF the county or the board Of trustees:
that in our ju gment the super intendent and
other officers are
s JUSTLY CENsURABLE
for this omission, which was, in our opinion a
grave NEGLECT Of duty. While this is true we
are satisfied. and the evidence shows beyond
reasonable controversy that the superintendent,
In emitting to report the case. acted upon a
conscientious but mistaken sense of duty and
in accordance with what he believed to be for
the best interests of the hospital and the public.
The grand jury exonerate Coroner Mosse from
any Intentional wrong in the investigation Of
the cause of the death OF Taylor Combs. In re-
gard to the alleged offense Of Coroner MOsse in
changing the record of his Office in the Taylor
Combs case we find that the coroner is not re-
qu1red to make record of cases when he deems
an inquest unnecessary, but to file his certificate
with The clerk of the district court that the
death was accidental and in his opinion no in
he might make in the case are in the nature Of
property which he has the right to change at
his will We say this in justice TO
Coroner Mosse, since the report has gone
abroad that he is guilty OF grave
offense in changing the public record In the
Investigation of this matter we have made a
ined the records and case book Of the institu-
ton. We are entirely satisfied with the general
management of the hospitol and admire the
methodical. business-like and thorough manner
in which the affairs of the institution are con-
Quoted. We feel that great care is taken by the
management to make the hospital pleasant and
for their comfort and health d. w lille we find the
I general management all that could be desired.
and the general care Of patients kind and
proper, yet there have been brought to our no.
tice many cases of brutal treatment to patients
by attendants We also find from the evidence
presented to us that while the officers in charge
have no knowledge of such treatment. and that
attendants in many cases conspire together in
order to keep this cruel treatment from coming
to the notice of such officers, vet we are con-
WINGED that the physicians in charge of the sew
eral wards :l$ ~
DO NOT INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS
of and injuries received by patients with suff1-
Gent care. In some instances we find that pa
tients who are sick and confined to their beds
have not received proper care from the attend
ants or sufficient medical treatment from the
physicians in charge OF the wards. The evil
dence shows that where cases of cruel treatment
are brought to the superintendent notice he
takes action in the matter and has discharged
many attendants because he either knew or had
reasons to believe that they were cruel to pa
tlents, and in no case the use of force has been
sanctioned by him. In our opinion the number
of attendants is insufficient to give the patients
the proper. attention and care which they re-
quire We also think that many of the attend
ants are incompetent and lacking in judgment
IN caring IOI and managing the PATIENTS We
are also of the opinion that the small wages
paid partly accounts for the large number OF in
competent attendants In this connection it
appears that Supervisor John Howe, who has
immediate charge Of the attendants in the male
wards, has very little knowledge OF their
actions. and is censurable for neglect
of duty. We condemn the practice OF
many attendants in compelling patients to per-
form the most mental services in cleaning wards
| and bed rooms and in caring for other patients
We have investigated the cause of the death o1
Mr.. Kne5te, patient, and it is our opinion that
his death was fastened by cruel treatment, in
ficted either by attendants or patients, and we
are unable to decide which, We have investi-
gated large number of cases that have been
brought to our notice and have examined wit
nesses who knew or pretended to know OF the
| matters under consideration. We have en-
deavoIed to secure the attendance of all persons
who were supposed to know the cases under ex-
animation and in many instances persons who
were reported as knowing much and as having
told blood curdling stories concerning the crne
treatment OF patients had no such stories to tel
when put upon their oaths. Then follows the
| names of fifty witnesses who were examined by
the grand jury] 1t has been the earnest en-
deavor of the grand jury conduct this in.
yestigation impartially and in accordance with
the charge OF the court.
E. D. BUCK. Foreman
L. E. SOMERvuLE Clerk