The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-06-13
DIR. BOWERS PLIGHT.
Further developments in the Rochester
Insane Asylum Investigation.

ROCHESTER, SPECIAL TELEGRAM JUNE A.
The grand Jury was i'll session all day, but
did not take up the Combs murder case un-
II! this afternoon 1t was nearly 3 o'clock
When John Date, tae young boy who wit
messed the horrible crime at the hospital,
was ushered into the presence of the jury.
he was With them nearly Two hours, relating
whaG ne saw within the brick walls of the
madnouse on the fatal 1St of April The
fearful details of the revolving crime and tGe
htfoclou5 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 let's
in all their naked barbarity for the first
time. Date was close y 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,
DR.. 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 mur-
der were fist reported to him by Date. AS
90 his failure to bring the matter before the
trustees at their meeting in May, he declared
there was no opportunity and he 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 a
rag. The strain of the close cross-examina-
tion had told severely on his nerves With
the close Of
BOWERS TESTIMONY
the jury adjourned until morning when DR.
Collins and other witnesses will be examined
1t is probable that the jury will complete the
investigation tomorrow, and indictments
may he expected in the afternoon. Whether
there will be one, two or three is yet prob
lematical. There is no doubt that Peterson
and Beckman will be indicted, but whether
separately or Jointly has not yet been set
tied. 1t is assertt d 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
cums!ances OF his story OF the crime to
Bowers, and severely Cross-questiOned Bow
ers on that point DR. Collins will furnish
additional confirmatUry evidence regarding
this question. II he tells the same story to
the jury that he did last evening to the
trustees the probabilities nre strong
that Bowers will be indicted tomorrow
and the issuance of the warrant will tend
greatly to that end by intusing backbone
into any members of the jury who are at
present in fear of doing anything to injure
him. 1t is also possible that Dr.. Collins and
old man Date father of John, may be In
dicted as accessories, for they, as well as DR..
Bowers, were equally cognizant Of all the
facts. AS far as Collins is concerned, he ad-
miLUed that in his examination before the
trustees. It is stated in 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, Tut, finding that nothing had been
said Of tue affair, ventured to return. But
murder will out; and, as Dr. Bowers and al
others kept quiet, Peterson and Beckman
when IN their cups began to talk of it them-
selves. 1t was in this way that the story
CAME TO CORONER MoSsE,
and Dr. Bowers rushed to swear out a COM
plant Thus was presented the spectacle of
al accessory causing the arrest OF principals
and posing as one of the complaining wit
nesses. Bonn Guud, saloonkeeper and
very intelligent man, had an interview yes-
terday in the jail with Peterson and Beck
man, and talked over the circumstances of
COombs' death. They admitted killing him,
but claimed it was done IN self-defense. Last
tall Coombs attacked Peterson and cut his
head frightfulIy, his lower lip being cut in
two. Peterson says that on April Combs
rushed at HIM threatening to kill, and shout
ing, "You - - - -, if had
revolver 1 would soon fix you" Then fol-
lowed the assault which ended in Combs
murder. What else could YOU COZ" said
Pc erson to GuEd "Would you let him eat
you up like that?" thomas Combs and Ell
der Gray are very pronounced in their decla-
ration 70 sft this terrible affair to the very
bottom.
Blood is thicker than water even if it did
come III August, said the elder tonight, and
never desire to see all parties punished, but
naturally l say frankly that we consider DR..
Bowers equally guilty, and think that he should
no longer be retained at the head of the hos
pitaL I believe every true citizen of Minnesota
shares that opinion. Why, if he kept this mur-
der quiet for two months until some one else
found it out how can we tell If there have not
been murders in the hospital before which were
huShed up?"
DR. BOWERS POSITION.
made a visit to the hospital this morning,
and was very cOurteOnsy received by DR..
Bowers The unpleasant and decidedly dan
gerous position in which he Is placed has told
Vislbiy upon him, and despite the thorough
training in self-COntrol gained through
twenty years experience in institutions of
this 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
terest in the good management of our in
sane hospitals. II have to depend" he said,
"to great extent on every employe. and
thus l am virtually at their mercy. One or
two rien may, as in this case entirely de-
stroy the reputation which l Lave been
building for years. Yes, there is no doubt
that the low wages paid is responsible for the
poor class OF attendants. The fact is, I have
to take any person can get. When l came
here the female attendants only received
$40 month. In ten years have succeeded
IN securing an increase on graduated scale
according to term of service, SIG being paid
after the second year. This offers small
inducement to them to remain for several
years. But this salary is not large enough
to secure educated and refined help such 9s
are need In an institution of this character.
1 have to take ordinary servant girls, some
times u broken-doWn school teacher or q
seamstress, but women w no are able to earn
a living a clerks sor at other genteel employ
ment will not come here at the wages Of
fered. So it is with the male attendants.
They are to great degree q rather rough
and ignorant class, entirely unframed in
self-control, which is essential to make u
good attendant But what can you expect.
when they are only paid from S1S to $25 a
month? There are several attendants who
have been with me three or four years. aud
with the experience gained during that time
they are excellent employees and thoroughly
competent to fill their positions But l
cannot give them more than p25. thoug IL
they have frequently asked me for more, and
think their experience should make their
services more valuable So it does, but
am limited by the MANAGERS and can
give 10 more. Under such cir
cumstances, knowing they can make
more money elsewhere, 1t Is not to be ex-
pected that they will remain mere very long,"
The doctor frankly admits that he committed
8n error in not promptly giving publicity to
the facts of Combs murder and notifying
the authorities 1t was, however, from all
Appearances nothing more than serious
error of Judgment Jealousy of the good
name which the hospital had enioved and an
idea that the evidence of John Date a,one
would not be sufficient to convict the MUIR
dereTs, caused him to adopt this mistaken
policy. No one now more bitterly regrets
this action than does DR. Bowers, and he GER
tainly is deserving of the sympathy in the
trying position in which he Is placed. He
has many staunch friends in Rochester, who
confidently believe in his honesty of pur-
pose, and they are loudly defending the
course he adopted.
THE CoRONER'S RECORD.