The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-07-26

tously is for their best goodl The atten-
dant near by maybe does not understand
his motives for doing it, being ignorant of
his methods and their results, and so he
tells it, and 1t goes from one mouth to an
other, 1t is exaggerated, and you have this
great trial. The exaggerated stories hay
ing all the time accumulated, and these
people come here and tell you these -varl
Gus incidents which have occurred in the
most exaggerated form Take the testi-
mony of one of these patients that have
been brought forward. The attendant says
that DR.. Grissom got down upon him and
choked him until his face was black and
blue, until the man lay limp and motion
less as if dead Now does anybody be
lieye that? a brute wouldn't have done
that, and DR.. Grissom is not a brute. DR..
Grissom tells you that this patient had Pc
culiar disorders, always ready to Jump
upOn people, and that on one occasion
When he was passing through the wards he
jumped upon him, that DR.. Grissom push
ed him down or the bed with both hands
and then threw some water in his face for
the purpose of makinga mental Impression
upon him Now you must select between
these authorities. You have heard broth
er Whitaker advance his ideas and you can
take your choice.
remember about two years since | was
suffering with dcllrinm in an attack OF
malariai fever. In one of those delrious
moments lost consciousness, and when !
came too | found that my pillows and
clothing We're saturated with water. i did
not think il was cruel because it was done
as the best thing for my condition, and
believe in the sight of heaven, that when
Dr Grsson threw that water in that pa
tents face he did ii for good purpose
and with the idea it would be productive
Of good results.
Now take Mrs LoWther's case; how elo
quent Mr.. Whitaker became Oh this sub
ject, he called on the spirit Of Mrs. Loather
10 come to witness. How he tried to call her
ghostly presence TO parade up and down,
to look upon him and testify to the fact
that She WAS strapped to the bed because
she refused - 90 INTO the bathroom to
btthe Then he proceeds To build his V hn'r
donuuciation, his whole argumcut upon
theory, when in fact there Was not any
thing in the testimony Of the witnesses
upon this stand not the slightest ntIna
tion that Mrs Iowther was strapped TO he
bed because she would not 20 into the bah
room TO btlhe. Turn TO -he testimony OF
those who testified most particularly and
read it, and if You can fnd that she was
strapped because she would not 90 to he
bath room. come and tell me and Viii
de.ce hat her death was the result OF be
my strapped not the slightest And,
said Nr Whitaker ''She had some lingering
rtc0llcctions Of her refined and Joyous
DAYS and one of those recollections
that She used 10 hathe in the privacy OF
Aer room. and because Or. Grissom says
she could not bathe in her room She rebel
ed and WAS strapped until She died. The
testimony is that after she was released
She TOOK bath in the quiet OF her own
room that after she had dressed herself
She ate a good meal, and after that she
died Now if this testimony is true
humbly suggest that brother Whitaker
ought to put 4 postscript TO his prayer. AT
ter calling upon the ghosts to reveal them
se.ve> he lifted up his eyes toward heaven
and prayed prayer, but he ought to put
a postscript to that prayer; ne ought 10
,ay ''Oh Lord know that IN my speech
! lid say that Mrs Lowther was strapped
because She would not 90 TO tue bath
room 10 bathe but little thing Ike that,
iu,t a little variation from the facts like
that ought not TO count, because you see
oh Lord was after that old scoun-
drel Oh Lord did say that Mrs
Lowther died in consequence OF her being
strapped. OF course there is no evidence
to that effect. but saying 1t TO the people
OF North Carolina in strong language will
make a deep impression upon them; al
though it is not exactly testified to,
ought not 10 be required to strike it out
OF the prayer, for If | do it will spoil the
whole case" | say these two postscripts
ought to be added. | wish TO say that by
applying these doctrines TO what Or. Girls
| som had done would not be only fully
| justified, but it would be literally Just and
! proper for them to find the second charge
i in Our favor
Gentlemen, take these authorities as
| showing the proper treatment Of the insane
| and If any Importance is TO be attached to
! them, they show not only mechanical re
straint is a proper method, but that it is
also IL humane method. 1t may be that
Dr. Grissom has done things that one
might consider cruel, but he has done it
from an honest and conscientious belief
that they We're best for the patients. Mr..
Whitaker should have put a postscript to
his prayer saying that he did say that
Mrs. LoWther was strapped because she
would not wash. when there was no evil
dence to that effect, but that a little thing
like that ought not to count because be
was after this old scoundrel.
| have but a few words more. | say
frankly that Dl. Grissom ought not TO
have put his foot upon pchurch. In a
moment of excitement he lost control Of
himself and went too far. That Is my
frank opinion and submit to the Board
in any verdict it may render on that
charge But in the other cases submit
that he is justified in what he has done,
and ! ask you to Justify him.
Gentlemen, if you will consIde! the pa
tIiotic citizens of North Carolina who
have from time to time been directors OF
this Institution, if you Will consider the
ministers of the gospel who have visited
here: if yOu will consider the two hundred
who have gone out from this asylum
cured, you will write upon its doors " Who
comes here Will receive the kipde Il treat
ment and the most ski!lful medical atten-
ton instead of E:W no enters here leaves
hope behind - as Mr.. Whitaker said, In
conclusion | wish to submit the reflection
that Dr. Rogers, coward that he is, has
selected an insane woman as the ustru
ment of carrying out his plot, and tha,
Mr.. Thompson, although he may be hon
est and brave, haa not acted the part of {.
man in falling to tell of these things # ht
mas known them rs long as he says he has
He has never said anything about these
III alters till he became soicitous about Ia!
} own position here. believe that MIR
Thompson has been misled, and has no
f brought this trial himself, but on last Fri
7 day when DR.. Rogers was shown in hi
! true light Mr., Thompson should hag'
J abandoned it.