St. Paul daily globe., 1889-06-30

with little provocation, strike Mrs. Nut
son, Norwegian patient, and kuOck
her against bench. Mrs. Howe, the
supervisress, was aware of how Mrs.
Mutson came to have the black eye,
which resulted from the blows; but
few days after, when a committee vis-
tied the asylum, DR.. Bowers informed
them that one of the patients had given
Mrs. Mutson the black eye. Mrs. Howe
was standing near when the doctor said
this. Mrs. Bartlett testified to three
attendants Seizing Barbara Buecker,
when in a bad spell, dragging her to
the floor, stamping on her breast, and
also shaking her against the floor. One
of the attendants was in the act of
striking the woman on the face, and
Mrs. Howe said: 'Girls, don't strike
her on the face, because you will mark
her and the doctors will know then"
Instead of striking her ON the face, they
choked her until she was apparently
lifeleSS.
Mr.. Child-Do you know whether the doc
tor was informed Of that treatment?
Mrs. Bartlett-Oh! no.
Mr.. Child-Were any Of the physicians in
formed?
CHoKED UNCONSCIOUS.
Among the cases cited by Mrs. Bart
lett was that of Bohemian girl OF the
name of Susehannah. She did not
know her surname-the patients were
given nieknames by the attendants.
This patient was repeatedly taken down
on the floor and choked by the attend
ants until she was senseless. Maggie
Ford, an old woman, perfectly ire
sponsible, was very often choked until
she could not speak. Mrs. Bartlett
named Theresa Ritz, sixteen years old,
an attendant, who repeatedly abused
patients in this way-patients old
enough to be her grandmother.
Mr.. Child-Was this treatment practiced
by more than one of the attendantss
Mrs Bartlett-Oh, yes. This treatment
was universal throughout the asylum, as far
as know.
Mr. Child-Did the physicians visit the
wards?
through every morning. DR.. Bowers did not:
Mr.. Child-Why did not you report this Ill
treatment of patients to DR.. Bowers?
Mrs. Bartlett went to DR.. Bowers office
to talk with him. and he said: Il have no
time to hear what you have to say He dio
not say that should call again, or that he
would sometime hear my story.
With respect to the question of fare,
Mrs. Bartlett said the attendants and
patients received alike, but it was not
what any one would reIish-it was not
what the committee or DR.. Bowers
would sit down and eat. Milk, or some
thing of that kind, was occasionally
served to sick patients. The sick were
not overwell attended. On one occasion
a Mrs. Haggerty, really not able to sit
up. was compelled by DR.. Phelps to get
out of bed. The attendants were told
to bring her out of the room, close the
door, and not let her 60 in.
Mr.. Child-What was DR.. Phelps reason
for that?
Mrs. Bartlett-I did not know that he had
one. do not think DR.. Phelps fit to be
dog catcher. That is my real opinion OF
him.
LOW MORALS.
No instructions beyond those con-
attendants when they enter the asylum.
DR.. Bowers merely told Mrs. Bartlett
that her duties would be very trying.
In cross-eXamination by Mr.. Davis, it
was denied by Mrs. Bartlett that she
was discharged from the asylum. Mrs.
Howe told her to make it a practice not
to have any report go from her ward.
She did not know that Theresa Ritz was
discharged for abusing patients.
Mr.. Child-What did you mean by your
reference to immoral attendants?
Mrs Bartlett-It is absolutely true that
Martha Donoghue would use an oath at the
commencement and end of every sentence, ,ex-
cepting when Mrs. Howe or any of the physl-
clans were present.
Mr.. Child-You may state whether there
was any communication between the two
sexes.
Mrs. Bartlett-Not in the wards There was,
presume, in the kitchen.
Mr. Child-Are you aware Of any immoral
conduct on the part Of the two sexes?
Mrs. Bartlett never witnessed anything
of the kind myself.
Mr.. Child-You have no knowledge of any
thing of the kind?
Mrs. Bartlett-Only by hearsay.
Mr.. Child-Were you informed of any such
conduct on the part Of persons employed
there, or patients?
Mrs. Bartlett-Yes; have been informed.
Mr. Davis-I object'to this, Mr.. Chairman.
Mr. Williston-Give us the name OF your
informant. Mrs. Bartlett.
Mrs Bartlett heard it from Mary Wells.
Miss Gibbons and my sister, Dora Hofacre.
and others, but I don't remember their
names.
Mr. Child-Did the information relate to
an intimacy between the two sexes9 ~
Mrs. Bartlett-lt did.
Mr.. Child-Of a criminal nature?
Mrs. Bartlett-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Child-Between parties?
lSs
Mr.. Davis objected to further ques-
tioning on this matter, it being hearsay
evidence. Mrs. Bartlett explained her
small estimate of DR.. Phelps, stating
that he was ponpous in his conduct to
subordinate employes-in other words
he was conceited. and did not possess
| the elements to make model man. A
large proportion of the attendants
looked upon the asylum as a biding
place. They we're not educated. Mrs.
| Bartlett said when any committee visit
ed the asylum, the attendants were re-
auested to get everything in order. and
DR.. Bowers passed through the wards
| prior to the committee.
DRIVEN CRAZY.
Hans c. Michaelson, of Minneapolis,
was at the asylum four years ago. He
remained twenty-one months. He has
spring. He spoke of being thrown to
the ground, jumped upon and choked.
That occurred on his first incarceration.
He was placed in crib, and the at
tendants got on top to have lots of fun
with him, saying: 'If he is not crazy,
we will make him crazy" Michaelson
added; "At last did become crazy"
He was kicked, and had a rib broken,
which was never professionally attend
ed to. He saw John Larson abused by
| Attendants Charles Rehbel and Ben
Ware. Larson had some ribs broken.
He saw three attendants seize Samuel
Munger, of Red Wing, pnt him on a
bench and kick him. One of the at
tendants got on the bench to kick the
man in the back. Rebehl was one of
the three, and after they had left, he re-
turned and kicked Munger on the
legs. Munger remained sitting on
that bench two days, when witness
asked him how he felt. He said he felt
as if all his ribs were broken. Cross
| examined by Mr.. Davis, he said when
in the asylum he believed that people
could read his mind. That was his