Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-03
A MURDERED MANIAC.
How Burns Was Brutally
Battered and Killed.
MANS INHUMANITY TO MAN"
Reporter Beck Shams Insanity and
Shows Up the Shameful Ways
of Working.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
CHICAGO, May 2.-Coroper Hertz and
Jury to-day began the investiga-
ton into the cause of the death OF Robert
Burns, patient in the insane asylum at
Jefferson. Attendants Richardson, Gro
gan and Pecha, who are charged with
beating Burns to death, were present.
The dead MANS widow and her brother
testified that Burns was in good health
when he was cent to the asylum, and that
the only abrasion on his body was on
his legs, which bad been injured.
The most damaging testimony was
that of Charles Beck, reporter, who
successfully played the insanity dodge,
and was admitted to the asylum, where
he was an eyewitness to much OF the
brutal treatment which reduced Burns,
in ten days. from strong man to com
pete physical wreck, resulting IN his
death. The story WAS one OF most
| revolving and heartless cruelty. The
witness detailed at great length the re-
peated acts of brutality which the three
accused attendants inflicted upon the I'M
fortunate man. He declared that the
patient was not unruly, bul
seemed dazed and incapable Of
understanding what was wanted o.
him. Beck told how, sfter their
arrival at the asylum. he and Burns were
given a cold bath and then left shiverine
| in a cold room for fifteen minutes. Then
after an examination, Burns was ordered
to sit on a bench. He seemed not to
understand and was violently thrown
upon one. Rising in helpless way
attendant Richardson kicked him VIC
lently in the abdomen. Burns again at
tempted to rise, when the brutality was
repeated, Richardson, Crogan aud Pechs
each taking part in it, kicking and strik
ing the helpless lunatic in the SHE anc
stomach and bruising his face with theil
fists. They undertook to dress his wound
ed leg, jerking him about roughly enc
causing him excruciarlng agony, mean
time continuing their blows. When hif
wounds we're dressed, Crogan picked W
one of Burns's shoes and struck the un
offending patient over the head with the
heel of it, cutting great cash. BY this
time, the victim was in half uncon
scious condition. That night, Burns
not undressing promptly when ordered
was kicked by Richardson in the alb
domen and knoci ell across the room
This was the record of only one days.
brutality which was KEEP up until tht
mans death.
The reporter came out OF the asylum
at the end of ten days. He told how
when his friends secured his release
DR.. Herman, Superintendent of the asy
lum, shook his head ominously and ad
vised against it. He declared the re-
porter to be incursbly insane; that he
knew this because he had watched tbs
case very closely. Kiernan's chief O
staff concurred in this opioion.
THE GRAND JURY TAKES A HAND.
A verdict was reached in short ordel
by the Grand Jury, finding that Richard
son and Crogan caused Burns death
The two men, and also Pecha, are already
under indictment for murder. There
seems to be little doubt that Doctors
Herman and Schubert also will have
some sort of bills presented against then
| by the Grand jury,