Wichita eagle., 1889-05-03
KILLED BY CRUELTY.
A Jefferson Insane Asylum Inmate the
Victim Of Brutes

CHICAGO, May 2-Coroner Hertz and a
Jury began today an investigation into
cause of the death of Robert Burns, pa
tient in the insane asylum at Jefferson.
Attendants Richardson. Crogan and Pecha
who are charged with beating him to
death. were present. The dead man S
widow and child testified that Burns was
in good health when he WAS sent to the
ASYLUM and that the only abrasion on his
body was on one of his legs which had
been injured.
The most damaging testimony was that
of Charles Beck, reporter, who success
fully PLAYED the insanity dodge and was
admitted to the asylum. where he was an
eve witness to much of the brutal treat
nept which reduced Burns in ten days
from strong man to complete physical
wreck, resulting in his death. The story
was one of the most revolving and heart
less cruelty.
The witness detailed at great length the
repeated acts of brutality which the three
accused attendants inflicted upon the I'M
fortunate man. He declared that the pa
tieut was not unruly but seemed dazed
and incapable of I'll d -rstanding what was
wanted of him. Beck 81 upon their ar
rival at the asylum they were given cold
baths; then he and Burns were left SILVER
ing in cold room for fifteen minutes;
then after examination by doctors the at
tendants took charge of them. Burns
was ordered to Sit on bench. de seemed
cot to understand and did not do so,
whereupon he was violently thrown down
upon it. Rising in a dazed and helpless
way, Attendant Richardson kicked him
violer tly in the abdomen. Burns again
arose and tried to walk away,
when Richardson caught him by
the collar aud threw him to the floor. And
so brutally continued the three attendants,
Richardson, Crogan and Pecha, each
taking part in it, kicking the helpless
lunatic in the side ana stomach, striking,
cutting and bruising his face with their
fists. They undertook to dress the wound
ed leg. Jerking him about roughly and
causing excrutiating agony, meantime
continuing their blows. When this was
done Crogan picked up one of Burns shoes
and taking 1t by the toe beat the unoftend.
ing patient over the head with the heel OF
il, cutting great gashes and covering the
unfortunate victim with his own blood.
BY this time he was in a semi-comatose
condition and was fast losing conscious
ness. He WAS then ierked out of his seat,
which was covered with blood that had
run down from his head. That
night the witness and Burns were placed
in the same cell. Burns was ordered to
remove his clothes, but not complying was
slapped and cuffed Finally the attend
ants stripped him and then Richardson
kicked him in the abdomen, knocking him
across his cot.
At another time the witness said he
heard the sound of blows in Burns cell
and loud cries from Burns, lasting several
minutes. Attendants SCHUYLER, Crogan
and Richardson were there. Then a mop
and pail of water were brought and the
door was closed and locked. The attend
ants evidently came 20 the conclusion that
the witness was too inquisitive and he was
removed to another part of the building.
The reporter came out of the asylum at
the end of ten days. Burns was then re-
duced TO a skeleton and was a sallow, hol
low-eyed idiot. The reporter told how,
when friends secured his release. DR. kier-
nan. the superintendent of the asylum,
shook his head omiEously and advised
against it. He declared the reporter 10 be
incurably insane; that he knew this be-
cause he had watched the case very closely.
DIR. SCHUYLER, of the staff, concurred in
this opinion.
A recess was then taken by the coroner.