St. Paul daily globe., 1889-06-29
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
Cuffed, Kicked and Beaten---Aw-
full Presentiment---W jackson

M uruereuS
Mr.. Hazeltine continued his testi-
mony upon the reassembling of the
committee. A patient named GObble
was unnecessarily kicked by the attend
ants. 1t was the custom to have some
of the patients do the dirty work, dress
ing and undressing patients who did
not know enough to do it Tor them
selves. Nicholas Kill, who had mur-
dered some one and was committed to
the asylum by the Ramsey county court,
in place of having his neck cracked,
was accustomed to take care of patients
by direction of the attendants. He was
most brutal man, and witness had re-
peatedly seen him kick Albert Hunter
on his legs. Hunter is now dead. Kill
had also charge of paralytic, Sirius w.
Perkins, of st. Paul. He had no use of
his limbs below the knees. and was
neglected in his supply of water. At
tendants Victor Carlson and Hans Mel
son often struck patients with their
fists in the back Of the neck. Daniel j.
Burke, of st. Paul, had been Knocked
down by Beckman and Peterson, at
tendants; also kicked, strapped in a
chair and confined in the crib.
Mr.. Child-And you saw that?
Mr. HazeltineI am giving you what saw.
Patients named Churchill, Johnny, and
Jacob Manners son, of st. Paul, he had
seen badly bruised The attendants were
mostly foreigners, ignorant, and evidently
placed there for their physical qualifications
rather than their mental or moral abilities.
Mr.. Davis severely cross-examined Mr.. Ha-
Zeltine for having testified to these cases OF
abuse and yet never having limited at them
in his filed statement of complaint.
Mr.. Davis-Can you not testify to-day as to
IL fOpt il nhn of
other timel
Mr. Hazeltine-Perhaps might.
Mr.. Davis-The question is whether you
can or not.
Mr. Hazeltine-The question is whether I
will or not
Mr. Davis-Mr. Hazeltine-
Mr. Hazeltine-That is my name.
Mr.. Davis-In your opinion were you COM
mitted rightfully y wrongfully to the Roch-
ester asylums X
Mr. HaZeltine-I have nothing to say about
1t, sir.
He subsequently stated he was committed
on the complaint Of his son-in-law. His
daughter died of a miscarriage, and he said
some pretty ugly things of the son-in-law,
who persuaded his wife to believe he could
have him very severely punished for it. They
talked the matter over, and concluded to
shut him up in the asylum. They could
place any man there if they wished. Ee did
not think they could do in this country, but
WHAT ABOUT THIS?
A. G. Sexton. of Cokato, Wright
county, was in the asylum five months
in 1885. He committed himself there
as an inebriate. He was on the verge
and an attendant said: s'LoOk here,
old man, you shake like hell now !;
you'll shake worse after you get out of
this place." Mr.. Sexton said he was an
attorney; that the statutes provided a
separate ward for inebriates in the asy-
lum; that he was compelled to mix
with insane people. George Taylor, of
Minneapolis, was cruelty treated by the
attendants. He said an attendant
would seize this insane man, throw him
to the floor, jump both knees on his
stomach, kick beneath the shoulder
and strike his head. The poor fellow
was crying, "Oh! my God; oh! nv
God. What is this for?" and they
choked him speechless. They after
wards took him to his room, and gave
him something which sent him into a
heavy snore. Three days after, Capt.
Hayney said: George is in the close
room. He is going to catch HI"
Taylor was in there three-quarters of
an hour. He was brought out, and put
into line for inspection. DR.. Bowers
made the inspection that morning. Mr..
Sexton said he served in the Second
Minnesota, and had seen death in all
it's forms, but he had never seen face
look like Taylor's that morning. His
eyes were terrible, and
And yet DR.. Bowers went along, in
spected him, and never asked Ques-
tion.
Mr. Child-Why did you not report it?
Mr.. Sexton-There is not sa1e man who
dare do it while that man Bowers presides
over the hospital An insane man burst not
do, or he might never expect to get out OF
the asylum-he could be falsely imprisoned.
Mr.. Simpson-What reason have you for
that?