New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-12

DR.. LlnydS death was ,lnnl>takabN c'"Sc"
nv grossly incompetent management OF the IN
stituticn He was shot by an escaped lllnatlc
who would have been under proper restraint
if the officials responsible for his conduct had
Alternately and coul,lgcolsly performed their
duty. The homicide was the act OF an IRE
sr,nsibc victim of dcmcnta; Int those who
had neglected to dsaim him when they might
have done so. and who permitted HIM to leave
tho buildings AT FiathuSh with a loadcd re-
yolvcr in his possession may almost ht fegar"-
cd =, accessories before the crime. his may
seem q severe Judgment upon those wh" are
lamcntnc the sudden death of faithful ami
ACCOMPLISHED associate hut the case is one that
requires plain words and the strongest possible
ccn>ure Of incompetent officials.
Doughery. tho insane prosecutor OF MISS
Anderson. was regarded upon his arrival az
the asylum as a dangerous patient. ana was
kept closely confined. Th"S" early pi"can-
tions Icintcn incXcuSahc negligence on IN"
part of the officials in relaxing their vigilance
and giving him a chance t" escape when n"
was apparently conI alcscent. This Is MINOR
point although the management cannot escape
ccuS,Irn for not making more strenuous EFFORTS
to secure his return To the asylum. The
Migrant offence of the officials their failur"
,o di,arm him and place him in close connc-
mcnt when he went back the first time to tn"
asylum brandishjng revolver and showing
unmistakahlc signs OF a return Of dcmcntia
The account given Of this first entry seems
almost Incredible a patient who had been IN
the excited wards returned plst" III HAND atter
his c,c;iIc There WAS a stamped" OF nurses
and physicians from the porch In III" ofic"
he accos,"d Or. fleming. IN" superintendent
and demanded his Clothes The suprriilf"nd
cnt instead Of takin" prompt measures Tor
dsarmnc him and making him prisoner. IN
formed him that he WAS not wanted there. sent
for his bundle. and allowed him (" g" giving
notice 10 the police that he was AT liberty. III"
sequel 10 this extraordinary seen" was the r"-
turn of tho lunaic in ten day. with revolver
in each hand and the murder "t l'r. LLOYD.
Upon his second appearance" there were four or
five Officials close al hand. bur all seem To hav"
been utterly dcmnrllizod When DR.. Llcyd
was shot Doughorty was again allowed IN de-
mart and his arrest AZ tho NcW-l"ri cnirnc"
10 the Bridge was not due (" any action taken
by them, but to tn" vigilance Of DR.. Ashford.
census agent VII" happened to D" in IN"
aSylum whom the homicide occurred
These faces ciTcouallv dS,l"di' III" manage
mont Of the Kings County lnsan" Asylum.
pcnyho,tv bad been treated thor" * a dan
ccrou> patient. and when h" roapprarcd with
revolver to demand his personal effects ordI-
nary prudence required his immediate" con
fncmcnt. The superintendent. III attempting
10 hnmor him lv giving him the h,Ind!c, turned
into the street an escaped pai"nf VINO was
likely 10 use his revolver upon any ono. The
fact that he had been in the cOnvacSc"nt wards
before his escape did not Justify III" weakness
and imhcriU Of tho officials. The inherent
probabilities Of the case pointed 10 a return Of
dcmcntia under the absence Of the restraints
Of The hospital and the staggering ana h"h'
ant manner Of the man in demanding his h''ndl"
with flourish of n revolver niI'rrncly lndi-
Gated that il was unsafe +" lcav" HIM at liberty.
He was allowed 10 g. either from lack ~
courage or Of Judgment on the part ol ii''
superintendent. The tragic death of Dr. Lloyd
followed after "a short interval rs III" natural
consequence Of shameful neglect Il duty.
This d-grlc"ful affair needs 10 be thorough
" investigated by the Commissioners OF Char
tiles. The Kings County Asylum is larc"
| institution where hundreds Of insane patients
are confined. Its management has never bren
| free from public criticism, sine" political con
sidcrltjons have ordinarily controlled the APP
| pointmcnts and the details Of administration.
There has never however, been worse cNhl-
hition Of incOmprtcncy than III" election from
IFS doors Of This frcnzi"I lnatic with r"-
vover In his hand. Insane a>ylnms are built
and supported AT public expcn>" for III" s1kc
of combining victims Of dcmcnta who cndanC"r
| the lives OF others. This man was allowed f."
90 at largo with weapon in hi, hand when
he had returned with menacos and in highly
excited state Of mind to one of these costly
institutions The officials. not v"niuring 10
| face the armed lunatc, got rid of him a best
| they could, and then invited tho polio" Ia look
out for him Their condnc was imhccc and
scandalouS. and has involved tho death OF ono
Of their own associates. The entire manage
men. of the institution evidently needs over
| hauling.