The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-31
CHAINED FOR SIXTEEN YEARS.
An Unfortunate Man Inhumanly
Treated by His Family.
From the New York Sun

From the NeW York Sun.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 29.-Dr. Henry N.
Wetherell, secretary of the state commit
tee on lunacy, to-day made public case
of extreme cruelty practiced upon an in
sane man by his family. The demented
victim is George Young, % years old, son
of John Young. a farmer living near
Franklin, Venango county. For sixteen
years he has been chained in his home, ira
properly fed and half clothed. Through
the energy of DIR. Wetherill, Young has
been transferred from his family to the
almshouse at Warren, and his father has
been compelled to pay for his maintenance
The steward of the almshouse accompa-
MED DIR. Wetherell on his mission. After
driving twelve miles along a rough road
and through dense woods, they entered a
lane which led to Young's farm. The farm
house was primitive wooden structure.
and was surrounded by 100 acres of titled
ground. Not seeing any persons about the
house, DR.. Wetherell and the steward walked
direct to the frontdoor aud opened it. Inside
the room they beheld an insane man, with
long disheveled beard and hair, emaciated
face, and dressed in a woman's dirty calico
garment. II was the only clothing on him.
Around his waist was a strong leather belt
to which was fastened chain. The other
end of the chain, which was eight feet long,
a
stout staple. A circular groove was worn in
the floor by the feet of the wretched man.
His feet were tender, lowing that he had
not for long time been out in the open
air. By the window was a broken-down
settee upon which the chained man slept
DR.. Wetherell and the steward went to
the kitchen, where they found the Young
tamily-father, mother, a 30-year-old son,
and a little boy-eating dinner Dr.
Wetherell talked with the mother about
the insane son. She said his name was
George, and that when he was 3 years old
he had acute pneumonia, and the disease
stopped his mental and physical growth.
He was II years old before ne walked Since
then the mother says he has been chained in
the front room, and he was now 2S years
old. Several times he escaped from the
house. Once he was gone a whole week
and was found naked and starving in the
woods
The mother said that the wretched being
would not eat for several days, and then
would gorge himself until he became sick.
DR.. Wetherell then told who he was. and
ordered Young to place his son in a state
hospital for the insane. where he could be
properly cared for and treated. The father
refused and advanced in menacing manner
to DR.. Wetherell, while the son made for
the steward of the almShouse. The mother
also placed herself against the door.
DR.. Wetherell and his companion. how
ever, managed to escape through side
door before the father could lay hands on
them. DR.. Wetherell then called upon
President Judge Charles J. Taylor of
Franklin and related the case of cruelty
to him. Judge Taylor signed decree for
the transfer of the insan9 man to the hospi-
tai for the insane at Warren. On the fol-
lowing day the sheriff of the county and an
officer went to Young's farm. and not
finding the father or the elder son at home
had little difficulty in removing the
wretched man to the hospital.