New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-05
CHARGES or CRUELTY NOT SUSTAINED.
AN oPIUM-EATER's WEAK ARRANGEMENT OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL.

AN oPIUMEATER's WEAK ARRANGEMENT OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL.
The methods of treatment at the Presbyterian Hos
pital In East Seventethst, put on trial yester
day before the executive committee OF its board Of
managers The prosecuting witness was confirmed
opum-eater, whose charges against the hospital fell
at the first touch Of investigation. He had been
charity patient in the institution. where he had been
treated for the opium habit. His excuses had APP
parenty almost wrecked him, bodily and mentally, and
the evidence brought out yesterday seemed TO in
dictate that all his charges were distortions OF fact IL
not, indeed, fictitious.
This witness was George Reimensnyder, who says
no is a lawyer, from Lancaster, Penn. The ALE
cations he had made those OF gross cruelty and
brutality the part Of the and attendants to the
patients. The board which made the investiga-
ton was composed Of the following members: John
;. Kennedy, president; Alexander Maitland Freder
lex surges, William b. Isham Walter Edwards, Fran
els B. Griffin, Randolph ". Townsend, George E.
Dodge and Frederick Baker.
From the hospital record 1t seems that Remen-
snyder taken 10 the institution by an ambulance
September H. having been picked up by the police
in helpless state of intOxcation. When he became
SOBER he said that for the last eight years he Lad been
addicted to the opium habit. taking on an averagf
or two drachms Of gum opium daily that ne IN
Obliged to excess in tobacco was at intervals hard
drnker. AID Lad for q month been drinking a pint OF
whiskey Gally. After he recovered from his debaucn
the docols strove to break him OF the opium haiti.
lie remained there six weeks and went out he thought
cured As left the hospital he went into the super
ncndent's Office and expressed the greatest gratitude
to all with whom he had come in contact, nurses.
doctors and superintendent, and went away invoking
Gods blessing the institution.
Remensnyder had the fullest opportunity yesterday
to make out a and he failed completely. lie I'D
no complaint to make for himself he said and broushs
the charges only relieve the condition OF other
patients When he had finished his own incoherent
ST. tement he demanded permission to call and examine
witnesses. This granted, and superintendent house
and visiting physicians, nurses and patients were
placed one by one, In the wtnesschair before the
board In every case evidence refuting Reimensnyders
statements brought out Among these witnesses
were patients who were called by Reimensnyder him
self They were Charles BadeDhop. OF 70. $50 East
Eighty second ST.. James ID. Stevenson the Rev.
Matthew johnson and little John StOrner. OF No. 22o
Rvlngton- st. still weak from the amputaion OF e2
This little fellows clearcut testimony wns next to
the appearance and manner OF Reimensnyder HIMSELF
perhaps the strongest evidence brought ont.
From the questions which Reimensnyder asked Dr.
Edward +. Cornwall the house physician, it seems that
lie had often been put into partial Or complete
hypnotic state By the physician and that part OF his
charges were based impressions he received while In
that condition.
Dr. Andrew II. Smith, one Of the visiting ply sicians
said that such course OF life that Reinensnyder
had confessed to would make man mental wreck
" Would YOU call me mental wreck ~ asked Reimen
would characterize you pretty near by that term
wSs the reply . ,, A., -, -. ,.
executive session. but decided to do nothing more until
after the meeting OF the managers on Tuesday next.