St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-19
HOW ABOUT ALL THIS?
Charged That Patients Are
Cruelty Treated at Saint
Barnabas Hospital.
Agent Tatro Has Been lmpor-
tuned to Look Up One
Specified Case.
Rev. 7. B. Wells Laid Away
Under the Earth in
Lakewood.
Council Committees Do a
Rushing Business--Bids
On CURLING.

If the report be true, the management
of the St. Barnabus hospital loudly de-
mands looking into. A complaint OF a
very sensational nature was made yes
terday to Humane Agent Tatao con
corning the treatment of one OF the
patients, Fred Strasburger. 1t VIII
be remembered that Strasburger was
injured during the early spring by fall
ing from one of the trolley poles
of the Hennepin avenue electric line.
He was painting the pole and was Sill
ting on the crOSs-arn, and happening TO
touch a live wire received shock
which caused him to lose his hold and
fall to the ground. His leg was tract
ured. and he was taken to st. Barna-
bias hospital for treatment. Yesterday
a report was made to Mr.. Tatro to the
effect that StTasburger had been
treated in very cruel manner
during his stay at the hospital.
He has been confined to his bed during
the entire three months he has been
there. and has been gradually growing
worse all the time, blood poisoning and
other complications having set in, until
now he is a pitiable object, his BODY
being covered with running sores. lie
has been subjected 10 TWO amputatlohs
of the injured member, but this Goes
not appear to have improved his cOndl-
ton. During a portion OF the time ne
has suffered from acute demelIla'
1t is claimed that during one of these
attacks he struck one OF the nurses,
and that the matrOn of the hospital,
Mrs, Anna K. HOWE, went to the bed to
strap him down, and before doing SO
struck him several times severely with
the straps. II is also alleged that he was
taken from the upper portion or the
building and placed in the cellar Ill q
room which was not sufficiently ventl-
lated. Mr.. Tatro stated last evening
that he had received his information
from what he considered a reliable
source. and would investigate the case
this afternoon.
Mrs. HOWE. who was seen last even
ing at the hospital, denied most emphat
ically all charges of cruelty. When
first Intercepted she declined to speak
ON the subject at all, but finally CON
scented to answer few questions. She
said:
''Strasburger was brought here by
man named Kramer, his employer, !
believe. Soon after he came we wrote
to his mother, who lives out of the city
but whose address l have forgotten
Before we received her reply the
doctors found amputatiOn necessary and
after the operation we wrote again
stating that the operation had been per
formed. We then received 4 very in
dignant letter from the mother. IT
which she stated that il her sons lint
had been cut off it would probably be
lust as we'll if he died. Since that time
the only person outside the hosplta
who has shown any interest in him Is
one of the ladies at the hotel where he
was hurt. He has given US great dea
of trouble since he came here, as he ma:
been out of his head much OF the time
He has made such noise at times tha
several of our neighbOrs have com
planned and have threatened 10 get on
iniunctiOns against US. AS far as crue
treatment is concerned. L can simply
refer you to DR.. HOegh, who has at
tended him. We have acted under hi
| orders in everything we have done. VI
course | cannot say as to whether tint
doctors have properly performed thell
portion of the duty or not"
On being questioned as TO the matter
| Of strapping the patient to his bed, Mrs
| HOwey would only say that she had fol
! lowed out the instructions of the doc
| tors in all things. She denied haVln:
struck Strasburger, but admitted tina
he had been removed to the basement
This, she stated, however, was dom
upon the doctors orders and because
was the only place where Strasburge
could be kept without great annoyance
to the neighbers. The room, she said
is clean and comfortable, and was occu
pied all last winter by the janitress o
the house. She stated that the presi
dent and members Of the hospital boar
were thoroughly cOnverSant with tn
facts IN Strasburger's case, and had an
proved every step that had been taken