The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-09
A'--au knoYn-
for development of its ways a,
means of self-sDnnort s9c5

lor q development of its ways and
means Of self-support.
.. In order to deal intelligently with
Ihese grave questions, it was necessary
70 take great mass of testimony, the
! deponents in all cases from their CON
nection with the institution being IA
lnlllar in varying degrees with the sub
jects under discussion.
o. AFTER a most thorough examina-
t!on we ind that the inmates or pa
tlents, SO far as We can learn, are treated
hamenely by the attendants and with
sympathetic consideration for their
unfortunate condition. We have in
v,stlgated several cases of crueIties
from patient to patient and several
cases OF, Violent deplorable deaths, but
these misfortunes are not, in our judg-
mcnt, chargeable to dereliction of duty
on the part OF the attendants.
Z. We find that there is a great di-
Versity ofopinion among the attendants
and other employees as to the quality
and suitableness of the food provided
TOR the inmates and for attendants and
employees. There is a great deal of
testimony, especially in the male de-
partment, going to show that objec-
tlonable meats are often served, and
tnat there are other articles of food
winch are not such as might be ex-
pected, considering the liberal appro-
prlations made by the Legislature fer
the proper maintenance of the Asylum.
q. We lind that reprehensible Latitude
OF conduct and absolute freedom from
restraint have been permitted to pa
tlents considered by their keepers and
attendants as violent, dangerous and
murderolsly inclined, which condition
OF Things has resulted directly in the
death OF patients and the unnecessary
mai-treatment of others. These trag-
edles, We find, were precipitated 6y
remlssness or lack of Judgment after
due notice to the proper authorities.
y. We ind, as growing out of the
facts as related by the witnesses and
from the preceding paragraph. that
there has been gross negligence on the
part Of the officers Immediately In
charge of the Asylum.
III. We ind that the board Of regents
has failed to discharge its duties ia sew
eral important particulars, and that
the preponderance of evidence further
shows that the visits of the board have
not been regular or frequent as required
by their own laws, and that when such
visits were made the examinations re-
quired OF the regents were impeffectly
performed in some instances, and ia
other instances that there was no ex-
animation Of certain wards, to which,
from the nature Of their inmates, their
attention should most particularly have
been directed.
II. We find an incomprehensible in
equality as to the compensation and
abor of many OF the attendants and
employees holding responsible posi-
ious.
II. We had strong evidence of waste,
nismanagement, and ignorance Or dis g
egard of its value, on the Asylum
arm, the system of work there and its
needing an absolute reyo-
ution.
l3. There are several other matters
elating to our work which can best be
Understood by reference 10 the testi-
uony.
IA. We were offered every facility by
be superintendent and other officers of
he Asylum in the prosecution of the
1vestigation, for which We express
ur acknowledgements.
T. J. Strait, NJ. D.. Senator.
H. P. Goodwin, II. R.
Committee Investigation Lunatic
,sylum.