Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-05-21
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, I
PIERRE, ). d., May 2, 1892. {
Mr.. CHARLES w. PITCHER.


EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
PIERRE 5. d., May 2, 1892.
Mr.. CHARLES w. PITCHER,
County Auditor Custer County.
DEAR SIR;-I am in receipt of your
communication of April 9th, enclosing
copy of resolution passed by the board
of county commissioners of Custer coun-
ty in relation to charges made in a
certain letter written by w. " Stark
weather against the management of the
Insane Hospital at Yankton. The mat
ter shall have my most earnest atten-
ton, but | would suggest to you that
Mr.. Starkweather does not make his
charges specific enough to be of much
benefit He should show that DR..
Mead, the superintendent, or some re-
sponsible officer of the institution was
aware OF the wrongs complained of. He
should also give the names of the eni-
ployees of whose conduct he complains,
as it would be impossible to get them
from the average patient. IL Mr.. Stark
weather will kindly furnish me with
the names of the two attendants who
brutally treated the old man Kiser, or
Alexander, or Blake, or in short give TO
me facts that can go to the asylum with
it in order to make matters better, |
shall be very happy to ferret the matter
TO the bottom.
have used all the power at my dis
posal to improve the management of
this hospital, and have always consid-
cred il one Of the gravest responsible
ties involved upon me. / rather think
that these hardships occurred prior TO
DIR. Mead's management. l shall be
glad to have particulars touching this
question, as | know no friend or favorite
in connection with the management of
our public institutions, more especially
this one. Mr.. Starkw Gathers suggestion
for the employment of older attendants
is good one in one respect, as they
would probably be more kind and con-
siderate to patients, but on the other
hand they would have less patience and
would be less able to stand the great
strain upon them. They have to work
twelve hours per day, and the duties are
incessant during this time. / doubt
whether an older class Of attendants
would be able to stand the strain, such
rs the experience of similar institutions.
the more elderly would prob
ably be more conscientious. l hope
you will not let sL;s mates 1sas J.sIc,
hut send this communication, or copy
of ii TO Mr.. Starkwe Gather, and have him
furnish me data upon which / may be
able to act so far as possible, but it is
not the kind of information that can be
made effective for the purpose for which
it was intended, as l have learned by
in similar cases.
Yours very respectfully,
A. G. MELLETrE.
BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. J
SEcRETARY's OFFICE.
YANKToN, S. d., May 5, 1892.
Hon A. e. MELLErrE, PIERRE, s. ID.
DEAR SIR:-I have the honor to ac-
receipt Of your favor of the
End, calling my attention to inclosed
of board of county commits
sioners of Custer county, and open let
ter Of one Stark leather, a former patient
of the hopital. The former asking that
charges made in letter be investigated,
and the later making the charges against
the management of hospital and attend
ants. However, / will say that on or
aoout the Goth Of March, l received q
copy of open letter written by Mr..
Stark Gather, as pub ished by the Star
Of Aberdeen, also the original manu-
script, as written by Mr.. Starkwealher,
which gave more fully the details of
then the published letter,
the names of delinquent attendants was
The Supt, on receipt of
letter from Mr.. Starkweather, making
the charges in the first instance in
which he refers in open letter-called
together the Steward, Lady Physician,
and Matron, and the four made an :
down all testimony that they could get
in the case, but were unable to es-
tablish the charges, as made by MIR.
Stark weather. All testimony that was
taken by the officers Of the hospital is
on file with them. This investigation
had been made prior to the publication
in Star. At the April session of board,
the first held after publication of letter
in Star, laid the original letter before
the board, and upon thorough investiga-
tion to ascertain the facts, we took tes-
from two or three patients about
to be discharged, and from those in the
different wards where Mr.. Starkweather
was confined, whose statements could
be relied upon at all, we failed tn estab-
lish the charges as set forth in his letter.
All testimony that was taken we had on
file. Thus you will see that the resident
officers and the board has acted prompt
ly in the matter.
Upon urgent request Of near relatives
this Mr.. Starkweather was granted a
leave OF absence ON a trial visit some
time in September last, with this under
should he get any worse then
when he was about to leave the hospital.
that he should be returned to the hos
pital without any expense TO the state.
And further, should he seem to remain
as we'll as he was at time Of departure,
for period OF three months, he would
then be discharged from the books of
the hospital. The credibIlity of Mr..