Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-11-24
ARDEN n. HUMPHREY.
Report of the Legislative Commission on
Insane.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
November 10, 1892.
Presented, and ON mo ion of Mr.. Eos
ter of Derby, the report was ordered t
lie, and the clerk directed to procure tn
printing Of the usual number of copie
for the use of the general assembly.
j. H. MERRIFIELD, Clerk.
Represe ntatiUeS.
The senate committee on the insan,
and the house committee on the insane
acting jointly, to whom were referred
petition asking for a commissioner to bt
appointed by the legi' lature to make in
vestigations in regard to the sudden anC
mysterious disappearance of Arden III
Humphrey, June %, 1889, would respect
fully report.
On November I'd and Sd your commit.
tee listened to statements made by Mr.
and Mrs. Humphrey, father and mother
of said Arden, and to letters and papers
presented by them relating to the disap-
pearance of their son.
In accordance with joint resolution
passed by the senate and house of repre-
sentatives, witnesse were summoned to
appear before the committee. AT the
hearing November 9th the two principal
witnesses were examined under oath,
and the dispositions of two other wit
nesses read. The committee have also
heard the statements of the three state
supervisors of the insane in regard to
Arden III. Humphrey, Miss Miriam jack
son and James S. Hoyt. who are men,
toned in some papers in connection with
said sudden disappearance, have ex-
amined written statement of DR.. S. E.
Lawton. present superintendent of the
insane at Brattleboro, who for nearly
ten years saw Mrs. Jackson twice daily !;
and also copy of the official record
made by the late DR.. Draper of the last
three DAYS of the life of James S. Hoyt,
who died October IS, 1887.
AS result of these investigations.
your committee would report as follows:
First. We find that the said Arden H.
Humphrey, farm hand at the asylum at
Brattleboro, was last seen by the other
farm hands going out to the farmers
hal, situated in the rear of the asylum
at Brattleboro, about $50 p. M, June 25,
1889 and since that time has never been
seen or heard from by any officer or en-
ploye OF that Institution, or by his
friends, although a diligent and long
continued search has been made.
Second. We find no evidence reflect
ing upon the management of the asylum
at Brattleboro, or the conduct of any
officer or person connected Herewith in
relation to the disappearance of Arden
FL. Humphrey.
Third. We find that no dependence
can be put upon the statements made by
Mrs. Miriam Jackson, former inmate
no Inn, 1oLO
llshed IN certain newspapers, that the
said Arden H.. Humphrey, short
time before his disappearance, was
stripped and severely logged and that
because of shame and mortifica ton said
put himself out of the way.
DR.. Lawton, who saw her twice daily |
for nearly ten years, including the time !
OF Humphreys disappearance, SAYS of !
her: "She was suffering from chronic
delusional mania. One of the most COM
mon decisions she entertained was that
she was shocked every night and occa-
sionally during the daytime meaning bv
his that her enemies came to her room
in the night with a powerful syringe and
injected fire upon her head and other
parts of her body, through a small crack
in the wall, under the door of her room,
over the transom and through the win
dow. These shocks were so severe, she
fancied, as to cause the blood to flow
from her nose, mouth, eyes and ears.
Before retiring she would invariably
drive the evil spirits from her room with
a sheet or some article of clothing. Her
decisions were always present, but she
was not always excited. Her converse
tlon was almost without exception de-
Astounding in vulgarity. pro-
faDItV and nytra VI a. MT al RI ,tc
Fourth. We find no connection what
ever between an alleged assault in 1887
by one patient upon James S Hoyt. an
other patient, as represented by certain
newspapers and the disappearance of
said Arden III. Humphrey. Nor do we
find any evidence that goes to show that
in the alleged assault above mentioned
there was any neglect of the officers of
the Institution or the covering up of any
facts in this case in their report.
Hoyt's death was at once investigated
by the trustees of the asylum and by the
state supervisor of the insane at their
next monthly meeting.
The following is true COPY of the
record made at the asylum at the time of
James S. Hoyt's death: "October 16.
1887. Mr.. Hoyt was found this morning
n bed, in an unconscious condition
nearly normal; small and
regular pulse; respiration feeble and ir-
ocular. Evidently sufft ring from con-
.ussion and with confusion over the
light eye. This condition gave way in
,wo or three hours to restless and be-
state of mind, in which it was
difficult to keep him in bed for some
hours.
sOctober II, 1887. Had a more quiet
hight; temperature normal; pupils in
natural condition; respiration nearly
formal this morning. Took medicines
md drinks during the night. This con-
iition was succeeded by a feverish state
n the afternoon. Temperature became
,levated, pulse rapid and respiration in
creased, with evident infiammatory
'ymptoms of the brain.
October Is, 1887. These symptoms in
creased in gravity during the night and
'nded in coma; and in this condition he
lied about $50 a. m. The cause Of the
confusion upon the head is not easily ac-
for. 1t is possible that during
me of the transient excitements, to
which he was subject, the injury MIGHT