The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-07-15
OHIO STATE NEWS.
DAYTON ASYLUM DEATHS.


Testimony Showing That Three Resulted
From Violence, Being Subjected to Most
Inhuman Treatment by Attendants.
DAYTON, o., July s.-Wfthin period
Of ten days three inmates of the Day.
ton Insane asylum died under circum
stances which have since created
great deal of suspicion. George Morris,
Butler county patient, and an inmate
of ward 1S, died on June 6. On June Il
George Smith, also an inmate of ward
IS, succumbed, and four days later
Michael Kurcht, of ward 30, passed into
the great unknown. In each instance
autopsics revealed the fact that the
men had been subjected to extreme VIC
lence. Broken bones, crushed ribs and
other marks of violence were discov.
ered This seems sufficient justifica.
ton warranting the rigid examination
that is being made.
Friday morning Coroner Hahne con.
cluded his testimony on the Smith case.
The testimony was principally of an
expert nature, and tended to show that
James Bell and other inmates who pos
itively assert that they saw Stewart
and Miller both beat and kick Smith,
sane and reliable in their statements.
If this be true there is seemingly no
longer any doubt as to the guilt of the
| two attendants under arrest. The tes-
| timony of the inmates does not vary in
any of the vital points, and all tends to
show that Smith was beaten and
kicked almost into insensibility by
| Stewart and Miller.
DIR. Collins stated on the witness
stand Friday that when James Bell
| RECEIVERS from an acute attack he is ra-
tional, and his mind is perfectly clear.
He stated to DR.. Collins that Stewart
had the deceased by the throat; that in
mates George and Samuel Harding held
his feet, and that Miller was kicking
him in the side.
DO you believe that these statements
made by Bell are true?" asked the cor
oner.
Eyes, sir; do" was the prompt re-
ply made by DR.. Collins.
DIR. G. w. King, formerly superin
tendent of the asylum, was called upor
the stand, and said that he knew Jane.
Bell, and that at his lucid moments he
regarded him perfectly trustworthy
rella Dle ana Capuple OF accurately re-
lating an incident.
Bell suffers with what is termed re
current mania, and these attacks occul
several times a year.
This concluded the testimony in the
Smith case.
The coroner then took up the case O.
George Norris, who died on June 6, ant
whose death was recorded at the asy
lum as the result of syphilitic disease
but the autopsy on whose body clearl.
, showed that he had received violen
| treatment. Broken ribs We're alst
part of his head was discovered.
The testimony adduced in the cas-
, was very similar to that brought out il
the Smith inquest. The inmates testi
| fed that on a number of occasions the,
/ had seen Attendants Stewart and Mile
{ violently assault, kick and beat Morris
The last of these assaults occurred
, few days prior to his death.
The case of Michael Kurcht, who's
9 ribs We're also kicked in, will come Ii
t next, and will conclude the investiga
e tion unless other horrible secrets ar
4 revealed.
t At late hour Friday night Corone
e Hahne rendered verdict in the Smit
/. case in which he finds that the decease
y came to his death by injuries receive
9 at the hands of A. A. Stewart an
t Alonzo Miller, the wards attendant:
: who are under arrest for murder