The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-06-09
THE Aims HOUSE INQUIRY.
Mr.. Eben SWasey's Early Visitors.
WAS LOUIS svANHOLM ABUSED
BY CASEY

MIR. swasey Thinks He was-Casey Contra.
diets Mr.. swasey's Testimony-An
Testimony Shows That the Insane
Man Showed No Marks of violence
When He Was Finally Captured.
Lest evening the committee of the
overseers of the Poor. Messrs. Whitman
Sawyer. Frank E. Lowell, C. III. Ross,
James E. Owen and Charles F. Mount
fort, met at the aims house to investigate
the alleged case of Ill treatment of Louis
Svanholm, the insane Swede, by Keeper
Richard Casey, City Solicitor Larrabee
was present to act as interloeutor, Alder
men Guptill and MCGOWAN, and Council
men Lefavor. Kent and Simpson were
also present.
The hearing was quite animated and
developed very conflicting testimony,
Mr.. .Eben Swasey testified positively and
energetically that Casey choked and
brutality struck Svanholm in the face.
DR.. G.. E.sDow, who saw a portion of tho
affair, said that the sparring was very
Intellectual and not of a kind to hurt
either Svanholm or Casey. The physi-
clans who examined Svanholm after the
affair, found no marks of violence on
Svanholm; but did find such marks on
the keeper, Casey, Z.
The hearing began with the testimony
OF Mr.. Swasey. ,.s.s.4.
Mr.. Ehen Swasey.
who lives on the corner of Grant and
State streets, and is the wholesale
crockery dealer, was first called. He
said that a week ago last Monday morn
ing before breakfast he went into his
kitchen, when bareheaded man APP
peared, and asked to come in. He came
into the hall Of the house, saying that
he was from the aims house and that
they were after them. Very soon an
other man came running in bareheaded,
and face red and eyes wild with rage.
He at.once addressed the man saying, II
want you,'' seized him by the throat and
began striking him. Mr.. Swasey asked
siAO hCCRC1 W4ldt AO luCdAU. Il0 odlu Jilc
man had escaped from the aims house.
Mr.. Swasey wanted thepolice called; but
the keeper again grabbed the Swede by
the throat with one hand, choked him
until he was black in the face, and struck
him. Finally he got the Swede out onto
the sidewalk where he pounded him
again. Mr.. SWasey threatened again to
send for the, police. The Swede mean
while got the keeper by the collar, and
there was tussle. Finally, at Mr..
Swasey's continued interference, the
keeper went away. Soon Mr.. Swasey's
son Perley, who had been sent for the
police, returned saying that be could not
ind the police. The Swede had remained
and after the scuffle was over asked for
3 hat. T.,
On cross examination Mr.. Swasey said
he saw the Swede strike the keeper
twice, once in the hall and once IN the
street.
When questioned further Mr.. Swasey
said: 1T wes about 7 o'clock, before
breakfast; and it is quite salutation,
tell you, to have such thing take place
In your house. It is enough to astonish
the natives.'
And again he said: "a man who will
abuse another man like that is better
fitted to take care of bulls, bears and
gorrillas. I think the keeper at that
time was the craziest man / ever saw.
His Eyes Looked Like Daggers."
''Look around and see if you can see
him in this room," said one of the over
seers.
MIR. Swasey looked around but said he
saw no one whom he recognized as the
keeper. The keeper was sitting not five
feet away.
He went on to describe the combat,
saying: II felt timid myself to see two
such wild bulls about my house."
Further questioned Mr.. Swasey said he
take the insane man dead or alive.
Mr.. Swasey said he had never had any
experience with the management of the
insane.
Mrs. Anna G. Swasey, was next called.
She had seen the latter part of the af-
fair. When questioned as to Mr.. Swas-
ey's state Of mind, she said he was not
greatly excited, ''about medium She
did not see the keeper strike the Swede,
but he had hold of him roughly, while
the Swede, who was very pale, was
pushing him away. Mrs. Swasey went
away, as she could not stand the sight.
DIR. George e. Dow,
of 273 State street, the dentist said he
saw the affair from across the street.
They seemed to be engaged in flsticuffs,
and was an unscientiae exhibition, most
of the blows seeming to be expended in
the air. Mr.. Swasey was trying to part
them. DR.. Dow, like Mr.. Swasey.g did
not think that the man was Insane; but
when he heard the Swede's name he
knew him to be insane, as he knew the
family.
When the Swede went away DR.. Dow
at once took steps looking to the capture
OF him as he knew he was a DANCE rous
maniac. much feared by his relatives.