The morning call., 1893-02-16
AT THEIR MERCY.
Aged Inmates Complain of
AlmshOuse Abuse.
T. C.. Hopes Says He Was Knocked
Down by an Empioye and
Otherwise Maltreated.

The principal business before the Board
of Health last evening was an investigation
into a charge OF inhuman treatment at the
Almshouse.
Thomas c. Hopes, an old man, was the
complainant. having been referred to the
board By the Hospital Committee OF the
Supervisors.
Mr.. Hopes appeared before the board.
and having been accom- modated with q
chair, was invited to mike statement.
He said he was "a years of age and had
come to this city forty-three years ago. He
was carpenter by trade, but during the
last few months had become penniless by
misfortune. and being a sufferer from Sc
rious illness. had gone to the City and
County Hospital for treatment. He was
there few days at the beginning OF this
month and was then transferred, as he
thought, to another hospital.
When be arrived he found IL was the
Almsh and as 1t was night he could do
nothing but stay there. He couldn't get
medicine until he had gone to the doctors
four times.
II said he was brutally treated by the
inmate In charge Of the ward. All the old
men are compelled to get up at 8 A. NJ. and
on one occasion, when physically unable to
rise, the inmate in charge took hold Of his
shoulders and jerked him out OF bed.
II is chief complaint was against William
ii. TiisOn, chief nurse. He said he went
with another patient named Dewell to the
doctors room on one occasion, and TilsOn
saw them sitting there waiting for the doc
tor 10 come in.
"Tison shouted out" said Hopes,
what are you buns doing there? Get out
OF thisP i begged him not to abuse US, as
We were both old men, but he knocked Inc
down, aud would have hurt Dewell IL
hadn't stopped him.
Then he shouted. III you come here
again I'll throw you both downstairs and
break your - necksp
The complainant said he had tried TO get
word to Superintendent Weaver, but was
prevented. The next day after being
Knocked DOWN he left the hospital.
Tie general treatment Of himself and the
other Inmates was very vigorous. They had
to stand fifteen 10 twenty minutes In line,
often in the rain, before meals. There was
no place for the aged and enfeebIed TO lie
down and no place except the readiug-rOom,
which would only accommodate a few,
where they could sit down. They were not
allowed In the wards before 3 p. NJ.
Then they had TO 20 to bed without light
and there were no cOnvenienceS for the
natural wants of the aged.
He concluded by saying with great emo
tion that he was no pauDer and had ex-
pected TO get cured in eight or ten DAYS
after going to the City and County Hospital.
He thought if he had stayed he would nave
been crippled with rheumatism. All his
statements would be borne oat by Dewell.
his companion when struck. That old man
was 6S years old and had left the Aims
house at the same time he did. Dewell was
almost destitute and unable to leave his
room, but said he would die In the streets
before he would 60 back to the Amshouse.
Superintendent p L. Weaver said all he
knew about the matter was that Hopes
came In on the 9th inst. and was assigned TO
the new building On the 10th hack came
for Daniel Deweil, who was said to have
plenty Of money. and Hopes went away
with him. He did not know What inmate
took charge of Hopes ward.
William II. Tils0n. the chief nurse, was
sworn by the Mayor and denied Hopes
story In many particulars.
He said Hopes came in en- the 9th inst,
and the next day asked to SEQ the doctor.
saying he had been three days there. He
acted as if he had delirium tremens. He
saw the doctor that day.
The witness absolutely denied having
knocked the complainant down and said he
had never struck man In his life. The
old men had a comfortable room, with
fire, where they could SIT, and there was no
need for them TO stand in line. lie did not
receive many complaints or any applica-
tions TO report to the superintendent.
The Mayor-Does this man have them so
terroriZed, Mr.. Weaver, that they cannot
report 10 you?
Mr.. Weaver thought not but In reply to
another inquiry by the Mayor thought Ii
would demoraiZe the old men to allow them
to sleep until o'clock. They stood in line
TO get the best of the food served out.
The physician at the Almshouse stated
tn at be had done all be could for the COM
plainant, and this closed the inquiry for
the present.
Mayor Ebert then announced that the
special point for the board to decide was
whether TiIsOn struck the old man. If he
did he should be dismissed.
The other members also evidently thought
that there was no smoke without fire, for on
Dr. Regens6urger's motion 1t was decided
to take DewelPs depC sitiOn and continue
the investigation one week from to-day
In the meantime the board will visit the
Amshouse and question the old boys there
to ascertain how they are treated not only
lately but as general rule.
The usual acquisitions were allowed and
reports adopted. In this connection a
number OF changes among the employees
at the Almshouse were reported by Super
intendent L. w. Weaver, in which It
transpired that such reports were only
submitted every quarter, and he was d.
rected henceforth to report every month.
Superintendent Weaver reported that out
of 7S3 in the house In that period sixty
nVe had been dlscharged by request nine
had run away and eight had died
The physician Of the Almshouse reported
that between January 10 and February Is
213 patients had been treated in the sick
and hospital ward and 230 in the phys-
clans Office.
Lowell White was appointed assistant
market inspector. vice John Ii. Dooley.
w. Il. Burke and ii. Baehr were appoin ted
health inspectors.
b. ii. O'Donnell was appointed mes
senger.
Mrs. j. Edmonds was appointed matrcn
of the City Receiving Hospital.
Michael Do0ner sand G. Moller were ap-
pointed night policemen at the Almshouse.
A complaint from DR.. Titus, regarding the
mud In the neighborhood Of the CITY and
County Hospital, with a suggestion as to
remedy. was referred 10 the Board Of
Supervisors
Inc board, all the members OF which
were present then adjourned.
No Pleasure There.