The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-07-13
HENRY PURNELL,
AFTER MONTHS OF SUFFERING IN
THE COUNTY JAIL,
Was Taken to the City Hospital Last After
noon-Tbe Asylum officials in Re-
- fusing to Admit Him Are
fastening His End.

For months Henry Purnell has been
an inmate of the county Jail. His
condition during that time has been
exceedingly pittiful. Insanity in its
gloomiest form has marked every &C.
| ton of this man since his confinement
in the Jail. The asylum officials both
here and at san Antonio have been
appealed to time and again to admit
him, but always in vain. some ar.
que that this continual refusal Is due
to the fact that Purnell killed
DR.. Reeves, uperintendent of this
asylum here. Be that as it may, adj
mission has been denied him. The
Jail officers here have done their best
for him, but all to no purpose. He
has been gradually getting worse and
worse. Within the past few days he
has refused utterly to eat or hold any
communion with them around him.
His condition g ew so critical yester-
day that the county commissioners in
session took action upon the matter
and ordered his removal to the city
hospital, which was done last after
noon. 1t was thought last night that
his end was very near. His death is
in measure due to lack of treatment.
The Jail officials did all in their power
for him, but not being fixed for such
cases could not of course give him that
attention that was necessary. The
following are the official proceedings
relative to the matter by the county
commissioners,
To the Honorable Commissioners, Travis
county
GENTLEMEN-If feel it my duty rs
county Judge of Travis county to
order the removal of Henry Purnell
who is confined in Travis county jail,
convicted of lunacy, being unable to
have him admitted into any of the
asylums of the state, to the county
and city hospital for proper treatment
as he is virtually now lingering in life
and believe if proper care Is not given
him hs will soon depart from this life.
1 therefore request the count to au-
thorize the employment of two guards
one day and one night both to re-
main at the hospital.
Very Respectfully,
"
County Judge.
Whereas, One Henry Purnell ad.
judged lunatic by the county court
of Travis county, Texas, on the Goth
day of April A. D., 1892, and incarcer-
ated since that date in Travis county
Jail without intermission, although
repeated applications have been made
to have him removed to one of the
state institutions for the insane fol-
proper care and treatment, said appli-
cation having been refused on grounds
personal and otherwise by the various
uperintendents; and,
Whereas, The said Purnell is in
very precarious condition, having re-
fused all food since Thursday, June
Goth, and also having refused to speak
to any of the friends or attendants
waiting upon him; and,
Whereas, it is our belief that
this result has been caused by his con.
tinued confinement in consequence OF
the refusal of the various asylums to
receive him and that his life is there
by in extreme jeopardy.
1t is hereby ordered that the county
judge of Travis county, Texas, at his
written request, is hereby authorized
to employ two guards, one for day
and one for night to take charge Of
the said Purnell in the city and coun-
ty hospital and the county physician
is hereby instructed to the charge of
said Purnell and use his best endeav-
ors to bring him back to the condition
in which he originally entered the
said Jail.