The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-31
This paper had hoped that the

! This paper had hoped that tn,
. publication Of these former indies
cretions would incline DR.. Pilche.
to conservatism and care in the
!. treatment of the inmates, whether
he possessed the natural qualifi-
cations or not. We presumed tina,
he possessed sufficient of that dis.
erection with which individuals are
usually endowed, to convince him
that the people of Kansas would not
stand any tampering with the health
or morals of the inmates of its
charitable institutions. But recent
developments indicate that we we're
wrong and that DR.. Pitcher, instead
of reforming his methods, has since
committed one of the greatest out
RACES known to mankind, or ever
before practiced in this or any
other charitable institution.
In the succeeding interviews is de-
veloped the fact that DR.. Pitcher
has committed the most astrocious
mutilations upon eleven of the in
mates of the Asylum. A mutilation
which is regarded in law and pub
lic conscience as the most horrible
that can befall a human being; a
mutilation which, while it has been
discussed in public prints, and IN
law and medical journals for years,
as tts most effective remedy for
criminal practices, no Legislature
has yet been 80 inhumane as to en-
act it into a law; still this man, ap-
pointed by the populist administra-
ton as superintendent Of these
poor, helpless children, has visited
upon eleven of them this most afro
cious and terrible treatment.
This article Is not written for
political effect. This institution is
not political institution. 1t be-
longs to all the people. 1t is for the
unfortunate of every party, and |
every man, women and child in the |
state is interested personally in its
proper conduct and in the character
of its administration. These publ
cations are made in the interest of
the people of the whole state and of
public decency, and not In the in
terest of any political party. If,
when the former charges ere made.
the present populist administration
had sought to do justice to the peo-
pie and removed the superintendent
upon the clearly eliminating
evidence then presented, we would
not now have to publish this mat
ter.
AS a prelude to the interviews
we publish letter writ
ten by DR.. Pitcher to the Advocate,
the populist state organ. Rumors
had reached Topeka of the mutula-
lion of the inmates of this institution
which rumors we're published in the
Topeka State Journal of recent date.
The letter given below was written
BY DR.. Pitcher in ans wer to this {
publication. 1t was accompanied by
etters from Dire. Emerson and Pick
,ns, reputable physicians of this {
'ity, stating that they had assisted
n number of these surgical OPP
,rations" and that, according to
heir opinion. these operations were
necessary and were properly and
made. 1t will be observed
a DR.. Pitchers letters that ne &C
that Operations" were {
made. This was the FIRST definite in '
we had had respecting
he matter. Rumors have been :
leard for three months that such i
operations were being committed at :
he asylum but they were 80 i'm
probable and incredible that hardly
my one believed them, but upon
he publication of these rumors DR.. t
Pitcher publishes this letter in
which he acknowledges they were !
made. To say we were astonished t
pom reading his letter, is putting
mildly. We Immediately began )
n investigation of the matter, have /
ntervied the former superintendent
nd have sought in every way to as :
artoin onA nroSonk 20 Tho p,bl;oI