The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-06-26
WARDS ISLAND HORRORS.
Ex- Patient Bradley Tells Of Cru
city and Filth,
a Former Attendant Corroboratcs
His Testimony.

The state Lunacy Commission resumed
its designations into the condition OF
the insane popi on Wards and Black
wells islands. at 10 A. NJ. to-day. at the
PARK avenue Hotel
Henry T. bradley. OF I5ii Broadway
was the first witness. He said he was
the manager of grocery ~ November,
lsal. became Intoxicated AMI was sent
to Bellevue Hospital. He remained in
the hospital for about three days, and
was then transferred to Wards Island
on the commitment OF DR.. Douglass.
Witness was confined In ward TO- where
there were about eighty patients, with
three attendants during tho day and
one at night. Witness said the Indian
meal used was worth about one and n
half cents pound, the coffee was only
roasted rye. worth about 90 cents
bushel; the fish was always bad, aud he
never saw potato while he was there,
from Novemcbr, 1891, until March. 1892.
Witness had seen four powerful at
PENDANTS grasp n patient by the arms
and legs and lift him UP az high as they
could and then drop him Violently upon
the hard floor four times in succession.
Witness could only recall the names of
two of the attendants who performed
this act of brutality. They are Wilson
and O'Ncil
on another occasion colored patient
reported to Dr. Petit something about
the attendants, and after the doctor had
departed the attendants took the I'M
fortunate patient into adjoining room
and gave him the "health-lift."
Witness complained to an attendant
one night about the vermin In the beds.
"Dr. Drake. "A little snip of fellow.
came, in and gave me an injection OF
morphine, which put me to sleep"
| Six men were bathed In the same
water. Some of the men were covered
with sores.
Witness had never seen DR.. Macdonald
| but once once while he was on the
island. Drs. Petit ana Drake were pres
ent on several occasions when an at
! tendant named Wilson had bathed sew
cral patients at a sime In the same
water Witness admitted that Commits
sioner Porte was friend of his and q
customer. Witness had repeatedly stated
that he had never been insane and was
only qualified to testify In regard to9
conditions on the islands at the time Of
his Incarceration there.
ON cross-cxam!nation, Attorney Martin
endeavorcd. without success, to get wit
ness TO recall two occasions when. 1t Is
alleged. he attempted to kill himself
John McSwenev n resident Of Green
point, and an attendant on Wrrd's ISL
and, once in 1891. and the second time
for six months in 1892 was called. He
on one occasion he was Superintendent
of Meals. AT this time he Ind seen
soup served with pieces of shirt and
clothing in it. Witness corroborated
testimony Of previous witnesses In re.
sard to the food and clothing supplied
to patti 'nts. lie had seen five or sin
Some OF the patients had sores on them
, and DIR. Petit was present on n number
of occasions and had seen this done
! He had not protested notwithstanding
the water should be changed for eaci
patient
Witness had also seen the "healtl
, lirt" given to patients. At one tim
Supervisor Mcintyre passed through tn
ward and saw several attendants en-
gagged in the act of furnishing n pn
c eiHnf ." Strong patients We're used b.
the nttendants to subdue unruly ones b,
kicking and beating them. They wer
called billy patients.
street, an attendant on Wards 1.,an
! for over a year, said he had charge o
! 1870 patients, and when he took them on
for exercise he had to leave fifty o
s sixty in he ward. because they had n
= shoes. This state OF affairs continued 10
three m n:hs, during which time nm
Of the patients did not leave the ward
Dr. Wallace was acquainted with thes
facts.
Witness testified as other witness =
in regard to the clothing. food and bath
Y formed. though he had heard OF 1t bein
done.
He described the case Of patient 4
his ward by the name OF Kane. who wa
grossly neglected by Or. Wallace. "a
, / passed through the ward" said tn
witness. my attention was attracte
by great drops II perspira lion on hi
forehead. l went to him and discoverc
that his thigh bone and several ribs wer
= broken. He had received the injury b
e being thrown on the floor by ano:he
= patient | called Dr. Wallace's after
D ton to the patients condition. but
d. | appeared not to believe me. and did nc
examine the man. The po2r fellow r.
= manned in that condition for man
hours. He Is now in the hospital"
-----------r -