The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-25
DIE LIKE SHEEP.
Sixteen Per Cent Of the ImbeciIe
Asylum Inmates
Have Died This Year Under DR..
Pitchers Management.
Only Two Per Cent Under His
Predecessor.
MANIFEST UNFITNESS
Of the Present Manager of the
Institution.
The Governor Called on to Re-
move Dir. Pitcher.
MORE OF NASTINESS
At That Most Foul Hotbed
of Filth
The State Insane Asylum,
Brought TO Light.
CHILD Is BORN
To One of the Insane Inmates
Of the Asylum.
Its Father is Also a Patient at
the Asylum.

The Winfield Courier publishes a full
page article on the mismAnagement Of
the state imbecile asylum at that place.
Among other things it calls attention to
the big death rate there since the new su-
peFiatendent has been appointed The
Courier says;
During the four years and eight
months of Dr. Wiles suDerintendency the
following inmates died:
MI T. Wallace. died July 6. $780, Of
Wallace Powell, died August 4. 1891,
Of pneumouis.
Lottie Fleek. died October 9, 1891, Of
dts-
May wilson. died February 10. 1892,
IF consumption.
Ed Keeling, died April II, 1892, of ep-
llepsy
q. Parker. died August 2. 1892, Of alb
cess.
B sanfort, died December 9. 1892, of
Gussie smith. died March Is. 1898, Of
pueumonia.
Libbie Jet, died April p. 1898. Of con-
sumption
This is a total Of nine deaths in four
years and eight months The average
number or pupils ia the institution dur
ing this period was 1Ol. Annual death
raie less then two per cent.
DIR. Pitcher took Charge OF the asylum
in July 1898. one year ago. Since then
the following inmates have died:
N. Rector. died Septem Der 9, 1898. of
heart failure.
Elizabeth Watkins, died September 1s,
1898, Of exhaustion.
E. Mosler, died September "a. 1893, Of
coBvulsious.
Gertie Logan, died October Is, 1898. of
III Anderson, died December 4. 1898, of
enteric fever
Maggie Murphy, died January ., 1894
of consumption.
Ada FIeckinRer. died Jonuarv . 1894
of measles.
Stella Smiley, died February q. 1894,
OF consum pfion.
E. AicGowan, died February &c. 1894,
of don't know.
Lucille Short died April s, 1894, or
typhoid fever
b L Brown, died April s1, 1894, of
nerve trouble.
Maude Blake, died May 20. 1894, of
Brights disease.
Lewis Burke, died June IA. 1894 Of
fever.
Chas- Billings, died July 10. 1894 of
typhoid fever
total of fourteen deaths in one year.
the average mum Der Of inmates during
the year being ninety-one, the annual
death rate being nearly 10 per cent
The Courier comments upon the above
record as follows.
Is not this comparison appalling9
" hat manner OF management is It that
would let these poor children die as il
they were in pest house instead of an
asylum Is it the idea Of the reform
adm inistration that il is better economy
10 let the Inmates Of the asylum die than
10 continue TO care for them proDerlvs
On, what inhumanity! 1t should bring
the blush Of shame to every honest Kan
sans face.
ne utter mcompetency Of DR.. Pilch-
er IS thoroughly understood in this com
munlty Even those most charitablv in-
cLined toward him feel that he il totally
unit for such a position. L. only REQUIRES
q visit 10 the institution 10 prove this
Then why in the face of the evidence
presented, with the children diving off
like sheep in the shanbles. will Gov
ernor Lewelling delay removing this
man.
In the name Of common humanity in
the name Of justice, in the name OF NOR
atty, IN the interest of common self-re-
spect and decency, The Courier. on be-
Aait OF every citizen in this state, de-
4lands the immediate removal of Dr.
Pitcher.
WITH A BUCKET OF WHIrEWAsH.
The State Esoard of Charities Keeps
McCasey In His Place.
1he state board Of charities last night
concluded long and secret investioa
tion at the state insane asylum, and the
members Of the board have now gone TO