The evening world., 1894-06-21
PATIENTS SHIPPED ABROAD.
A Sensational Story Ready for
the Lunacy Board.
DIR. Cheney Says Corpscs Were Kept
in the Bath Rooms.

The Investigation into the condition
of the insane on Wards and Randall's
Islands before DR.. c. f. Macdonald.
senator Henry S Reeves and Goodwin
Brown, constituting the State Lunacy
Commission, was continued this morn
ing at the Park Avenue Hotel.
Drs Dent. Macy n superintendent
of the Insane, DR.. A. Il. Macdonald, In
company with their counsel. A. II.
Mastin. We're present. Duncan Ed
wards. Judge John f.. Mcmahon and
Charities Commissioner Porter were also
in attendance.
The testimony so far given has shown
a frightful condition of affairs existing
Vpen 10Th Stands Is but e%sp zee chsdl
ness permitted to exist among the pa
tents on the latter island Is almost be
yond belief. No testimony has yet been
abuses shown. to exist, or, to define the
cause. This. however, will evidently be
brought out later.
There are two witnesses present at
the investigation, who have not yet been
called. Both have been patients on the
island. and. II what they say is true,
there is going to be a sensation before
the Commission completes its work.
one of these patients is william Har-
rlngton, who was confined on andal
Island during all of December, 1892, and
] ia llhl , 1000. L It otilt y ooiiii
berg, who was n patient for one year
during lS92-93.
According to these witnesses. DR.. A. E.
Macdonald, Superintendent of the asy-
lum. is responsible for the condition Of
Affairs. There is, they say. n ring be-
tween the authorities. The physicians
During the time these men were con
fined on the island they did not see DR..
Macdonald once.
Money can do anything" both de-
1 ~ ia tn sff - nnrn ntn thDrn mo
door is locked, and you are likely to re-
main until you die unless you can pay
to get out. When you do pay, 1t is on
the condition hat you Immediately go
to Europe"
Both of these witnesses state that
such was their experience; that they
paid their expenses abroad at the time
with difficulty, and were taken to the
steamer by the asylum authorities.
The examination of DIR. LYMAN \.
Cheney, was continued this morning. MI.
Witness testified that for lack of proper
accommodations the bathrooms were
frequently used as n morgue AMI todies
were placed there. PATIENT. w'r: put TO
bed at dusk and compelled 10 remain
there unit, 6 o'clock next morning.
Has there been any Improvement
There has been very much improve
mcnt. When the Grand Jury visited the
islands n very nice lunch was prepared
for their members. DR.. Dent took great
lllltltSl III II Pi'ph' ~ ''NN
had only seen Commissioner Porter on
the islands once while he was there.
Many patients dice from inability. to
secure proper restoratives at the right
time.
TT was the opinion among the physi-
clans that it was not best to give TOO
much attention to sick patients In order
that the overcrowding might be avoided,
wasn't it?" asked Mr.. Edwards.
II don think so,' replied he wit
ness.
"Who dc you consider responsible for
the conditions prevailing"
~ don't know. / have often wondered
myself who was responsible
Witness further stated that the death
rate among the children on Randalrs
| Island was enormous.
you knew that the Board OF Charities
and Correction had the power to correct
these abuses and also the Grand Jury?'
Yes
why did you not report to them?"
Because / knew that 1t would do no
. This closed the direct examination OF
the witness, and Mr.. Mastin then began
the cross-eXamination.
"Did DR.. Dent ever tell YOU that the
supplies of spirits were Insufficient
mo"
"Did you ever differ with him in regard
to the amount which should be admins
tered to a patient?'
"YeS,"