The advocate., 1894-08-08
POPULIsT CRUELTY.
A Story Which Has Been the Subject of
Many Committee. Made Editorials.


A few days ago the State Journal re-
6srred vaguely to the "horrible treat
ment" to which some inmates Of the
Winfield School for IdiOtic and Imbecile
Youth had been subjected by the super
intendent, DR.. Pitcher, and then added:
"Dr. Pitcher, superintendent OF the Win.
field school, was a few months ago the
subject Of a sensation, when he was
charged with a nsmeless orime against
one Of the inmates. DR.. Pitcher caused
the arrest Of Ed P. Greer, editor Of the
Winfield Courier, for criminal libel for
making public that story, but the case
against Mr.. Greer was dismissed last
week on motion Of DR.. Pitcher"
The republican state committee then
took the matter up and embodied COM
ments on it in their ready-msds edi-
torisls which have appeared in many Of
the republican county papers.
The following statements from DR..
Pitcher, County Attorney Scott and two
republican physicians, one Of whom, Dr..
Emerson, is the leading physician in his
county, throws some light on the sub
iect:
WMFIELD, KAs., July %, 1894.
I notice statements in certain republican
papers relative to the conduct of the asy-
lum for idiotic and imbeOile youth at Win
field, Kss., and regarding the treatment of
certain Of the inmates, and certain surgical
operations that have been performed upon
some of the inmates, and the statements
made in regard TO such operations as being
appalling, cruel and unfit for publication,
and making charges against my manage
ment of that institution and che treatment
Of the inmates. have to say that all such
charges are absolutely and unqualiRedly
false in every particular. The surgical op-
erations, which are the ones referred 10,
were performed by myself and three Peput-
able physicians and surgeons, to-Wit: DIR,
George Emerson, of Winfield, Kas., DIR. b,
M. Piokens, Of Winfield, Kas., and DR.,
Cooper, of Dexter, Kas. and each Of the op-
erstions were performed after consultation
with these physicians, and after due exRmi-
nation of each patient, and after it was ad-
vised to be necessary on account of the
diseases and msladies with which they were
afflicted, and that such operations were
sklllfully performed and were in the opin.
ion Of the physicians making the same
necessary and proper.
Before any suoh operations were per-
formed, in order TO determine whether the
same was necessary or advisable, called
these doctors in consultation, and such op-
erations were performed only after careful
examination of the condition Of each in
mate, and when it was decided that il was
necessary and proper for the skillfnl treat
ment, health and preservation Of life Of bhe
inmates, that such operations be performed.
I invite the fullest examination into
everything that was done, and refer any.
body that desires to inquire to the above
named gentlemen, who are eminent in
their profession, and thoroughly under.
stand the reasons for my course in this re-
speot.
Regarding the criminal prosecution
against the editor and employees of the
Winfield Courier, I desire TO say that
did institute such proceedings, and that the
man who wrote the articles concerning my
conduct Of this institution, Mr.. A. ]. Hen
thorn, died after the commencement Of the
proceedings. After the case was dismissed
was informed that the other defendants,
Mr.. E. P. Greer and Mr.. J. P. WintOn
through their attorney, applied to my at
torney and urged dismissal Of the prosscu.
4