The evening world., 1894-06-26
WARDS ISLAND HORRORS.
Ex- Patient Bradley Tells of Cru
+ city and Filth.
A Former Attendant Corroborates
His Testimony.

The State Lunacy Commission resumed
Its Investigations into the condition Of
the insane poor on Wards and Black
wells islands, at 10 A. M. to-day, at the
Park Avenue Hotel
Henry p. Bradley. Of 1874 Broadway,
was the first witness. He said he was
the manager OF a grocery IN November,
1891. became Intoxicated and was sent
20 bellevue Hospital He remained in
the hospital for about three days, and
was then transferred to Wards Island
on the commitment OF Or. Douglass.
Witness was confined in ward 49, where
there were about eighty patients. with
their attendants. during the day. and
one at night. Witness said the Indian
meal used was worth about one and a
half cents n pound; the coffe was only
roasted rye, worth about so cents a
bushel: the fish was always bad. and he
rever saw potato while he was there
from November. 1891. until March, 1892
Witness had seen four powerful at
tendants grasp "A patient by the arms
and legs and lift him up as high as they
could and then drop him violently upon
the hard fioor four times in succession.
the attendants who performed this act
oNeil. ''' A"e' are "''so" ana
On another occasion n colored patient
reported to DR. Petit something about
the attendants, and after the doctor had
departed the attendants took the un-
fortunate patient into an adjoining room
and gave him the "hcalth-lift"
Witness complained TO an attendant
one night ahou, the vernin in the beds
10 Sni 81 oil
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
Witness had never seen DR.. Macdonald
but once once while he was on the
island. Drs. Petit and Drake wre pres
tenlant named Wilson had bathed sew
eral patients at a time In the same
water. Witness admitted that Commits
customer. Witness had repeatedly stated
that he had never been insane and was
only, qualified TO testify in regard 10
conditions on the Islands at the time OF
On cross;;examinatian, Attorney Martin
endeavored. without success. TO get wit
ness T. recall twice when 1t is alleged,
lhe attempted To kill himself.
John McSwSncv, Il resident of Green
point, and an attendant on Wards ISL
and. once in 1872. and the second time
Tor SIX months IN nv, was called. lie
said he was an attendant in Ward 10.
on one occasion he was Superintendent
OF Meals. AT this time he had seen
soup served with pieces OF shirt and
testimony of previous witnesses in re-
gard To The food and clothing supplied
TO patients. lie had seen I'VE or six
patients bathed in the same water.
some Of the patients had sores on them,
and DIR, Petit was present on number
of occasions and had seen this done.
He had not protested, Notwithstanding
the rules OF the institution. stated that
the water should be changed for each
patient
INT" given to patients. At one time
Supervisor Mcintyre passed through the
ward ard saw several attendants en-
gagged in the act OF Furnishing r pa
tlent by the lift" They were dis
charged. strong patients were used by
the attendants to subdue unruly ones by
kicking and beating them. They were
called bully patients"