New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-21
THE CHIEF COOK TESTIFTES.
he SAYS THAT WARDS ISLAND PRO
VISIONS WERE GOOD.
OTHER EMPLOYEES AT THE INSANE ASYLUM HAVE
NO FAULT TO FIND. AND EXPLAIN WHY
FOR BETTER FOOD.


THEY SIGNED PETITION
FOR BETTER FOOD.
The State Lunacy Commission resumed at Wards
Island yesterday morning It's inquiry into the abuses
alleged 10 exist in connection with the managemeat
OF the city insane asylum.
The first witness called Morgan c. McVeagh,
who has been attendant In the female asylum
presided over by DR.. G.. G. Dent for seven years.
She is al present IN charge Of Hall 3 al the Vcr-
planck Hospital. Mrs. McVea:-h. who is stout and
middie-aCcd. a warm champion Of the asylum
management. In answer to questions she asserted
that the food furnished attendants ana patients
was excellent and that she had never at any time
had occasion to find fault with H. She not at
all disconnected when the lawyer confronted her
with her own signature attached to the strongly
worded petition presented by the attendants Or.
Dent asking for better food. but offered the glib
explanation that she had not read the document
before signing IL but had thought that II was re-
quest for larger supply of tea 10 which beverage
she is much addicted. She did however. appear a
little bothered when Mr. McMah0n artfully cX-
tracted from her the confession that she was in
the habit OF buying food for her private consump-
ton.
She denied with much aspsrity that she ever
treated patients roughly, and said that the testi-
mony 20 that effect given by Adele Porter was
grossly untrue The Introduction OF this topic
afforded the witness opportunity 10 get even with
Adele Porter. who Was known the island as
"Elen Burke" She related that the latter had been
struck by a violent patient and had proceeded TO
strike back when the witness interfered, whcrcupon
Miss Burke" exclaimed I'm darned il II let any
body strike me-
William II. Jones' who does the cooking for the
female side OF the institution. was then examined
So much stress has been laid upon the food and
The manner in which It is cooked and served that
Mr. Joness testimony was listened to WITH great
attention Mr.. Jones could not be induced to ad-
NIT that there anything wrong with the food.
but he willingly confessed that he was overworked.
1t shown that the manual work In the kitchen
was performed by eighteen insane patients under
the CA OF three attendants The help could not
be selected from among the most rational patients,
because the latter would be more Likely TO be over
come with the heat OF the kitchen. They made
freouen, mistakes. and had to be watched closely,
because of the many knives lying ABOUT and the
fact that many OF the patients were Of suicidal or
homicidal tendency.
lie said thar he obtained his stores from the stew
ard and that there was always a surplus. In his
anxiety to impress the Commission with the high
grade Of food which he was in the habit Of turn
inc OF the kitchen Mr. Jones became rather
badly mixed on the subject OF meat. He said that
there no bull meat included IN the diet and
that there was no stag meat cow meat or steer
meat. Then he found himself loss TO say what
TO confess that he ala not know the difference
between stag meat and bull meat, or whether there
The only instance that he could recall OF bad
meat being brought to the institution occurred at
Blackwell Island. when mildewed sheep was
sent from New York among the supplies. and was
promptly returned to the contractor. whose name
Arnold. As for the complains OF the attend
ants relative 10 greasy tea that was undistnguish-
able from coffee. blackencd potatoes. nratable
meat. burned oatmeal. and other culinary Outraees
he was at loss to account for them
Mr.. Edwards quietly asked the witness 10 csr-
mate the cost Of n patients ratOns for one day.
Mr.. Jones replied that the breakfast would cost
two two and half cents. dinner about FIVE
cents. and supper about the same as breakfast
The officials looked startled at this bomb from
such unexpected source, and Mr. Mofatt has
tened 10 take the witness In hand, and nred at
him volley OF questions which quickly brought
him n realization Of the mistake he had IN abe.
He thereupon proceeded to modify his statement,
placing larger valuation on the patients rRtons.
After luncheon. James =. Byrnc. the head cook
OF the entire institution. was called 20 the stand
lie said that his principal duty the inspection
OF the meat sent 70 the island by the contractors