Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-08-30
ssr, lssa and coatInusd as such
superintendent until June 80, 1893.

III, looA and continued Is sucl
superintendent until June 80, 1895
Hsi:sprAoticIns Physician Il shl
city and IL 4 son-in-law Of Judg,
Samuel Q. Parks, who WAS 1t on
time the law partner Of Abraham
Lincoln, and was Chief Justice o
the Supreme Court Of the Territory
Of Idaho under Lincoln, and O
Wyoming and New Mexico undel
Hayes .Arthur's administrations
DR.. Wiles Is a gentleman Whose
purity Of character and high person
al honor Is known to every citizen
IN this community. A COURIER re-
porter called upon him and the fol-
lowing Interview occurred:
Reporter: DR.. Wilss do you renem-
Der Will Reading, Of Great Bend; John
Collins, Of Eureka; Sam Dolan, Of Paola;
Charles Alton, OF Ottawa, and Arthur
Steele, Of Mound Valley, AZ inmates OF
the asylum during your 1uperintend
sncyf
DR.. Who's: Oh, yes remember them
very well They are among the Older
Inmates and three Of them have been In
mates Of the institution for about seven
years. The other two, believe, were
brought in during the early part Of N,
administration.
Reporter: What was the general
character Of these five boysg
DR.. Wilss: We'll, with two exceptions
they were very good boys. ! never had
any trouble with with Alton, Steele or
Collins, but Dolan and Reading gave me
agood deal Of trouble from namslest
habit with which they we're afflicted.
Reporter; How did you treat them
for this sfliotion?
Dr.. Wiles: Az soon IS found out
they were addicted to the habit had
them placed In charge OF attendants
with Instructions that the attendant
should watch them constantly. After
this had no more trouble with one Of
the boys, but with the other found Ii
necessary to improviss what called a
straight jacket" but which was, In
reality, . aort Of canvas bag with arms
which were buckled together during the
night. ! found this contrivance did not
prevent the boy from getting hIs usual
rest, while II ofsctualIy stopped the
practice. After this had no further
trouble with either Of them. OF course
ihs inclination remained and was OK
hteltsd d every opportunity but the At
tsndant WAS slways present to rsprsss
u and the results wsrs entirely sAtis-
factory. The other three boys gave me
no tlo1bls In this line. or course, / bad |
them under constant surveillance, aAd,
y many Of the inmates Of this lnstitu-
eiOn, being wsak-minded, ars liable, up
o. any and every occasion, to give full
play 70 thsir inclinations, II VA nscss-
ny and part Of my duties, TO ~ that
hey were looked afssr properly and that
'hsss inclinaticns wsrs rsprssssd and
lhsir exercise prohibited,
Reporter; ! suppose you attended the
annual mseting OF the superintendent
81 tho Imbeciie and Idiotic Asylums
during your charge Of the institution
DR.. Wilsa: Ibid.
Reporter. At any OF these meetings
was the proposition OF cAstrating In.
matssev presented or discusseds
Dr.. Wiles; No, certainly not.
Reporter: In studying the history Of
such inltltutions have you ever known
Of cast alton being advised asa cure Of
such practicssi
nr. Wilss, No, sir.
Reporter: In uropinion was castra-
tlsn necessary, during your supsrlntend-
sncy, to preserve tho health and life Of
my Of tho inmates OF the institution
herei
DR.. Wilss: Not In the least.
Reporters During your superintend-
ency did you, at any time, md l.. i'm
possible to prevent these practices?
DR.. Wiles: No cir. or course, oc-
cssionally | would hear Of these prsc.
tees AMI would then take steps to put
the inmates under the care of q proper
attendant, and after discovering the
disposition to indulge In such practices,
! had but little difficulty In preventing
them. OF course used moral suasion,
and told the boys Of the distresses that
would result to them from such prac.
tices and advisei them and plead with
them, for their own good, 10 abstain
Many Of the boys seemed to be- con.roll-
ed BY this sort Of argument, With
others II was necessary to use great at
tention and give them careful watching.
Reporter; Have you ever heard OF
oastraticn beng resorted to In instances
OF this knde
DR.. Wiles: No Sir, never.
Reporter; How do you regard cas-
tration as 4 means Of preventing indnl
gences OF these practices among feeble
minded children
DR.. Wiles; regard 1t as inhumane
and unnecessary.
What reason DR.. Pitcher can have
for these wholesale mutilatIons Is a