Evening journal., 1895-11-29
A VERY SERIOUS CHARGE
Three Attendants at Farm
hurst Accused of Murder.
A REPORTER POSES AS A LUEATIO

Secures His Commitment to the Delaware
State Hospital and as Result Makes
Charges which Lead to the Arrest of
Daniel Brown, John j. Swan and
=Michsel Lsnch-A Post Mortem Held.
Considerable Smoke with Perhaps But
Little Fire.
The citizens Of Wilmington we're
startled yesterday morning by sensa-
tional story originating with a Phlladel
phis newspaper, to the tfisct that a
murder had been committed at the
Delaware Hospital for tho Insane, for
which three Of the attendants were
responsible. The story was worked up
by reporter Of the journal 10 question
and was the result OF information laid
with It by an ex attendant, who. smarting
evidently from the. indignity OF dis
ohsrge sought to get even with the
institution. The facts as told by the
reporter are as follows:
October % last George Wolsey Sym
onds, a reporter Of the Inquirer, who had
gained considerable notoriety through
having unesrthed certain abuses which
delphiR was waited on by man who
introduced himself as Thomas Oakes. Of
No. Sl2 South Clinton street, Trenton,
N j, and who said be had been an
attendant in the Delaware State Hospital
at Farnhurst, but had been discharged
that morning by Dr. William g. Hsncker,
upsrintendent. on a charge OF insubor
dinatlon made by Supervisor Michael
4 II. 81 nf.t .
was startling and shocking
He claimed that on October 8 patient
named Laon Lewis WAS murder red by
three other attendants, Michael Lynch.
Daniel Brown and John j. Swan, who
with Oakss, had charge OF ward O. The
deed wRS done, II was alleged. betwe z
aud O'clcck In the morning in the bath
room and was witnessed by two patients.
Robert Kenyon and David NJ NAPLES
The body Of Lewis was removed to the
morgue. where post mortem was held
by DR. Hammond and II L. Clayton, q
patient, bat q graduate Of medicine
The reporter 6rst paid a visit TO DR.
Paris T. Carlisle, Of Frederick, member
OF the board oil trustees and he after hear
ing the charges agreed to allow the re
porter to carry out an investlg alton DR.
William P. Orr of Lswes, and DR.. B
NAPLES. Of Georgetown, also trustees
we're consulted, and Attorney HuRf
@ Brown, Of this city, WAS placed in
charge Of the case
Arrangements having thus far beer
made. Symonds came TO Wilmington OF
November IA and the next day, hsvins
disguised himself by roughly clipping hil
moustache and hair, dilating his eye
with atrophlRe. and donning a suit o.
rusty blue, white sweater, an old army
ovsrcoat and Tam O'Shanter, walked
TO New Castle and by representing him
self as demsntsd, succeeded in frst heinl
ineorcerated Ia jsil and then committel
TO Farnhurst He assumed the ohsrecte
Of Thomas West, Lord De La Ware. ant
as an actor WAS q success The story oil
bis arrest and conviction have alread.
bssn told In the EVENING JOURNAL.
Oncs in the hospital 81 monds PLACED
himself in touch with Kenyon sns
NAPLES. the two patients who It WA
claimed saw the murder, end he ais
gathered considerable information b5tl
from personal observation and from tn
unfOEtunstos confined Ia the asylum
which led him 10 believe that there was
great deal OF brutality used on the par
Of the dttendants
On the afternoon Of November % th
bogus Lord De ia Ware was released
from the hospital on application o
Thomas q. Moore, another reporter o
the paper. who was accompanied b,
Attorney Browne. Saturday the matte
WAS laid before Attorney. General Rober
@. White, Deputy Attorney Genera
Peter u. Cooper, Jr., aud Chief justice
Lore. who with Trustees Carlisle en'
Thomas B. Smith, held a conferences II
Mr.. Brownies Office On WtdneadR,
evening warrant for Brown. Swan Rul
Lynch was issued by Magistrate sssss
and a. midnight Of that day. Detective
NcVey and Witsil, Captain Kane ard fv
oficers went to Fsrnhurat and capture
the trio. and brought them to Whining
ton, where they we're looked up YesteI
day they were sent over to New Castl
and Coroner Stidhsm directed to exhum
the body of Lewis and hold a pos
mortem
The story told by Cakes Was, briefly
that on October 8, Lewis was ordered {
/ take q bath and refused. Brown strUcl
him, tripped him aud then jumped ol
him, when Swan kicked him in the side
Lynch also jumped on the man an
kicked him. after which he was throw
in the tub When taken out he wa
dead A post-mortem was held, whel
DR.. Hammond declared that the man ha
q chill aud that death resultedf froi
heart disease. snd a certificate to tina
effect was given.
SymOnds also claims that during hi
incarceration he saw many acts o
cruelty on the part Of Lynch and Brown
ana that through their brutality th
patients are reduced to a state
melancholy which is very harmful OF th
institution, he says that never, and
has visited and inspected many simila
hospitals In all sections OF the country
has be come across one better adapted
the purpose than this. II
situation and surroundings are health
ful and salubrious It is we
built, light and airy. We
heated and well ventilated. I'll
sanitary arrangements are As nea
perfection ss possibls. A reasonabl
regard is had for the cleanliness OF th
pauient; the floors. beds and bedding ,
the institution are kept scrupulousl
clean; the food is well cooked. an
although lacking somewhat In vsrlet.
Is abundant DR. Hancker he bsleves
be careful. conscientious and kind