The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-21
HORRORS OF DUNNING
How Chicago Politicians Con-
duet an Insane Asylum.
WITH HEELERS AS ATTENDANTS.
How Murderer Anderson Refereed
Bloody Fight Between Two
Mgniaco in the Corridor.

Chicago, Aug a0-The investigation Of
the county commissioners into the man
agement OF the Dunning insane asylum
began today. Thirty thousand words OF
testimony were taken at the first sitting
Toward the end Of the days sitting came
horrible story that in detail was more
barbarOus than the story Of the Puck
murder II was told ny DIT. McGrew.
resident physician az he Dunning asylum
II concerned a battle between two mad
men. who had fought in the corridor OF
ward No. ? while Anderson, a party tn
the murder Of Puck, was there. The
parties quarreied over some childish diff
ference and came 10 blows They tore at
each others faces and rolled upon the
floor. while Anderson looked on. one OF
them. In the frenzy of a raving maniac,
set his teeth into the face of the other.
He bit Off his nose and spat il out on the
stone floor Of the corridor. The maniac
with whom this patient was battling
sprang away from the death grip. fell
bleeding and screaming to the floor. saw
the flesh torn from his own face, stuffed
IL into his mouth. and ehewed his own
nose 10 a pulp and swallowed it. He said
that II would make ii grow again. All the
time Anderson looked on.
This was the sworn testimony of DR.. Me-
Grew. resident physician al Dunning
asylum. While IL was being given the
commissioners turned pale and sickencd.
Julia Adams, one of the committee. cover
ed her face with her hands and clutched
at the arm OF her chair. McGrew made
the story more effective by the way he
told IT. SO far as his manner was con-
cerned il was not an unusual occurrence
at Cunning
AT the end of that story somebody said
TO President Healy. of the commissioners:
You said there was nothing 10 investi-
gate Healy turned pale. and. his eyes
fuil OF horror at the story he had just
heard, said God forgive me, did: but
i did not know-did not know these
things" Although the inquiry was only
begun today, enough was drawn out TO
show that great abuses had been prac-
ticed in the asylum. Nest Of the evidence
given today was regarding the manage
ment of the institution.
Chicago, Aug. 20.-Investigation into the
management of the Cook county institu-
tons at Dunning covering charges of
murder. boodling and the appointment OF
criminals TO office was decided upon by a
majority of the commissioners at a special
meeting last evening. The Investigation
committee Is 10 consist of the county COM
missioners and examiners employed by
the county civil service board. Ii was "A
lively meeting. and at its conclusion Presi-
dent Healy's plan was adopted. Eight of
the thirteen commissioners who attended
stuck to the president on disputed points
and five opposed him, The committee viii
begin their Investigations at 10 o'clock
this morning. one of Coroner McHale's
deputies. accompanied by Or. Mitchell.
will go 10 St. Boniface cemetery today to
eXhume the body OF Mrs. Peels. who was
an insane patient and died al Dunning.
Her relatives fear her life was brought to
a sudden end by the cruelty of attend
ants. Two physicians representing the
family will also accompany Or. Mitchell
and the coroners deputy and will make
an examination OF the body.