Evening journal., 1895-11-29
raotl. Not Fiction, required.

LnNNEf Nul NAClAoUs NtNuiNNNs
The hitherto irreproachable reputation
OF the Delaware state Hospital at
Fnrnhurst, has been ssaailod by
a newspaper detective who spent sew
eral weeks in the Institution 40
a result Of his investigation three
attendants are in prison. charged With
the murder OF an inmate. II be can
suhstantiate his charges in the oour,s Of
our stSte be is deserving Of the thanka
Of The community. But II be went there
merely for the purpose Of getting o sen
satlonal story by making mountains out
Of mole hills and rivers OF rlvulets, he
dererves public condemnation
Stripped Of al its verbal adornmont.
his story consists OF the statement that
the three attendants murdered a patient
IN the bathroom Of the institution, aud
that they snd other attendants were
harsh and cruel 70 tho patients BE
speaks well Of superintendent Hsnoker.
tho sanitation OF the building aud the
quality OF the focd served, but rings the
changes on the attendants
He bases bis charges Of murder upon
the statement Of another attendant who
had been dismissed BY Superintendent
Hanoker, upon the representations OF the
three men under arrest. &c being derellct
in bis duty When superlniond- q
ent Hancker called this man
Oakss before him, the lat
ter intimsted that if he were
discharged he would make disclosures
which would be bad Tor the men and bad
for the institution. The superintendent
Immediately dismissed this man who was
willing 60 keep his mouth shut for so
much a wsek Then the dismissed and
disgruntled attendant peddlea his story
to Philadelphia and found G purchaser.
He is aubstsntlnted by two men, but
they are both insane, and their testimony
will bear but little wolght against the
positive declaration Of Superintendent
Eancker, that Pisa died Of heart disease.
We have no excuse to offer for men
who swear 60 and use unneceaaary force
10 handling the insane, but we must
give full weight to the fact that persons
Of distempered mind arc not open 10
reason and moral suasion, When they
become unrulY a certain amount Of force
is necessary to keep them within the
bounds OF safety, decency and good
order Whether that force has been
exceeded IS a matter which should be
rlgidly inquired into, and al attendants
found guilty should be summarily dis
missed
Regarding tho guilt or innocence OF
ths three men undor arrest we slmply
say, give them the full benefit Of the
doubt for superintendent Hanoker
declares positively that Pisa died Of an
affection Of the henrt. he Is deserving
Of credit, being regular physician and
intimately acquainted with Pisas state
Of health. He is substantiated by De
Hammond, a party to the autopsy. Be-
fore this positive testimony, the accusa
tions OF a man like Oaks, who had
merohsntabie resentment and vengeance
In bis hssrt. win doubtless fall dat In
the grand jury room, and the corrobors
tive testimony Of two insane patients
win not bear the weight which Il
would were ths men in their right minds
As for the reporter. be was sent there 20
get a sensational story.
Re Will b given ample opportunity to
substantiato his charges, aud, for the
credit OF the state and her institutions,
we hope that be viii bs oonfounded ir
every particular, FOR facts. and not
fetion, are repaired In the Dalswars
courts