The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-06
HOW MAUER DIED.
Investigation of the Insane
Asylum Killing Begun.
Mauer Left in the Care of a
Crazy ''Trusty"
WHO TRIPPED HIM UP.
He Fell and Broke His Neck
Instantly.
DR.. Eastman Wrote That Apo
plexy Killed Him.
THE BRAIN EXAMINED
And Discovery Made That There
Was No ApOplexy.
DR.. Eastman Wrote That Apo
plexy Killed Him.
THE BRAIN EXAMINED
And Discovery Made That There
Was No ApOplexy.
Mauer Pounded byAnother Lun-
attic Just Before His DeatI.

The state board of charities is in ses-
sion at the asylum today as a co mmittee
of investigation on the death by violence
of Gust Mauer on the morning of July
4th last.
The investigation is not proceeding
rapidly, but in spite of that fact it will
probably not extend over period of more
than two days all told The witnesses to
be examined are not many. All of the
board is present with the exception of
George II. Baker of Girard. They are
as follows: Morton Albaugh, president,
Of Kingman; George A. Clark, secretary,
of junction City; K. E. Willcockson,
treasurer, of Oakley; Walter n. Allen, of
Meriden.
In the interest of showing that the de-
ceased came to his death by at least un-
official negligence on the part of the at
tendant, L. Gantert, who was with Mauer
at the time of his death, and of DR..
Eastman indirectly as uperintendent,
w. c. Webb is present as an attorney
aud is being assisted by Ed Madden,
Judge David Rathbone and County At
torney Miles Melroy all of Hays City,
where Mauer lived.
Pending the arrival of Mr.. GODDARD. as
sistant attorney general, the entire party
under the direction of DR.. Eastman went
to the room in which the patient met the
fall that killed him. 1t is a bath room
upstairs in the north wing of the main
building
Here was held an unofficial examina-
tion in which G. w. Oliver, an attendant
who was the first man to the scene of the
fall, told of the circumstances using Mr..
Allen of the board as a subject
The fall occurred, Mr. Oliver said, at
the washstand.
Mauer had ventured too near q quar-
relsome patient named Piester, and Pies
ter had struck him or knocked him
to the floor This was in the hall
below. His nose was hurt, and it was
while washing the blood from his nose
and face that he was tripped to the floor
by a patient named Hughes. Hughes
was a sort of trusty about the asylum
and was assisting to wash Mauer's face.
Mausr declared that the water that ran
through the faucet was holy water, and
was being wasted. His attempt to turn
the water off resulted in a good deal
of trouble to Hughes, who, when
Ganterrs back was turned to reach a
towel, gave Mauer jerk and kicked his
feet from under him so that he fell on
the back of his head very heavily
Mauer was not a strong man, and the
blow killed him OF he died in a few
hours without regaining his senses
The committee and attorneys then filed
back down the stairs and across the slip
perry floors to the board room where the
investig cation was to be held.
In opening the investigation proper
Mr. Albaugh said: This committee is
here to investigate this case thoroughly
and get at all the facts. Nothing is to
be concealed and no attempt is to
be made to shield sr withhold
anything that will bear in any
way on the matter before US The door
of this room shall be open to any one
who wants to enter Mr.. GODDARD is not
here representing the asylum, DR.. East
man, the board or any one, but the best
interests Of the people of Kansas" Mr.
GODDARD assented to this.
The first evidence introduced was in
the shape of an official report of the do
ings of the coronsr's jury in Ellis county
where Mauer's body was taken and ex-
amined. The evidence was lengthy and
showed that Mauer's nose was brok =
en- as we'll as his neck. Together with
this testimony was introduced a letter
from DR.. Eastman to hauer's widow in
which he said the patient had died from
RpOplexy caused by lesion of the brain.
The brain had been examined and dis
sected and no lesion, apopIexy or fatally
diseased conditions found, the evidence
stated.
The verdict of the jury made no
charge of murder. n nanslaught or Grim
inal negligence against any one, but de-
clared openly that DR.. Eastman had been
guilty of misrepresenting the facts to
Mauer's widow.
The only two witnesses examined by
the time the JOURNAL went to press were
the two attendants Oliver and Gantert,
who told about the same story as Ganteri
had in the bath room.