The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-05
BEDWELL's BEDLAM.
Congressman Curtis Sister and
Other North Topeka Ladies.
MAKE 4 STRONG PLEA AGAINST IT.

durable Nufsance.
The council was captured last night.
The demure city fathers surrendered to
little party of well dressed ladies who
came from North Topeka to tell of what
they had suffered from the Bedwell asy-
lum.
The friends of the asylum in the
council became restless as soon as
the women entered and were given
seats. They sat through the long, tire
some proceedings of the council and
listened to a communication from the
city board of health and one from the
county commissioners which said Mica
things about the asylum they were there
to fight without making protest.
Then the ordinance relating to the asy-
lum was reached and to the surprise of
most of the councilmen and the proprie-
tors of the asylum it was an ordinance
abolishing the asylum. The committee
on health had decided to recommend
regulating ordinance, but at the last mo-
ment withdrew it and recommended the
other.
OF course the ladies were given the
opportunity to be heard, and Mrs Libbie
Colvin, a sister of Congressman Charles
Curtis, who lives just across the street
from the asylum, was the first speaker.
Mrs. Colvin is pretty and has charming
voice and speaks with decisiveness
which really startled some of the weak
kneed members of the council.
Many of the North Topeka people re-
member Mrs. Colvin as Miss Libbie Cur
tbs when she took part in amateur thea
tricals, particularly as Capitola in 1.-THE
Hidden Hand" where as bootb1ack in
trousers, carrying kit she exhibited
rare dramatic talent, which might have
placed her high in the dramatic profess
sion had she chosen to follow it.
~ have not complained how the in
mates were fed" said Mrs. Colvin with
toss of her pretty head, "but l do COM
plain of what we suffer because of the
asylum. l know that | was kept awake
night after night by the bowling of a wo-
man last summer. Her cries were fright
full and they continued all night Several
nights did not go to bed at all because
| could not sleep. was in terror all the
time. | understand that she was chained
to a window up stairs. Then the patients
get away. Iknow of nine who have es-
capped, and the last one got away in
chains. The patients are kept there in a
barn, which has been built fer twenty
years. The weather has been bitter, and
there is no plaster on the barn. I have
been a property owner in that neighbor-
hood all my life, and have lived there all
my life, and still L have to submit to
having this asylum at my door to fright
en- away the renters and keep me in
terror.
"Mr Bedwell did not ask us when he
came. and he has promised to move as
soon as he could find a place, but
that has been three years ago,
and he is still there. They say there is
high board fence around the place, but
in
been known to come down stairs, unlock
the front door and go out"
Miss Mary Kimmerle, who lives across
the alley from the asylum, said: ''The
asylum has been there four years and the
residents have been troubled by it dur
ing the whole of that time. What we
, object to. most is the escape of the in
mates. The man who escaped shackled,
my mother heard in the barn, filing his
shackles. She did not know who it was
and started to go to the barn. but was
called back into the house by something
and it was we'll she was, for it was after
ward found that heehad laid an axe just
beside him while he was working. My
mother is in constant fear. She is afraid
to stay alone for she does not know when
one of the inmates may break into the
house."
Mrs. Rodney Payne said: II have lived
there 81 years, but | have had to leave
my home because / was afraid to stay
there since this asylum was started. That
| home is the dearest place | have on
earth, for it is where my husband died.
| l have lost two renters because of the
asylum and my houses are empty. I have
no grudge against Mr.. Bedwell, but
hope the asylum may be moved"
Mrs. ]. L. Robinson said: 81 live one
block west of the asylum. l work for my
living and have to go by there every
night am afraid to go by the place
and am in terror whenever / am near it,
How long was the violent woman
kept at the asylum?" asked the mayor.
'She was kept there six weeks" re-
piled Mrs. Colvin. Il had company two
weeks of the time and they slept two
nights-that was when they staid some
place else"
Mrs L. O. Case was at the meeting as
the attorney of the women. She quoted
law on the authority of the council to
order the removal of the place until City
Attorney TilIotson quaked in his chair
Then Mrs. Case laid down the law books
and opened her speech.
''You have long petition on this
question, gentlemen" said she. "All
the people in the neighborhood except
the owners of the asylum itself want i
removed. An asylum is not a good
neighbor. Mrs. CoIvin does not dare Il
leave her baby to get bucket of watei
or coal for fear some insane person may
enter the house. If you gentlemen were
situated so that when you left home yoI
would feel that your loved ones wer,
insecure, and you did not know at wha
moment you might be called home b,
the news of horrible tragedy, yol
would appreciate the situation of thes
people.
AIRS Kimmerle was sitting under
tree one summers day when little DO,
came running to her, and told her t.
look out for crazy woman. The woman
came rushing at her with her arms out
spread, and Mrs Kimmerle only ha,
time to get into the house and lock tn
doors. She was sick three days in con
sequence of her fright, Topeka is poo