Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-05
1he rarnhnrst rxnosurs-

The insane asylum at Farnhurst ia
the one distinctiyely State institution
which Delaware possesses. We have
accordingly been proud OF it and in
dulgent to it. Considering our me ans
We have been generous to degree in
our appropriations for the support Of
this institution, The State has in
tended to make il a model of it's kind /;
and the general impression has been
that its management was above criti.
cisni.
The Philadelphia Inquirer exposure
OF outrageous treatment of patients in
our hospital for the insane, coming
with charges that brutal murder has
been committed by trusted attendants
on patient in their guard and keep.
ing, falls like lightning from clear
sky. Naturally il has created great in
terest throughout the State. Delaware
viii not patiently submit to the ILL
treatment of the poor detectives and
unfortunates in her keeping, and her
people are astounded to hear that such
things have been going ON in Farm
hurst.
Nothing in the exposure appears to re.
fleet blame upon the Board Of Trustees
The members of that board are able.
upright, conscientious citizens in
whom the people in the communities in
which they live have reposed full con.
tidence. The Inquirer's story docs not
shake that confidence, because the re-
porter's account of his stay in the
asylum shows that the trustees have
been taking wise and generous care Of
the Institution.
Reporter Symonds, who was com.
mitted as Thomas West, Lord De La
War;, a fellow afflicted with delusion
that he was the old colonial captain.
general of Virginia who died at sea in
1918. found the hospital admirably ar
ranged and in the best OF sanitary con-
dition, with beautiful grounds laid out
about it, 1t is we'll heated and lighted.
The floors and beds are clean and de-
cent The food is good, wholesome and
abundant Evidently the trustees were
doing their part towards making Farm
hurst what Delaware intended it to be.
The whole trouble lay in the reckless
brutality of Michael Lynch, super
visor, and Daniel Brown and John j.
Swan, two attendants. Unless Reporter
Symonds is utterly unreliable there
can be no doubt of the rough and heart.
less conduct OF those three men. Ex.
Keeper Oakes has grievance against
them, and If his word stood alone we
should take it with a grain of allow.
ance. But Mr.. Symonds says he saw
and heard things with his own ewes
and cars; and what he saw and heard
is enough and more than enough to
prove that the three men, against
whom Oakes testifles. are yillainous
Keepers. He reports hammerihg with
lists, throwing upon the floor, and
beating with a stick. According to
Dr. Hancker's account of the condition
OF the heart Of Pisa-the man who is
said to have been murdered Mr..
Symonds saw people treated in a way
that might have killed Pisa at any time.
As to whether Pisa was murdered or
not, we do not desire to express an
opinion at this time. II is question
which must go before a Jury and TO
the jury we are contented Just now TO
leave it. But whether or not brutality
was tho immediate cause of Pisa's
death, 1t is impossible to doubt with
the evidence now before the public that
there has been heartrending brutality
IN the treatment of patients at Farm
hurst. 1t may be that Pisa died Of
heart disease instead of from cruel
beating; but dead Pisa's heart trouble
can not cover the blows and excuse the
kicks which Mr.. Symonds witnessed.
Ihe brutal men are in custody on the
charge Of murder. Whether CON
victed OF that crime or acquitted, We
take it as certain that they will never
be put in charge of our insane patients
any more.
IT is neither reasonable nor fair to
hold members Of the Board Of Trustees
responsible for the brutality Of tho |
Keepers, They can not be in steady
attendance at the asylum. They EN-.
pioyed in the person OF Dr. Hancker
an expert of fine repute, and paid him
handsome salary to be eyes, ears and
skilled director for the board. They
adopted wise and humane rules for the
treatment of patients It must also 20
to the credit Of the members that all
OF those approached on the subject,
heartily co-orerated with the reporter
in his efforts to get at the bottom Of