The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-15
MAUERS INDIGNANT
The Family of the Insane Asylum
Patient
THO VAS KILLED RECENTLY
Protest Against His Treatment at the
AsyIum-Mauer Had Three New
suits of Clothes Which Have Dis
appeared.


AsyIum-Mauer Had Three New
suits of Clothes which Have Dis
appeared.
HAYS CITY, Kas., July IA. 1895.
To the Editor of the STATE JOURNAL:
Allow me to thank you for your item
in the JOURNAL that told of my poor
brothers death at the asylum, it was the
first intimation that we had, that anything
was wrong in his death.
The affair has been placed IN charge Of
our county official and a searching in
vestiPation will be made al this end of
the line. Perhaps you could through
your reporters help to bring to light what
took place at the asylum-it is in the
interest of humanity that something be
done TO stop this inhuman treatment of
patients that are intrusted to the care of
our state institutions--so please assist US
in any way you can. l enclose little
article which wish you would publish.
it is true every word of it and may be the
cause of bringing the public's attention
to the deplorable state of affairs that ex-
list at the asylum in secret. Very truly
your friend, MICHAEL MAUER
The following is the article referred to
by Mr.. Mauer:
HAYS CITY, Sunday, July Il, 1895.
The remains of Gust Mauer, the patient
who was killed at the Topeka insane
asylum, were disentombed this morning
by Coroner Smith in presence of sheriff
T. K. Hamilton, County Attorney III. II.
Mulroy and coroner's jury composed of
the following citizens: J. II. Downing,
Hugh Irwin. Jr., G. NJ. Wauu, NJ M. Ban
MISTER, n. Hoffamier and J. L. Banner.
DR.. J. H. Mi1dlekauf and DR.. George
B. Snyder being present as medical e1-
perts On bringing the remains to view
it was found to be in a good state of
preservation and after due examination
by the doctors it was found that the neck
had been completely broken and after
mpleting this examination the doctors
proceeded to take out the brain for fur
Their examination. then the inquest ad
! jOurned until Tuesday at 10 o'clock in
order to give the surgeons time to report
to the jury
Much feeling is manifest against DR..
Eastman who wrote the widow that her
husband died in an apoplectic fit in
which he worked for several hours
1t is fact that three patients from this
county have died in the asylum and when
| their remains have been received here it
has been found that their bodies, face,
! head and hands have been covered with
cuts and bruises and in such places on
| the person that they must have been in
ficted by the attendants or other patients
! and in manner that is a
disgrace to any institution that pretends
to be under a Christian management
When the remains are examined here
it has been found that they are naked
with the exception of "dicky," shirt bo
som and "dicky" coat fronts.
Mauer had been at the asylum only a
month, and when he was sent there, I'M
der the rules of the institution, three
complete suits of new clothing, from
stockings to coats. were sent with him,
yet when the remains were received
here only the dicky shirt and dicky
| coat was on them. What had become of
his own clothing, which was new? None
of the remains was shaven, hair from
quarter to half inch being on their
faces. Is this the way a Christian state
treats their unfortunates? That the man
agement of the asylum is responsible for
this state of affairs goes without saying,
and something should be done to correct
it even if the entire force has to be let
| out.