New-York tribune., 1896-01-29
WAS THE PATIENT KILLED!
A SUSPICIOUS CASE ON WARDS ISLAND
AN INSANE OLD MAN Is DISCOVERED SERIOUSLY
INJURED AND WITH THREE RIBS BROKEN
HE DIES A FEW DAYS LATER-How HE
RECEIVED THE FATAL INJURIES
MYSTERY-ONE OF THE AT
PENDANTS DIRECTLY
ACCUSED

A'tISED.
Wilhelm Them. patien; at the insane asylum
on Wards Island died yesterday morning under cir
cunlstances which considered by the authorities
a. at least suspicious. Theim. who was German
committed to the asylum from the recep'ioh
pavilion OF Bellevue Hospital in September. 1884
His New-York address No. 1l5 Chrystie-st.; ne
was unmarried and sixty-hve or sixty years
old. His case was diagnosed as general pares's'
and the man was assigned to Ward f. which Is in
the east building =,
or January 16 one OF the attendants discovered
number OF bruises on The.m's side. He at once re-
ported the matter the ward physician VINO dis'
covered that three OF the patients ribs had peen
fractured He - ,urn promptly reported the matter
TO Dr. ". \. Macy medical superintendent oi '"e
asylum. DR. Macy told the ward physician 10 MAXI
sure Of his diagnosis. and a second diagnosis was
made with the same result Dr.. Macy thereupon
began an Investigation Said DR.. Macy to a Trib-
une reporter last evening:
Here patient with three irac'urHd Tvs
very serious injury. and no satisfactory eAPd'''
ton of how he came by them. The ATTENDANTS o's
claimed all knowledge OF the injury 'hen mace
inquiries among the patients. and at last iou"u
three OF them who were able to MAKE rH,,o"S' "'
statement and whose statements agreed. lhese
three patients sad that on January ~ wh'h "n's'
OF the Inmates OF Ward f. were out exercising OH
the island. they remained behind, together WI"
The.m and Patrick Ward, one OF the at'enuAn's'
Thelm nervous ana UOuDie>'ihe' nv
not violent. He wanted 10 get up out OF 'he cna'i
on which he was sitting but Ward told nm 10 s''
down Them no vever. persisted In his attempts "
rise. 81 these three patients say. and wheh re-
strained By Ward he tried 20 BITE him. Ihereupo"'
they said Ward los, his temper threw the Pa''e"'
onto the floor and kicked him - - ,o,,o,
when Ward was told OF these charges ne lei'ieu
them absolutely. Charles PatruDan; the @ o.me' o, "a
,.noant of that quarter In which Ine.ui was cou-
fined also de Jared that he had Witnessed ~ 49,, @
occurrence The patient himself was 100 lar so"e
with paresis TO make any connected stateFnen, 49,
II therefore suspended Ward and reported ,ne
facts In the case. far as ! knew thetn 10 ., tne m
Board OF Public Charities and Correctioh eueseS
10 the Board that the matter be relcrrei 80 ny
District -Attorney This done. Coionei re'-
lows said OF course. that the evidence OF thiee,
natients under treatment for mental troupIe "vu.u
not have much weight In court OF ia" anu dir a.
Thslm was then IT. no immediate danger OF ut'ns'
II was agreed to defer action. TINS morhlts' NV nU"
ever Theln died and Coroner Hoeber mas taken
charge and will hold an Inquest; 1900, D,
When asked whether the man death wa Va"HVu
b, m. in iirles he received. Or. Macy replel; 49,,
"I do rot think ne died direct result OF nus
Injuries lie was in the last stages of paresls YET
3n of the opinon tina, those injuries were 10 some
extent a cOntributOry cause OF death 1heiM "ds d
large powerfully built man. ana was usually res'-
less and troublesome but not Violent ,
Patrick ward. the attendant who Is sald DY th
,o,iens 70 have assaulted Theim. il an rishnan or
lark complexion. medium height and weight. wears
old When suspended he left the island. as. OF
course he was free DO. and is thought TO be IN
l,rooklvn where he lives. Or. Macy sad that Ward
had been an attendant on Wards Island for several
years bore an eXcclen; reputation, ana tEat hohhs
TO his discredit had been known