The herald., 1896-02-28
i Has Had the Effect of ArOuS-
ing Public Interest
THE NECESSITY FOR REFORM
Management Of Insane AsyIums Should
Be Closely Watched
Sheriff Burr ssyss That Golfer Has Misrep-
resented ihstters-charges of Abuse
and Cruelty Flstiy Denied


insane, as told by himself and published
in The HERALD yesterday morning, cre-
ated . decided sensation. AS was to be
expected some people were inclined to
doubt Golfers statements, on the ground
that he was mentally weak, and therefore
irresponsible. The great majority of those
interviewed on the subject, however, did
not take this view. The story was told in
a plain, straightforward manner, without
any attempt at sensationalism, and the
absence of any motive for maligning the
officers in charge Of the asylum strength
ened the belief that abuses did exist at the
asylum, and, at any rate, the charges were
sufficiently specific to warrant an investi-
CATION, when the whole matter could be
publicly ventilated.
REFORM is NEEDED
~ am glad the HERALD has opened up
this matter" said a well-known citizen
yeste rday, land / hope the agitation will
be kest up until an investigation can be
had. In view OF the disclosures in eastern
asylums, too close watch cannot be kept
on institutions of that kind. In no place
can abuses be practiced with as little dan
ger of exposure as in insane asylums. In
the first place, the patients are irresponsi-
BILE, and for that reason but little attention
is paid to their complaints, which are at
tributed to the vagaries of their diseased
minds. Then, too, the care OF lunatics is
any thing but a pleasant task, and there Is
too often disposition on the part OF those
in authority to shift their legitimate duties
on irresponsible subordinates. do not
mean to say that this is always the case, but
the temptation to do SO is very strong, and
-
tendency toward carelessness. This Is only
human nature, and the only way to get
the best results is to exercise constant vigil
lance. And now that am on this subject,
there is another matter on which l wish to
speak. In no state in the Union can adj
mission to the insane asyiums be procured
as easily as in California, and may say
that in no other state are better accommo-
dations provided. For this reason the peo-
pie of California are imposed upon by the
whole country. For instance, man or
woman in some eastern state gives indl-
cations of insanity, perhaps OF mild
type. The man is not dangerous, but he
IL a burden to his friends and relatives,
and in the way. He cannot be got into the
asylum in his own state, and so he IS
bundled off to California. Here. under
new conditions and among strange sur
roundings, the mania rapidly develops,
and in anywhere from three weeks to one
or two years the unfortunate is taken in
charge, he is examined. adjudged insane,
and sent to the asylum. Ihe eastern
relatives and friends are relieved of a bur-
den, and the people of California are
saddled with the expense OF keeping the
man while he lives, and burying him when
he dies, for it is matter OF rec
ord that but few bodies of insanes
who die in the asylums are ever claimed
by their relatives. This may sound like an
exaggeration to those who have not fol-
Il l. = l,,t tt<a< faI Ia
of Los Angeles county will bear out the
statements made. In no county in the
union of anything near approximating the
population of Los Angeles are SO many
people committed to the insane asylums,
and in no county is the proportion OF
only for reform in the management of our
insane asyiums, but in the procedure by
which alleged lunatics are committed, and
the sooner that public interest in this mat
ter is aroused, the sooner will the abuses
complained of be corrected"
AT THE COUNTY JAIL
Sheriff Burr and the deputies in charge
of the county Jail were highly indignant
over Colter's statement about his treat
ment while under their care, and the insin-
uation that a new suit of clothes worn by
him when he was taken there had E1yste-
riously disappeared.
The Jail records show that Golfer was
taken to the county Jail on the 29th of
September, and that on the following day
-Monday-he was sent to the Highlands
asylum. in charge of Deputy Sheriff II. G.
Mcclure. There is no record of any
clothing or valuables being taken from
him at the Jail. All of the officers at the
Jail Indignantly repudiate Colter's insinua-
ton that somebody is responsible for the
loss of his clothes, and his statement that
he was mistreated while in their custody.
The charge that Mcclure, who is one of
the most even-tempered men on the force,
and who has perhaps more experience
with lunatics than any other man in
the sheriff's office, ever abused or mis-
treated Golfer is pronounced absurd.
WHAT SHERIFF BURR SAYS
Sheriff Burr, when asked by a HERALD
reporter what he knew about Golfers case,
promptly replied that he knew all about it,
80 far as his treatment at the Jail was con-
cerned. As to what took place at the
asylum, Sheriff Burr said of course he
knew nothing of his own knowledge, but if
there was no more truth in it than what
he said about the Jail, Golfer is first class
modern edition of Ananias. Mr.. Burr said
that he happened to be in the Jail when
Golfer was brought in. 1t was Sunday
morning, and the incident is fixed in his
mind from the fact that two lunatics were
brought in, both of whom were very violent.
all the way up the steps to the entrance, il
being all that the two police offices who
had him in charge could do to get him up
to the door. After he was got inside, he
continued to fight, but was finally over
powered and the muffs put on him by
Deputy Barnhill, who was also present.
He was then put in the padded cell, but be-
came 30 violent that he had to be strapped
to his cot. The sheriff said that Golfer was
indescribably filthy. and his trousers and
underclothing had to be cut from his per-
son. He was then cleaned up as we'll as he
could be, and given new pair of overalls.
Golfer had no hat when he was brought to
the jail When he left he wore the same
coat that he had on when he was brought
In, but in his efforts to get his hands out of
the mufflers he had worked the garment
up around his waist, which gave it the ap.
pearance of q jumper. On the way to the
asylum, Mr.. Burr said, people left the car
in which Golfer was seated because of the
offensive smell. The sheriff also said that
Mrs. Golfer had been to see him about her
husbands clothing, and he had explained
to, her that it had TO be destroyed, when
she told him that she could understand
why this was necessary under the circum-
stances. To further satisfy her. however,
2 he had telephoned the asylum authorities
at Highlands, while she was in his office, to
ascertain what effects her husband had
when he reached there, and on the reply
being received she left the Office apparently
satisfied.
d. L.