The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-11
CASE OF WILLIE FOSTER
DENIAL OF CHARGE OF CRUELTY AT
FEEBLE-MINDED INSTITUTE.
superintendent johnson Gives the
Boys History. and Will support
His Statements by Records.

In the Journal of Saturday Mr.. James
Foster. OF No. a. Elizabeth street, told of
alleged cruel treatment of his son. who has
been for some years an inmate Of the In
stitute for Predetermined, at Fort Wayne,
and intImated that he intended bringing
suit for damages against Superintendent
Johnson. The superintendent after exam
lining the interview OF Mr.. Foster. prepared
the annexed statement Of the case:
willie Foster was admitted to the inst
tuition Aug. g. 1885, being then six years
old. Up to December 1892. he was not
months afterwards He was known only as
an exceptionally naughty boy, with seem
ingly incorrigible tendency TO cruelty 10
other boys, especially those smaller than
himself, and an almost phenomenal ability
at lying and deception. In December, lsy2,
he began having occasional spasms, which,
in the opinion or DR.. Sweringen, were slfnu,
lated. This was the general opinion or all
who had to do with him (since he rarely
had spasm unless some one was watGhlns
hlm). until the spring or 1870. Dr hoWe
diagnosed the case as one of hystero-epi-
lepsy. Until December. 1895, he made fair
progress in the school, and until November,
1925, his spasms were neither severe nor
frequent enough to interfere with his gen.
eral health which was good.
I'm September 1893 his parents took him
home for months vacation. and on his
return all his previous naughtiness seemed
exaggerated. His brother who brought
lie was absolutely unmanageable at home,
and nuisance to the neighborhood What
little discipline and order had been fnstilled
In him was all gone. ana the Work mad 10
be done all over again. The consequences
were serious that the next request for
vacation, made by his mother, was re-
fused. She was told that, although she
could withdraw him at any time. she could
not be allowed to take him home and bring
him back. (See letter marked Page -
ION July 4, 1895. Willie was visited by his
mother. who took him to town. and while
there discovered some slight discolorat ions
on his body: the result of one of his
frequent fights with other boys and one
made by n spanking he had received from
the supervisor for some unbearably bad
ported the marks 70 the matron, who ex-
amined the boy Immediately. Mrs. Foster
admitted that she knew the boy was un-
comfortable without some punishment, and
the admission papers also show, that
when at home his parents had been obliged
10 spank him themselves. Mrs. Foster
did not intimate that she wanted TO take
the boy away, and did not say word
about cruelty, nor that she thought the dis
how Ge1lt case her son e Waa. How reaIe
the supervisor was censured and very Sc
verely warned
In September. 1895 (see spasm Record.
marked Page 10. occurred his first serious
attack of epilepsy. being then about the
age when nc a change for the better or the
had ten spasms. all In one day, but seemed
to recover promptly. and had only four in
more serious attack. and on the 18th he
was taken TO the hospital. The record of
his treatment there is given on Pages 1 to
of the Hospital Record. annexed.
After his discharge from the hospital
on Dec. 3. he had very few spasms until
the Both. when he was visited by his father.
who took him TO the city and gave him
doughnuts and other indigestible things to
eat, disordering his stomach that he suf-
fered quite seriously. From that date he
continued to have more frequent and hard
spasms, making a total of sixty-two in the
month OF January On the 2lst of January
he had a spasm in school, in the midst of
which he ciutched an upright steam supply
pipe and before his grip could be relaxed
his hands were dreadfuly burned. His So
dent is reported on Pages and of the
Hospital Record. herewith. All was done
for hffn that possibly could be done. Dur
clinics were being held by the faculty of
the medical school, so that his case re-
and surgeons of Fort Wayne. as We'll as of
our own physician.
In consequence of the above accident
and the subsequent confinement TO the hos
pital; the boys mental and physical condi-
ton began TO deteriOrate. When the father
saw him, Dec 30. 1925. or only six months
before he was taken home. he was doing
quite nicely. and the father had not a word
OF complaint. Mr.. Foster said he wished to
take him home TO have him treated for epi-
lepsy, but after an interview with DR.
Howe he decided to leave him at the insti-
tuition, that her treatment might be con-
lliueu IL Is important TO notice the date
OF this visit, and the fact of his then condi-
ton. which the father admits in his state
ment to the Journal.
When the boys fits began lin November
1890 to be serious. letter was written to
the mother, Of which copy is nclosed at
tached to the record. and marked Page S.
marked Page O. herewith After the burns
on the boys hands had healed, the skin of
the palms, and fingers was very badly
drawn, and the hands crippled that DR.
Howe decided to attempt TO cure the condi-
uon by another operation. which was per-
s lCrihd the treatment then given being de-
When taken home. July f. the hands
Wee entirely healed, although the cica-
trices mao drawn them up again TO some
extent. The boys mental and physical
condition were both decidedly worse than
When ne was seen by his father in Decem-
by the continuous increase In the number
and severity of his epieptic seizures. the
subsequent treatment and the confinement
in the hospital
No child in the institution has received
more attention In medical way than has
Willie Foster. Since his spasms began to
appear serious. i'm November 1896 he has
peen under the almost continual care of the
physician, and the charge of any cruelty is
absurdly false. while since he has been go
unfortunate he has been treated as q sicl,
boy by everybody. with the utmost ieniency
cdent of this boy any more than 7 do ar
feel more deeply grieved that any child in
the institution should deteriorate instead
OF improve That many. If not most epi-
leptics do inevitably deteriorate is unfor-
tunately too true, and far no medical
skill seems to be able to do more than
ameliorate their condition-for them there
Is no cure Willie Foster is one of these
unfortunate cases.
ALEXANDER JOHNSON.
"Superintendent"
This statement. with the official medical
and other records TO which allusion is made
by superintendent Johnson will be pre-
sented to Secretary Bicknell OF the Board
of State Charities The superintendent and
trustees OF the institute will interpose no
obstacle to a full investigation.