The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-31
A DARK BLOT
On the Management of the In
sane in This County.
Child Born to an Insane Woman
at BedWell'S.
Patient Has Been There for
Several Years.
TRIVIAL EXCUSE MADE
By Supt. Bedwell, Which Does
Not Exculpate Him
From the Charge of the Gross
est CareleSsness.

at the BedweI private insane asylum,
situated east of the Topeka cemetery,
and one that ought to result in the
place being closed up.
Ever since private insane asylumS
were started, both in this country and
in England, they have been the source
of scandals and the scene of atrocities.
There ought not to be any such thing as
a private insane asylum
When Mrs. Emma Ebert, whose home
is on Twenty-second street, in South
Topeka, was compelled to give up the
custody of her imbecile daughter, Lulu
Ebert, some years ago, she did not an
ticipate that she would be subjected to
anything but the most careful treat
ment. Since then the daughter has be-
left the custody of the private asylum
known as 'BedWelPs," which is now
situated on the east side near the To-
peka cemetery.
Ebert, then a girl of Is, was adjudged
insane by a jury in the probate court.
She was sent to the insane asylum, but
in three weeks she was returned to the
custody of the county on the ground
that she was an imbecile and therefore
not a proper subject for the insane aSy-
lun- Since that time until two weeks
ago she was an inmate of the Bedwell
asylum, and there, on August 2, she
gave birth to a child, which was at
once turned over to the Orphans Home
and has since been adopted.
Neighbors of the family say that Lulu
Ebert was bright enough when she was
a child, but for some unaccountable
reason her mind began to fail until she
became a hopeless idiot. The family
struggled along with the unfortunate
girl for years until she became danger
She made several attempts to
burn the house down. Then they were
compelled to give her up, and the pro-
ceedings in the probate court followed.
Last spring it was discovered that
7 Tz1r1 oh
Commissioner Hale decided to take her
to the poor farm, where it would cost
the county less to keep her. 1t was
then suspected that the girl was in a
delicate condition and a physicians eX-
animation proved that the suspicion
was true. Superintendent Taylor of the
poor farm refused to take the girl and
she was taken back to the private asy-
lum, where she remained until after her
child was born.
When Mrs. Ebert heard of the condi-
ton of her daughter she was almost
frantic. She visited the asylum and de-
manded an explanation, but the pro-
prietor said he could give none. The
matter was brought to the attention of
the county attorney, but nothing has
yet been done, though County Attorney
Jetmore says that he may yet bring an
action for criminal carelesSness against
Bedwel Mrs. Ebert has gone to Iowa,
and until she returns nothing Will be
done.
Mrs Mart Chamberlain of 121 West
L
men who took an interest in the case
and she was consulted frequently by
Mrs. Ebert in reference to the outrage.
She went with Mrs. Ebert to the asy-
Iun to find out if possible who was
responsible for the condition of the girl
and also went to the county attorney.
Mrs. Chamberlain was seen today by
a Journal reporter.
ST consider this a great outrage" said
she. County Attorney Jetmore was
given an opportunity to do something,
Il fO
to punish any one. When insane To-
men are not safe in asylums, I think
that it is high time that something is
done.
1.-THE first 1 knew of this, Mrs Ebert
came to me one day and told me that
Mr.. Bedwell had been to her and in
formed her of Lulu,s CONDITION;
could hardly believe it, because I did
not think that such a thing would be
possible. I went with her to the asy-
lum, and there found that what Mr..
Bedwell said was true. We tried to find
out who was responsible, but the girl
either would not or could not tell. She
seemed to be perfectly cowed. Mr.. Bed
well could offer no explanation except
that the door between the mems and
women's apartments might have been
left open by an attendant and we con-
sidered that very poor explanation.
Mrs. Ebert is a widow. She would
have taken care of the girl herself if
she had not become dangerous. She
is now in Iowa and was not here when
W
me once about the matter, but 1 have
not heard from her for some time. 1
think that things have come to pretty
pass when such outrages as this are al
lowed to pass unnoticed by the officers
of the law"
County Attorney Jetmore was seen
by a Journal reporter.
THE women did come to me-" said
he, with complaint about this case.
think that there is a law that reaches
this case, and I told the women so. L
expected them to come back, but they
because I thought they would come
back. L will issue a warrant if some
one asks for it"
He said that an effort had been made
would tell all he knew about the case.
Lulu Ebert was at my place three
years ago." said he. II have never al
be together and have watched them
as carefully as I could. / can offer no
explanation of this unfortunate occur
have gone up early one morning and
rnents of the men and women to allow
the men to come down stairs. 1t was
necessary for the women to come
through the room in which the men
were kept. The door was always kept
securely locked.
..Since then the door has been boarded
currence, and I am very sorry it oc-