The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-16
"AGNEWS ASYLUM is
ROTTEN TO THE CORE
Mrs. Chaplin, Once an Attache of
the Hospital, Makes Sensa-
tional Disclosures

"Agnews Asylum is rotten to the
core! I know all about that institu-
ton and what has been going on
there"
So said Mrs NJ. D. Chaplin last even
ing. She was employed at Agnews for
the year ending February IS last, when
she was suspended for two weeks, I'M
I'll the board met, by DR.. Sponogle, who
could give no reason for this ac-
ton other than that he was carrying
out the instructions of Mr.. Gould. Mrs
Chaplin was head attendant of one of
the wards, and was suspended with
several other women.
Il at once went to Mr. Gould and de-
manded the reason for my suspension"
said Mrs Chaplin, "and he told me it
was cruelty. I thought this was very
strange. indeed, as I had been doing
very well for six months, and particu-
larry so in the violent wards. L then
went to Mr.. Hale, who said he had
signed a paper because Gould had sent
it to him for that purpose. Mr.. Up
ham and Mr.. White are never consult
ed, and they are entirely out in the
cold. They cut no figure whatever, al
though they are honorable men.
When the board met, Gould came
into the board room and asked me why
L was trying to SANDER him and his,
meaning his half brother, Tourtillott.
l replied that 1 was not slandeung any
body, but was simply doing my duty.
The scandal had been told to Dr. Spon-
ogle and the matron, but had never
been acted upon.
ITO go back little, let me tell you
that Goulds appointees could /do any
thing they pleased. During DR.. Hatch's
time, Gould sent to Agnews a woman
named Miss Bambauer, who at once
began maxim so much trouble that the
doctor was obliged to send her home
Six or seven months ago. after Dr.
Sponogle was In charge, this woman re-
turned. The matrOn was out that even
ing, and 1 was attending to her du-
ties. I assigned Miss Bambauer to a
room which didn't suit her. She be-
came indignant and said that Mr..
Gould had told her she could have q
certain room and she wanted 1t. Nd
other room was good enough for her.
She Immediately began domineering
over everybody, and would take priv
leges allowed to no one else, such as
taking a bath in the middle of the day
and going to sleep. She soon got the
matron into trouble. The matron Is
gone, and now Miss Bambauer is the
acting matron. Whenever Miss BAN
bauer wanted day off she simply said
she was going to the city, and away
she went At all times she ran things
with high hand. When Gould was
married the announcement acted like
an electric shock upon Miss BAN
bauer. You can draw your own in
ference
There are others in the institution
who ought to come out and tell what
they know about Tourtillott and Mrs.
Madigan. Kerns, the night Waterman,
could tell enough about that happy
pair to fill volume of a decidedly racy
character. He has often found them
holding session in the laundry as
late as II o'clock at night. as we'll as
IN every out-of-theWay place about
the institution. Mrs. Madigan's light
mas been seen burning as late as
O'Clock In the morning, she not having
returned to her room. Miss Fogarty
has frequently gone into her room and
turned out the light, and always
noticed that the bed had not been oc-
| cupied.
one night supernumerary attendant
came to see me about being relieved
from DUTY, and together we went to ask
MISS Royce, the matron, about it. We
knocked at Tourtillott's door for some
| considera Bile time. and finally out
| walked Mrs. Madigan. 1t was 70
| O'Clock. Now, what do you think Of
that? 1t was her business to be on the
ward at 10 o'clock. If any of the rest
of us had done anything like that we
wouldn't have remained there twenty
| four hours.
When the board met I exposed all
! these things. Gould said / was SLAM
dering everybody, and some of the
trustees asserted that I was simply
talking for spite. Dr. Sponogle was
asked If he had any charges or any
complaint to make against me. and he
said he had not, as 1 had done my duty
in every respect. AS to cruelty, he said
not one of the charges could be proved.
I accordingly took it for granted that I
would be reinstated. Gould. however.
stormed around and said that I had
caused all the mischief, that I could not
get along with the other girls, and that
1 had to go, and / went
1.-The Madigan woman is about 30
years of age, of medium height, with
dark hair and dark eyes, and rather
attractive both in manners and appear
ance. Miss Bambauer is as lank as a
telegraph pole and good ways from
being youthful. She Is the terror of
Agnews. / took a five days vacation.
and while / was gone she bribed the
pattents with candy To fell a 1or re