The times., 1898-01-03
HOME BRUTALITY.

zFnlaueipnid. Jan. Z.-Inere IS now
| living in the Sixth ward, wherein he
was born, Grand Army man who
| charges that veterans of the war are
brutally treated in the Soldiers Home
| at Dayton, Ohio, by subordinate care
takers, who punch and jump upon them
| on the slightest pretext. The PhiIa-
| delphian who makes the accusations
| was himself an inmate of the institu-
tion for some months, was himself
| made a victim OF the violence of these
| guards or nurses, he says, and has
made in writing sweeping allegations
| which were forwarded to President
| Mckinley and by the latter to the Sec
| retaTy of War, who, in turn, has sent
them to the president of the Board Of
| of Managers of the home, at Hartford,
Conn.
The statements made by William L.
Smith, who has thus fled his com
| plant, shows that during the civil
strife he served both In the field and
as special secret service man. He
has an honorable discharge, by his
own request, from the Soldiers and
Sailors Home at Erie, Pa, and ne is
youched for as honest, sober and in
dustrious by past commander of the
post to which he belongs and by busi-
ness men who have employed him
when he was able to work. He en-
listed in the One Hundred and Ninth
Pennsylvania Volunteers in this city
in February of 1862, Colonel Henry
Shamrock, subsequently killed in the
Wilderness, being the commander of
his regiment.
While taking troops to the front he
was thrown from a cal at Orville, Ohio.
right ankle an injury that has since at
times caused him considerable suffer-
ing. While he was in the home at
Dayton he was placed in the hospital,
he says, when there was no real cause
for so doing. 1t was alleged that he
was suffering from hernia, varicose
veins, etc, when he was not. He had
demanded his discharge from the insti-
tuition, and as result was told that he
would be put where his friends could
not get him out. Three guards were
ordered to take him TO the hospital and
he went along without resistance.
While confined therein he declares
that he saw inmates treated in the
most inhuman manner Caretakers,
who were hired to protect sufferers, on
the contrary shamefully abused them.
He had seen men kicked and clubbed,
he says, One notable case was that of
"a coiored ex-soldier, who, while he
was handcuffed, was beaten with
heavy oak stick until the blood from
his wounds saturated a great deal of
his clothing.
Another instance was that Of blind
man who was called Fischer the fifer.
They hit him on the head ard on the
arms until they we're black and blue.
las regards myself said Mr.. Smith,
they kicked me in the stomach and |
reported them to the officials, but it
did not seem to do any good. They
paid no attention to the letters l wrote
them of what was going on. In ward
ten / have seen poor paralyzed men,
who We're scarcely able to move hand
or foot, punched in the head and face
the same as some men punch horse
or other brute. After / had been kept
in the hospital. for fouf months /
watched my opportunity and one day,
at meal time. Ieaped from the second
story porch and got away | got some
work at Dayton and stayed there for a
while, trying TO recover some of my
pension money. which had been with
held from me at the home. as well as
some of my clothing. / finally went to
the Pension Office at Columbus 10 see
why 1 had been thus deprived of my
pension money, but ! could get no sat
isfaction.
Il returned to Philadelphia last Sep
tembcr and made UP my mind to do
what / could 10 stop the brutality IN
future The steps / have taken were
in the interest of the unfortunate COM
rades who are still in the hospital.
Some time ago ! wrote TO the Presi-
dent, setting forth what / had seen,
and have received the following in
reply:
Executive Mansion. Washington. Dec.
Q, 1897.
Dear Sir-The President directs me to
the receipt OF your letter
of recent date, and to inform you that
it has been referred for the considera-
tion of the Secretary of War.
Very truly yours,
JOHN ADDISON PORTER.
Secretary to the President.
II had previously written to the WaG |
and as a result received |
letter from the Inspector-Generafs |
office, saying:
. 'Sir-Your letter of the Ith instant, |
in which you complain of your treat |
ment at the Central Branch National |
Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, |
and ask for your discharge and pension |
papers and personal effects, has this |
day been transmitted TO the president |
of the Board OF Managers of the home, |
at Hartford, Conn, for its considera- |
ton.
BY authority of the Secretary OF |
War, ]. S. SANGER,
" Inspector General.
Thus the case stands. ] am going /
to keep on urging an investigation that |
will result in protection to the poor fell
lows who are being abused. / have |
nothing to gain by it for myself. L do |
it in behalf of the others, and my |
efforts may be in the end successful