The Iola register., 1898-11-04
NEGRO INNATE SLAIN.
James Funston Beaten to Death by
Populist Attendant at Topeka.
Pop O6iclais Admit II L. True-The Weapon
Used Now In the Hands OF the
Man who Reveals the
Awful story.

known, when affidavits were made
public accusing officials of that insti-
tuition of numbering one unfortunate
inmate and brutally beating ard kick
ing others. DIR. Wetmore's expose of
the horrible condition of affairs at
that asylum is not a marker to the
charge just made.
The inmate whom the officials are
accused of killing was James Funston,
negro sent to the institution from
North Topeka 1t is declared that he
was beaten to death by an attendant
about January 10, last. This charge is
made by Harry c. Hall, who was an
attendant at that time, having been
appointed by the present populist
board of charities. Later he was dis
charged by DIR. Wetmore. Fred Zim-
norman, of Osborne county, who was
in the asylum at that time for tempo.
rary treatment, but who was dis
charged shortly after as cured, also
makes the same charge in regard to
Funston.
Zimmerman also charges that Har-
lam Chick, an inmate from Jewell
county, was knocked down and badly
beaten and finally dragged out of the
ward in an unconscious condition by
an attendant.
Outside of the killing of the negro,
Funston, however, the most shocking
case of cruelty was that of which an
old and harmless one-armed soldier
was the victim. His name is Jacob
Waggener. He Is "a years old, and
his home Is at Oakland, suburb of To-
peka- In his sworn statement Hall
tells about the old soldier being
knocked down and kicked about like
football Three of his ribs were
broken and he was otherwise injured
80 badly that he could not get out of
bed for over three weeks This state
ment as to the condition of Waggener
is corroborated by II. F. Jones and his
wife, Gwen Jones, old neighbors of
Waggener, who visited him while he
was laid up with his wounds
Hall also says that an attendant
jerked a chair from under George Pas
wark, an inmate from Leavenworth,
letting him fall to the floor. Then the
officer jumped on the unfortunate man
and pounded, kicked and choked him,
knocking out several teeth and bruis-
ing his face and body frightfully.
The blood spurted out on the floor of
the room and gave it the appearance
of a slaughter house.
The exposure made to-day will like
ly lead up to some arrests. There is
talk now of swearing out warrants
for four different attendants Rela-
tives of the inmates cruelty treated
and murdered will be consulted first
Some Of them will no doubt make the
necessary complaints before the prose-
cutting attorney.
Two stories of the murder and cruel
ties practiced are told in detail in
sworn statements given below. This
is what Fred Zimmerman nas to say:
Fred Zimmerman. of lawful age,
deposes and says: That he vas an in.
mate of the Topeka insane asylum
from June, 1897, until February, 1898;
that he was acquainted With james
Funston, or Fuseton, commrnly known
as 'Hooly Jim; that the aid 'Hooky
Jim was also an inmate of said asylum:
that he saw the said 'H3olSy jim
treated with great cruelty 10y the at
tendants of the asylum; that few
days before the said 'Hooky lin died
he was abused in a very cruet manner,
being beaten and kicked so that the
room had the appearance of a slaughter
house; that this beating and abuse oc.
Cured about January 10, 1895, and
that the said James Funston, or
'Hookv Jim,' as he was known, Law in
a stupor until about January Is, 1898,
when he died. This affiant further
states that he often saw patients
struck and kicked by the attendants
upon the least provocation. That it
was no use to speak to the physicians
about this abuse, as they would sim
ply laugh about ii. Also, one Ha rlam
Chick was upon a certain occasion
knocked down and beaten and kicked
by the attendants and finally dragged
out of the room in an unconscious con-
dition; this Chick was from Jewell
county, Kan. The patients received
no relief from the doctors, as they paid
no atte tion to the complaints MANY
more instances of cruelty came under
his observation, but the above are
sufficient"
The sworn statement OF Harry c.
Hall corroborates that of Zimmerman
and also tells of additional cruelties-
Here it is in part:
Harry c. Hall, being first duly sworn
deposes and says: II was appointed
TO the position of attendant ut the
Topeka insane asylum in September,
1897, and ontinued in that position
until March, 1898 In March last Il do
not remember the exact date for the
reason that the incident am about to
relate was of such a common occurance
that it did not excite much comment
among the emyloyes), one Jacob Wag-
gener, an old one-armed soldier from
Topeka, who was confined in ward 63,
was knocked down and while lying
PROSTATE upon the floor, was kici ed
and stamped upon by one of the at
tendants, three of his ribs were broken
and he was bruised and crippled to