The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-10
BLAME SUPT. GODDARD.
Friends Of Escaped Lunatio Make
Serious Charges.
SCANDAL ArFoRr srElLAcooM.
Management Of Insane Asylum Held
Responsible for Mysterious Es-
cape OF Peter Christianson, OF
seaboId--Left the Asylum Three
Months Ago--His Wife Only Re-
Gently Learns of the Fact.

Kitsap county authorities have brought
to light a rather sensational case of al
legged negligence OF official duties on the
part of DIR, Fred L. Goddard. superinten-
dent OF the Western Washington hos
pital for the insane at Fort Steilacoom.
The charge against DR.. Goddard IS that
he allowed Peter Christianson, patient
at the asylum, to escape more than three
months ago, and has never notified the
proper authorities, as he is by law direct
ed to do More than that, the wife OF
Christianson declares that she never
learned until two weeks ago that her hus-
band was not residing at the asylum.
whereas he Is said to have escaped last
September and never to have been re-
CAPTURED.
Ofiiciai documents on file in the court
house at Sidney. Kitsap county. and the
statements OF the county officials and Of
people acquainted with the alleged facts
20 to make out a strong case against
Superintendent Goddard. Whether or not
he can explain away the case made against
him remains to be seen. With what in
formation the county authorities OF Sid
ney possess bearing on the matter they
are free with the allegation that seri-
GUS condition of affairs exists at the asy-
lum.
The authorities at Sidney and the friends
OF the missing patient, whose end may
perhaps never be known, have looked up
the laws touching the duties of the super
intendents of the insane asylums OF the
state, and charge that in Christianson's
case at least Indifference on the part of
the superintendent at Fort Steilacoom and
failure to notify the authorities of the
missing mans escape are established be-
vond dispute.
There is also some talk Of bringing the
- h.
while the wife Of Christensen has already
Instituted measures to discover the where
abouts OF her husband. who. 1t is agreed.
was mentally unable to take care OF him
self when he left the asylum.
A Very Pathetic Case.
In many respects the case is very
pathetic, If not a tragic one. Christian
son was the father of six children at the
time OF his commitment to the asylum,
October 8, 1898 With his wife and family
he lived at Seabold. on the shores Of
Puget sound, in Kitsap county. He was
carpenter and was regarded as fair me-
chanic. His nind became deranged. how
ever, in the summer of 1898. and October
of that year he was committed to the asy-
lum as insane by order of E. L. Brown.
then court commissioner, but now prose-
cutting attorney for Kitsap county.
Mrs Christianson wrote at frequent in
tervals to her husband, and occasionally,
she says. she heard from him. She wrote
several letters last year, but during the
fall received, she alleges. no word from
him. Early In December last she prepared
few presents for her husband. who had
been reported several months before as
able to be about and work occasionally
at his trade.
Mrs. Christensen, although worried by
the failure to hear from her husband, was
utterly upprepared. she says. for the re-
ceipt OF a notice December q, dated Fort
Steiiacoom. December 10, to the effect that
her husband had escaped from the asy-
lum September 10 and had never been seen
after that date. The news drove the UNI
fortunate woman nearly frantic, and she
Immediately set about trying to trace him.
She notified the county authorities of the
receipt of DR.. Goddard's letter, and made
Investigations to ascertain If notice had
been fled at Sidney, as required by law,
of Christiansons escape.
On the same day that Mrs. Christensen
received her letter from DIR. Goddard, re-
turning the Christmas presents and letter
and enclosing notice of her husbands es-
cape County Clerk Thomas Wilson, of
Sidney, received an official notice of. Chris
tiansons discharge from the asylum. This
notice appears to be regular in every form
and bears the signature of DR.. Goddard.
1t gives the date of Christianson's dis
charge as December /, whereas. accord
ing to DR.. Goddard's own admission in his
letter to Mrs Christianson, the man left
the asylum September 10 last.
The Omcial Correspondence.
Following is copy of the official notice
received by Clerk Wilson:
Western Washington Hospital for the
Insane. Superintendents Office.
Fort Steilacoom. WASH, Dec. 10, 1899.
To Hon. Clerk of the Superior Court,
Sidney, Kitsap County, Wash:
You are hereby notified Of the dis
charge of Peter Chrfstianson from this
hospital on December /, 1899, who was
admitted by order of the superior court
of Kitsap county on October 4, 1898.
(SIEned) r. +. GODDARD. M. D..
Superintendent of Western Washing
ton Hospital for the Insane.
Below is appended a copy of letter
which Mrs. Christensen received from
Superintendent Goddard, notifying her of
her husbands escape last September, tho
original of which is now in the possession
of the Kitsap county authorities:
Fort Steilacoom, Wash, Dec. 10, 1899.
Mrs. Ella Christianson, Seabold,
sh,--Madam: enclose the letter and
present sent to your husband, who left
September q we wrote you and in
formed you that he had left the hos
pital while outside to work with our
carpenter Ills mental condition was
quite good, and he seemed to enjoy the
outside work. We made very close
toned to take walks over the grounds.
no one had paid any particular atten-
ton to him, as he could be seen walk
ing around every day. Please keep
me informed should You hear Of his