The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-12

rUPERINrENDENT GODDORD's de-
~ linquencies as the head Of the West
/ ern washington Hospital for the In
sane appear not to have been confined to
cases originating in Kitsap county. The
publication In Wednesdays Post-In-
telligencer of the facts in the
Christianson case. in which the super
intendsnt failed, according to the records,
to follow the plain direction of the law,
has served to bring attention to other acts
Of official omission on DR.. Goddards
part.
How many cases similar in their pathetic
details to that of the humble Seabod
carpenter are to be recorded of the man.
agement of the Steilacoom institution
may perhaps never be known. Many a
man who goes to. the asylum at Stella
COON is lost sight of by friends. and If he
has no relatives living in the state. as
frequently happens. there is no one to look
after his interests.
So common was Superintendent God
dard's neglect to perform his official du-
ties under the law that Judge w. H.
Moore, of the superior court of King
county, was forced, in the fall of 1893, to
call his attention to his duties and to no.
tify him that he would be expected here
after to file notices promptly with the
clerk of the court, in cases where patients
had been discharged or had died.
1t is a fact that the King county au-
with the management of the Western
Washington insane asylum since DR.. God
dard was appointed as superintendent by
Gov. Rogers. Official records at the King
county court house contain evidence of
fragrant omissions Of duty by DR.. God
dard.
Facts Concerning HamilI Case.
In one instance. particularly, 1t appears
that Superintendent Goddard released a
lum, who returned to his home in King
county, without notifying the superior
court which committed the man. as he Is
plainly directed to do by law.
This man was Michael Hamill, a resi-
dent of Sunnydale. Post-Intelligencer
readers will remember the mans tragic
end April 10. 1899. He was killed by Con-
stable Doerrer at Sunnydale while making
an armed resistance against the attempts
Of the officer to arrest him.
Hanill was committed by Judge Moore
in December. 1895. Several weeks later,
the records do not show the exact date,
Haniu was released from the asylum. He
was seen at the county court house some
itime late in February or the first week in
March. Returning to him home at Sum
nydale, Hamill, in his delirium, imagin-
ding that his domicile was surrounded by
armed foes, barricaded himself in and laid
by miniature arsenal in the way of fire
tlce was to fire at random through loop
holes In his fortress at imaginary enemies.
until the people of Sunnydale were driven
well-nigh distracted.
This was the man that Superintendent
Goddard had released, upon the word, it
is said, Of a resident Of Georgetown that
he would take care Of the crazy man.
Tcrror-Stricl<en Neighbors Complain.
The King county authorities were en-
tirely in ignorance of Hamill's release
from the asylum until they learned of
his presence at Sunnydale from Hamilps
terror-stricken neighbors. This, too, In
spite Of the fact that the law plainly makes
ii the duty of the superintendent of the
asylum to notify the court which commit
ted the patient Of the date ana reason for
his discharge or rsiesse. or OF Die sscsD~.
as the fact may be.
Hamill was killed by Constable Doerrer
at Sunnydale April 10. He resisted arrest
and had attempted to kill the officer. At
an inquest conducted by Coroner Sparl-
ing. the constable was exonerated.
Hamin had resided at Sunnydale for six
weeks or moro before he met his death.
Yet the records at the court house bore no
trace OF an official notice OF the mans