The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-08

AN UNEXPECTED PHASE IN THE IN
SANITY AGITATION.
Uneasincss Among Patients at the
Central HospitaI-Cases Care
fully Observed There.

An unexpected phase of the insanity agi-
tation of the past few weeks was brought
to light yesterday. 1t seems that news
papers are permitted 10 be taken into the
various wards of the insane asylum at
Mount Jackson. This is in line with the
mode OF treatment adopted at that insti-
tuition, which consists in rendering the sur
roundings of the patients as natural as
possible. Patients have, it is said, kept
apace with the developments in the investi-
cation of the alleged insanity trust and
have noted the statements concerning the
inquiry that is being made by Attorney
General Taylor. and in the different wards
Of the asylum this is the sole topic OF con-
versation.
DR.. George F.. Edenharter. superintendent
OF Central Asylum. was asked yesterday
as to the truth Of the report that he and his
assistants have been experiencing a great
deal Of trouble with patients since the re-
cent agitation of the insanity matter in this
city. The superintendent was very reluctant
to talk about the matter. his habit being
to avoid discussing affairs of the institu-
ton in the papers as far as possible. DR..
Edenharter admitted. however, that consid-
cradle difficulty has been experienced in
handling many OF the patients since the
newspapers OF indianapolis have been print
ing revelations concerning the method Of
operation of the so-called insanity trust"
patients that are Inclined TO violence
have manifested this tendency more fire.
quently OF late than formerly. The mllder
cases are persistent in their bombardment
Of the physicians and attendants at the
institution with questions as to when their
individual cases are going to be taken up.
When DR.. Edenharter started from his Of
flee Saturday afternoon 10 walk through
the asylum grounds to the baseball diamond
for the purpose of watching the game be-
tween the Statehouse and courthouse teams
fully fifty patients approached him with
questions such as Doctor. when is Attor-
ney General Taylor going 10 investigate
my case and have me released from this
placer"
NOT MANY SANE PATIENTS.
a prominent physician OF this city who is
conversant with affairs at Central Asylum
said last night that IT is a grave mistake
to suppose that very many inmates of the
institution are sane. at is DR.. Edenharter's
practice" he said. ito carefully observe
cases for thirty days after they are adj
mitted TO the asylum and If he finds no
traces of insanity TO turn them loose. DIR.
Edenharter has not presented his side Of
the case yet and he will not do so in the
papers. in my opinion, but / think you will
find when these habeas corpus suits, Of
which We are hearing so much just now,
have been tried and settled, that he has
been a faithful official. My personal opinion
Is that there Is not a single person in Gen.
trail Asylum that ought not to be there. L
know OF one case in particular-the wom-
ans name is Brown. / believe-that would
deceive any ordinary person. That woman
killed her own child and threatened TO kill
another child. She was perfectly rational
on all othS subjects. but had the homicidal
mania. The neighbors were fooled and
thought she was perfectly sane. but a
prominent county official who knew she
was dangerous set about having her con-
fined In the asylum"
The subject Of habeas corpus is occupy
Ing public attention just now almost to
the exclusion of every other phase of the
insanity trust" investigation. Last Sat-
urday at least half a dozen local attor-
neys were seen in the county clerks of
nee looking up the records in insanity
inquests. and these men were not loath to
impart the information that they intended
10 bring habeas corpus proceedings to re-
lease patients from the Insane Asylum.
One LAWYER said: If don't take up these
"AAAF CAAA a a
just as well get the fee as anybody else"
CASE OF ANNIE GRIFFIN.
One OF the cases in which there is talk
Of bringing habeas corpus action is that
OF Annie Griffin, sister OF Jeremiah Grit
fin. who resides at S34 Meek street. this
city. Miss Griffin will be recalled as the
woman who created such a stir during
the early part OF 1895 by pressing her un-
welcome attentions upon Father Gavisk.
She went so far as to interrupt solemn re-
ligious services by making violent spec
tacular protestations Of her affection for
the reverend father. The woman insisted
that she was engaged to be married TO the
priest, and purchased a wedding trousseau.
put IT on and went to Father Gavisk's
church and created a highly sensational
scene. She was arrested and incarcerated
IN the Central Asylum. where she still
remains. Miss Grifin's brother, il Is under
stood. believes his sister has been cured.
and desires her release from the institu-
ton. At the asylum last night il was
stated that this patient was in no better
mental condition than she was on the dav
she first entered the institution. A few
Jays ago. said an official at the hospital.
she imagined that there was a telephone
IN her room in the women's ward that con-
nected her with Ireland, and the unfortu-
nate patient carried on an excited CONVEX
Sat1on with her brother across the water
This is but a sample of the hallucinations
that possess the patient. il is said.
An interesting suggestion that has been
made In connection with the insanity I'M
vestigation Is that in the event patients are
released from the Central Asylum and
afterwards prove 10 be really insane there
will be great difficulty in having them re-
committed TO the asylum. 1t is not thought
that DR.. E~denharter would submit TO the
annoyance of defending such cases when
he has reason to believe the persons are in
sane and then receive them back again