Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-12
AIR SCANDAL
At KANKAKEE
Evidence is Heard by
State Board of
Charities.
TRUSTEE is ACCUSED
A Former Attendant
Makes Sensational
Statements.

Kankakee, ILL.,, Aug. 12.-Evidence
sustaining all the charges made
against the management of the in
sane asylum, except that of cruelty
to patients, was placed before the
state board of charities yesterday af-
ternOon. As to the matter of cruelty
the witness. DR.. V. p. Podstata, for
a time chief of the medical staff of
the hospital. said he had no personal
knowledge, nor in the nature of
things could he have, and he wished
to confine himself strictly to the
things which he knew.
The testimony of DIR. Podstata was
not produced, however, until after
several tits between the attorneys
representing the two reform organ
izations of Chicago and members of
the state board.
At first it was insisted that formal
charges must be filed before an inves-
tigation could be had, and, after At
torneys Fitzgerald and Bull. repre-
senting respectively the Woman's
Protective agency and the Civil Ser
vice Reform league, had beaten this
down. they were refused the privi-
lege of examining their own witness
es. Finally, on motion of Judge Glib
bons, of Chicago, this right was
granted them and DIR. Podstata was
sworn.
DIR. Podstata was connected with
the asylum for seven years He rose
from the position of an inferno to
that of chief of the medical staff.
He left here to take a position with
Il private sanitarium at Lake Gen
eva in charge of DR.. Stearns, with
whom he worked here. He was an
exceedingly conscientious witness,
refusing to testify as TO matters of
which he had no personal knowl-
edge.
Testimony of DIR. POdstata
The statements which DR.. POdstata
made are thus summarized:
Fanny Cannon, one of the insane
women who gave birth to child,
was allowed liberties in violation of
the rules for paroled patients.
Lena Dyxtra, the other insane wo-
man, must have been betrayed by an
attendant
In the incapable ward go inmates
are at any time in danger of death
from fire.
Trustee Len Small, and not Supt.
Corbus, is the real head of the insti-
tuition.
DR.. Podstata was present when
Supt. Corbus told an applicant for a
position that Senator Small looked
after such matters.
Supt Corbus told him he had to
take such employees as were sent
him, and patients having political in
fuence back of them were to receive
the better treatment.
He had reported cases of attend
ants playing cards and leaving their
charges unattended, but nothing was
done.
He had reported cases of male at
tendants throwing kisses to female
patients, but no action was taken.
No copies of the rules and bylaws
of the asylum had been furnished
new attendants in late years.
He himself had regularly paid to
Supt. Corbus a political assessment
of per cent of his salary.
\ woman stenOgrapher, paid by the
state, had spent all her time during
a campaign in doing political work.
The asylum band, composed of "A
male attendants, had gone on trips
to political rallies.
\ marching club of % female at
tendants had been formed during the
Yates campaign.
The average of the women nurses
was good, but of the male ones was
bad.
The pathological laboratory and
scientific work had been neglected
He had trouble in getting such
common medical supplies as carbolic
acid and alcohol.
He frequently had seen liquors
served to visitors and an abundance
when a Legislative committee was at
the asylum.
The temperature in some of the
wards often fell as low as As degrees
In many wards the bathing facilities
only permitted of one bath a patient
week.
Testimony About Trustee Murphy.
Sensational testimony was devel
oped at the evening session regarding