The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-07

story of what happened while she was
at the asylum. as the board at TINS
point made their blanket ruling against
all testimony concerning happenings
prior to May Is, 1901
Anna Mossbarger, who testified at the
inquest, repeated her story. she went
TO see Jacob RynerSOn at the asylum,
and her suspicious were aroused con-
corning the way he was being treated
She was a close friend of the family ana
reported what she had discovered. Inc
result was the move to get Rynerson
out of Bedwell's place
Mrs Dollie Mcclure and Ralph Eler-
lex were offered and their testimony IN
the main was rejected.
Mrs Mary Warren, the daughter OF
Jacob Rynerson, testified as to the in
iuries which her father received at the
asylum.
K. S. Miles. Rynerson's grandson, tes-
titled. Miles is the young man VINO
pounded up the socialist orator on Kan
sas avenue last fall
The complafnants offered to introduce
testimony by Mrs. Ella Evans and Or.
Riddle concerning matters prior to May
Is 1901, but were not allowed TO pro-
duce their witnesses
Here the defense commenced to intro
duce its evidence. Mrs. Fannie Knapp,
/ Of 1901 Fillmore, testified that her moth
| er had been confined at Bedwells for
| about a year: that she went to see her
| frequently, and never saw anything
| wrong
DR.. G. w Ellinger testified as to the
examination he made of Rynerson's
| wounds after the latter's death. He was
not allowed to testify as to certain oc-
| currences prior to May Is, 1901, which he
! characterized as occurrences which were
not exactly right
S F JOY superintendent at the poor
farm. said that Rynerson had been at
! his institution for a month last winter,
and that he was very feeble in mind
and body. but that while in his charge
I did not receive any bruises or wounds
DR. S. A. Johnson, who was employed
| to go with DR.. Elhnger to examine
/ Rynerson, testified as to the bruises and
/ wounds which RynersOn had sustained
! Ed F. PaVey and Carl Golf. police oil
fcers. testified as to RynersOn's feeble
condition when he was brought to the
police station.
H c. Petrie, who delivers bread to the
/ Redwell asylum, told of seeing Ryner-
son fall down one day but when called
upon to describe Rynerson, failed to do
| so accurately.
A. c. Hale. poor commissioner and a
| boon companion of Bedweu. who takes
more than a passing interest in his in
stitution, testified that everything was
perfectly conducted at the asylum.
Lenora White. who worked for Bed
well in the kitchen until July testified
| that she never saw anything wrong.
| Mrs Maria Gill, Mrs. BedWell's nurse
| for the past three weeks, testified to the
same thing. Mary Linn, who does
| homework for Mrs Bedwell. followed in
the same line None of them had ever
| had anything to do with the patients di-
| rectly, however.
Henry NJ Steele said he thought the
asylum was being run all right OF
course Steele ought to know, for he has
| opinions ON everything.
At 6 o'clock Monday afternoon the
hearing adjourned till o'clock this
MI -BEDwETI, ON STAND
| When the hearing was resumed at short
| Iy before 9 o'clock this morning, Superin-
tendent Bedwell was put on the stand by
/ the defense Mr. Bedwell stated among
other things that no attendants at the
| asylum had been discharged since May Is.
| 1901, which accounts for the fact that the
complaining witnesses were unable to get
any direct testimony concerning the mis-
management of the asylum during that
1 time. The board of charities was evident
ly playing safe" when it threw its man
tie of limitations around Mr.. Bedwell.
Charles. or Ward. Bradshaw. the attend
| ant, next testified. and claimed that all Of
| the injuries received by Mr.. Rynerson
| were due to falls. He claimed that Ryner-
! son fell out of bed several times. When
on cross examination Bradshaw was asked
whether or not he had not been discharged
from the asylum at Osawatomie, the at
torneys for MIR. Bedwell objected, and the
board ruled that Bradshaw need not an
swer the question
DR.. Hogeboom testified concerning tbs
cOrOners inquest and the autopsy, and
described the condition in which the body
was found.
A painter who worked at Bedwell's
asylum testified that during the week il
which Rynerson claimed he was abused
because he complained of the cold, ths
weather was warm all the time and there
was need of fires He also zlid h,
never saw any of the patients mHtreated
By agreement, it was decided that DR.
Reeds testimony concerning Mr.. Ryner-
sons injuries on behalf of the complain
ants, will be taken by the attorneys anG
fled with the rest of the evidence.
The members Of the board will wait til
: the record IS Transcribed before going into
q further consideration of thu case, ant
it was intimated that no decision coult
t be expected until about the first of No
! vember. meanwhile the experience of age6
; feeble Jacob Rynerson may be re-enacted