The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-02
MARINE CHARGES
ARE MOT. PROVEN
State Insane Board Exonerates
Officials of Mental Hospital.
PATIENT UNRULY AT TIMES
MANY BRUISES FOUND ON his
PERSON SELF INFLICTED.

The state board Of insanity finds
that Eat no time, while patient in the
hospital was Michael Marine cruelty
treated or abused" The officials of the
mental asylum are acquitted of the
charge Of harsh or inhuman treatment
of the Salt Lake man, and he alone is
blamed for the bruises and cuts which
were found upon his person The board
finds that some Of the wounds We're in
nicted by the attendants who were
compelled to use physical force in de-
Tending themselves against the patient
when he was suffering from one of his
frequent violent spells.
The report of the board was made
public yesterday afternoon It was
drafted at a session held during the
morning. It is signed by Governor
Wells, State Auditor Tingey and State
Treasurer Dixon, and concludes with
the following words:
In the management of the state
mental hospital, the board desires and
courts the fullest public inquiry and
investigation"
Cruel Treatment Was Charged.
The alleged cruel treatment Of
Michael Marine was brought to the at
tentiOn of the board by the parents Of
the young man, who was an inmate of
that hospital for treatment for mental
troubles They charged that the at
tendants had not only been extremely
harsh and cruel with their son, but had
refused them permission to see him
when they called at the hospital upon
several occasions.
The charges, which We're printed in
The Hera Ia "a rba time were brought
to the attention Of Governor Wells, the
chairman of the board, and he said
that they would be investigated. He
added that if il were found that any
Of the officials Of the hospital had been
cr1el with Marine or any of the other
patients. they would not only be dis
charged at once, but that their treat
ment would be brought to the atten-
ton Of the district tatorney of Utah
county.
The investigation was held at Provo.
The members of the board made sew
eTal trips TO that city. and examined
a number Of Witnesses The report
was delayed in being made public
through business and other matters
keeping the various members away
from meetings at which they were to
have been formulated and decided
upon. But yesterday the board met
and decided upon their report, which IS
as follows:
Findings of the Board.
The board of insanity having finished
the investigation Of the charges OF cruel
treatment of Michael Marine while a pa
tient at the state mental hospital, finds
as follows:
That the testimony relating to the diff
ficultY between Nightwatchman Gather
UNI and Mr.. Marine shows cOnclusively
that the violence used by Gatherum was
iustifiable and clearly in self-defense.
That the restraint TO which the patient
Marine was subjected was not a punish
ment, but was necessary TO prevent MN
from carrying into effect his disOrdered
fancics regarding the treatment OF the
CruptiOns with which ne was afflicted.
That the cut on Marines head, and also
the bruise on his eye were caused by his
falling against a waShstand while In one
of the commissions to which he was SUD
That no weapons of offense or defense
are kept, or permitted TO be kept, IN any
of the wards OF the hospital, and no
sticks or clubs were used upon Marine in
this instance, or at any other time.
That the attendants daily record is al
ways subject TO revision by the medical
superintendent, and whatever changes
We're made in the record relating to Ma
Tine were made for the sole purpose OF
making the record conform to the SUI
perintendent's ideas Of record ciassitlca-
ton
That at no time. while patient in the
hospital, was Marine cruelty treated or
abused.
AS considerable publicity has attended
deems il advisable to make public the
rules and regulations adopted for the
mana cement and control Of patients,
which read as follows;
In dealing with patients. attendants
should remember that their first duty IS
TO treat them with unvarying kindness,
respect and attention. addressing them
fn a mild and gentle tone Of voice. avoid
ing all violence and rudeness, nick
names or disTeSDeCtfuI terms IN man
aging patients there must be absolutely
no abuses. no punishmGnts and no dis
graces. The board viii not permit nor
tolerate any kind or form of harsh. cruel
or abusive treatment of any patient by
any person employed at the hospital, and
will excuse violence toward q patient
only on the clearest evidence of its alb
solUte necessity in self-defense."
The board has always insisted that pa
tents be treated gently kindly and con-
siderately, and believes that each and
every employee of the hospital has uni
formly obeyed the wishes of the board as
outlined in the rules and regulations as
quoted.
In the management of the state men
tai hospital the board desires and courts
the fullest public inquiry and investiga-
ton.
HEBER NJ WELLS,
JOHN DEGREY DIXON.
c. s. TINGEY