The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-10
BUVAH BRUIES
CARE FOR SICK
Asylum Investigation by Com
mittee in Detail
MOST HORRIBLE T0RTURES
Were Inflicted on Diseased
Patients

Topeka, Kan, May eff anything
were needed to convince the asylum in
yestigating committee that abuses exist
in the Topeka asylum and that patients
are habitually mistreated by attendants
the testimony given by Burnett MARCEL
of Ottawa, furnished abundant proof
Representative jerks, who has been in
clined to think that the abuses Of the
asylum have been magnified, stated be
fore hand that he is well acquainted with
MARCEL and has perfect confidence IN
the truth ofehis statements, and although
MarceIs testimony was against Mr.
jerks theory, the latter said he thngft
MARCEL told the exact truth, and the
other members of the committee thought
the same.
MarceWs testimony corToborated that
given by Albert Johnson few days ago
and it proved that some asylum employees
who are sim employed in the institu-
ton have taken pains 10 cover up the
truth 10 the extent of testifying falsely.
He testified that it was sometimes GUS
tomary to strap and pound the patients
into submission wnen they are unruly
although this is contrary to the rules
IT would seem that the rules are not very
effective Like Johnson, MARCEL included
himself among the others who violated
the rules once in awhile, although he
said he had never slapped a patient. He
testified that these same things had been
done by WEIGH and other attendants who
had testified that they never saw any
thing Of the kind.
one thing that the testimony has shown
thus far has been that not enough at
tendants are employed. and that the
wages are not sufficient to secure com
petent men for the work Only three ana
sometimes only two attendants are en-
ployed for forty or fifty patients, and the
wages run from twenty to thirty dollars
a month. which in the present era of pros
perity is not sufficient to keep a man OF
judgment and ability TO properly care
for the insane.
MARCEL was an attendant in the Topeka
asylum about two years. He was only
% years old when he entered the insti-
tuition. He testified that he knew both
welch and Johnson, who had previously
testified, and considered them good at
PENDANTS firm but not rough.
Did you ever see any alterations or
fights between attendants and patients?1
he was asked.
AT times l have" he replied.
"Were the patients required to work?"
''Some of them. l think, We're"
How much work were they required
20 do?"
HAD TO WORK
THAT depended on the condition. of the
patient Very few ever objected to doing
a little work, all that was ever required.
1t was only occasionally that we ever
had any trouble
What did you do when there was
trouble?"
Il generally looked TO see that none of
the attendants got hurt"
We'll, how did you handle the pa
tients?"
I'VE usually tripped them and threw
them down. 1t does not hurt them to
trip them. II they still fought after they
We're down and held on the floor, they
were confined in their rooms"
Were the patients ever pounded TO
make them submissve?"
Sometimes"
''Was any report ever made of it?''
eff it was very serious it went into the
daily report. It was very seldom that
anything Of the kind occurred"
Did the attendants ever use their fists
or the patients?'
"A little But the usual way when
patient got unruly was to close in on him
and trip him up"
when patients wouldn't work, was it
the castom TO slap them?"
Sometimes"
''The attendants would hit them to make
them work?'
Sometimes"
''What was the rule concerning that?"
1T was not permissible"
What was done when it was found
out2"
The attendant doing it was discharged
II the superintendent found he had not
proper grounds"
THEY ALL DID IT
Did all the attendants do that sort OF
shing?'
I don't think any Of them were entirely
guiltless."
How about welch?"
4 never considered him very harsh"
HAS he slapped patients?"
Yes. sir; have seen him do So
Have you ever slapped or struck
patients?'
Il never slapped them. I have struck
them"
Where would YOU strike them?''
ION the body somewhere"
"How-hard?"
Not very hard. Just enough to let
them know I was there. Some OF the
patients did not know what attendants
were fer"
Did the patients ever strike back?"
YES. sir
what happened them"
"A general fight"
''1)id you ever have one?-
NO. SIR"
Ibid welchs''
u don't know
ATTENDANTS STOOD TOGETHER
Mr MARCEL testified that the attendants
would not report each other FOR rough
treatment Of patients. as they considered
IL necessary and stood together.
DO you think three attendants are
enough FOR forty or nfty patientsg" be
was asked.
"on oonvalesoent wards three might
be enough. but it is not enough on the
other wards. as the attendants have othe-
work 20 do besides Just watching the
rie nave only two
attendants. II there were more attend
ants the patients could be managed with
out NIo.ence-