Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-22
T|PT0N'S CONVINCING TESTIMONY
BEFORE ASYLUM COMMISSION
Malicious Intent Of Accusers Established Miss TNome Shown
by Reliable Witnesses to Have Insisted on Kindness
DIRECTOR GREGORY SCORES DA COSTA AND DoRBANDT

: age OF patients cured under yoar ad-
ministration?"
In my first biennial report, made
in '9S, the percentage Of cures was
10. Eleven months Of those two years
had been under my administration, and
thirteen under my predecessor. In my
next biennial report, in 1900, the per
centage was 25 ga. and in 1902, "a
per cent Witness said il was diff
cult to make comparisons with other
institutions because Of the conditions
which have existed here. Witness re-
viewed conditions from the year 81,
when the single building was crowded
from cellar to garret. over a dozen
violent patients being confined in the
cellar, up to the present time, and
showed that as better facilities and
more room were afforded, the percent
age of recoyeries had steadily in
creased.
In answer to questions ABOUT Miss
Twomey, witness said she had entered
the service Of the institution early in
1899, first as night watch, her sister
being the matron. After about a year
of service as attendant, she succeeded
her sister as matron. She had made
a very intelligent and capable matron,
always solicitous for the welfare OF
the institution and very careful in
carrying out all orders. She had
grown steadily in her work. She had
shown executive ability and tact to
high degree. Witness stated that in
experienced attendants often regarded
necessary restraints to be harsh and
cruel, and that methods used for treat
ment and restraint were often re-
garded b. them as puniShments. Be
ing asked about former Attend
ant Mrs. Ollinger, and II complaint in
regard to her cruelty had been made
by Benigno Romero, witness said COM
plants had been made, but he didn't
remember by whom. They had been
looked into, some found to be true and
attendant dismissed
Being asked il he had ever said to
Attendant Dorbandt that he would at
all times protect superior from the
complaints of an inferior, even il
they were true, witness said he had
never made such a statement. Wit
ness added that, on the suggestion OF
a faithful attendant who disliked to
report abuses at The office for fear OF
being called "tsittle-tale" and incur
ring the displeasure of other attend
ants, he had SO placed mail box in
side his office door that all who he'd
complaints to make at any time could
make them In writing without being
known to their fellow-employes. Wit
ness further staed that in all such
cases of complaints he has promised
not to use their names without con-
sent.
Referring to oyerwOrk, witness said
the instructions we're never to allow
patients to be overtaxed and always to
excuse from work when they wished
It. As to attendants, witness said they
might be sometimes overworked. At
AT one time the present matron had
become worn out with overwork. He
had been compelled to send her away
on a vacation.
| In regard to The case OF Teofola
Moya. witness was asked II Mrs. Jara-
milo and Virginia Maestas had ever
complained about her being abused.
He replied that the first hint he re-
ceived of any such thing was when
he read 1t in the papers. He said Mrs.
Jaramillo did complain frequently
when she first came to the asylum and
annoyed him necessarily. but her
grievance was solely that she had
constant fear Of discharge and begged
to be allowed to resign II her work
was unsatisfactory, but that he would
please not discharge her Finally her
imaginary troubles became so annoy.
Ing that he told her he didn't want
to hear anything more from her.
In regard to Virginia Maestas, wit
ness said she was employed ten or
eleven months; that he believed her
service was not wholly satisfactorily
she did not grow with her work.
Did she apply again after leaving
the asylum?"
Yes, she applied in person to me
and also wrote letter to Mr.. Ray.
nolds."
did Ella schlott lodge complaints
with your"
only in the case Of Enda Burnett.
She thought the discipline was too
| harsh. I asker her In what regpect