Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-30
{. Y. Chaves Gives His Findings in the Investi-
CATION Of Asylum Charges.
MOSTLY AGREES WITH OTHER MEMBERS.
Differs One Matter of Evidence and Matter of opinion
Believes Miss TwOmey was Cruel Head Physician
should Live at Asylum.

Following is the report submitted
by Attorney r, V. Chaves OF Albu-
Querque, a member of the committee
appointed by Governor NJ A. Otero
to investigate the charges against the
management Of the insane asylum and
the board of directors The report
differs from that of the other six
members only regarding the knowl-
edge of Miss Twomey, the head ma
tron, of cruelties practiced in the fe-
male wards and regarding the ad-
visibility of the appointment of an
assistant superintendent TO reside at
the institution
To the Hon. Miguel A. Otero,
Governor of New Mexico,
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Sir: As one of the members Of the
committee appointed by you to investi-
gate the Insane Asylum of New Mexi-
co upon charges made against its man
agement, and not being able on certain
important particulars to agree with
the majority of said committee, re-
spectfully submit this, my individual
report of my findings and conclusions
in regard to the management of said
institution.
AS stated in the report of the ma
|jority, the committee in its sessions al
flowed all the latitude possible to those
who were preferring charges against
THE management OF the institution. -
well as to the management itself, with
the view of having as full and com
|plete an investigation as could be made
in accordance with your instructions,
land the investigation, which was con-
|ducted in a public manner, was not
|closed until all parties had presented
jail the evidence that they desired to
present.
From deliberate and full considera-
|tion Of the very voluminous evidence
which was submitted, l find.
That the asylum is kept in neat
|conditiOn, the rooms of the patients
land the surroundings Of the institution
being cleanly and properly attended
Ito.
That the patients are given good and
Sufficient food, having well appointed
kitchen and dining rooms for males
and females.
=. III.
That although some of the patients
have been made to work for long
hours at time, yet the work, rather
than being detrimental, is OF beneii-
cial character, both physically and
mentally.
w.
In the male department the evidence
/ has conclusively established the fact
that some of the patients were treated
to certain unknown and unusual way
of bathing, known as the "Ferris-wheel
BATH This is done by stripping the
patient, tying his wrists together
with a towel generally, then slipping
the arms thus tied over the bended
knees, allowing the knees to stick up
through the wrists. then a broom
stick OF some other similar stick heavy
enough to support the full weight ol
the body Of the patient, is run through
between the Texture Of the knees and
elbows; the patient is thus put in 9
tub of cSld water with both sides ol
the stick either resting on the sides
of the tub or held by two men (gen
orally attendants), and while the pa
tient Is thus suspended upon this sticl
he is given from one to several turnl
in the water. In the manner as II h,
were a wheel.
v.
That on several occasions the gal
was used. This gas was introduced
In evidence, and consists OF a piec,
of hard wood about from three to fou
inches long by an inch wide, excep
that in the center II has a piece pro
jecting out which is inserted In th
mouth and then tied back Of the hea'