Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-06-29
(. Las Vegas, June 20, 1903.
To the Hon. Miguel A. Otero,
Governor of New Mexico,

To the Hon. Miguel A. Otero,
Governor of New Mexico,
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Sir: The committee to investigate tn
Territorial Insane Asylum, appointe
by your official order on the 9th instan
respectfully submits the following re
port of it's proceedings and findings.
The committee was organized by tn
selection of Mr.. r. J. Palen as chair
man, on the 18th instant, the day des
ignated in your official notice to tn
members for the meeting of the com
mttee, and the necessary steps wer
taken to give the utmost publicity pos
sible to the manner of procedure to b.
observed in the investigation, by pub
lie notice in the newspapers at La:
Vegas, and by formal subpoena to al
witnesses whose names could be ascer.
tanned by the committee, or We're fur.
nished by the representatives of the
parties, who had been instrumental in
procuring and publishing details of the
alleged acknowledgement of the asylum
Steps were also taken in all cases tc
procure the attendance of absent wit
nesses, and in this particular the board
of regents of the asylum heartily CO.
operated with the committee by paying
all expenses and transportation of such
witnesses, and extenii. every facility
to your committee for procuring their
attendance.
Request was made Of your committee
by representatives of the parties maxi
ing the charges to be present in person
or by attorney, which was granted, and
during the greater part of our sessions
they We're so represented. A similar
privilege was granted the board of di-
rectors of the asylum and exercised by
them. Five full days, with long ses-
sions, open to the public, were given to
the taking of the testimony attached to
this report.
Before proceeding to take the testi-
mony, your committee made careful
and thorough inspection of the asylum
and thoroughly looked into all the
methods used by the officials II, the
command and management of the pa
tients and in the discharge of the gen.
eral affairs of the asylum, and the
asylum appeared to be in the most ex-
cellent condition, and it's affairs judi
ciously and properly managed. Perfect
cleanliness prevailed, there was an en-
tire absence of repulsive features, the
patients appeared to be as we'll cared
for and under as little restraint, as
was compatible with their mental con-
dition, and it was a matter of surprise
to the committee that SO satisfactory
condition of affairs should exist with
so little appearance of the exertion Of
force or restraint. The patients ap-
peared to be we'll nourished, and your |
committee saw nothing In the course |
of its inspection, meriting criticism or |
unfavorable comment.
We found that the charges against
the asylum might be conveniently dl"
vided for the purpose of our report, un-
der the following heads:
lst Quantity and quality Of the
food furnished the patients, and
whether the patients were subjected to
any deprivation of food, as punish
ment.
End Work. Whether the work re-
Quired by the patients was Of an ex-
cessive character, and what was the
effect on them Of such work as was re-
quired or permitted.
3rd Cruel and Inhuman Treatment.
Male Ward. The so-called Ferris
wheel baths. The use of the gag, the
dip and shower baths; strapping to the
doors, and other unnecessary res
traint., Blows or kicks inflicted on pa
tients.
Female Ward
Striking, kicking, choking patients;
throwing them violently to the floor;
dragging them by the hair or ears;
subjectfng patients to unnecessary ex-
ertions when in an enfeebled condition:
strapping them to the door; whether
there was failure to guard against un-
necessary exposure to cold Of patients
confined in cells; the use Of baths, dip
and shower.
9Th Dissertation Of the bodies of the
dead
9Th The DR.. Mohlau case.
9Th The alleged mismanagement and
misconduct Of the officials in charge.
(a) Board Of regents.
(b) Medical superintendent.
tc) Steward.
(d) Matron.
te) Attendants.