Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-06-29
CENSURE In THE MARY LEONARD
CASE--COURSE OF BOARD OF REGENTS
APPROVED ---REC COMMEND EMPLO OYMENT OF
ASSISTANT MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT

number of months; during which timt
she received no communication from
relatives or friends. The story haG
been circulated in Las Vegas that she
was pregnant, and there were some
symptoms of pregnancy. In order tc
determine the matter definitely, after
her death, DR.. Upton decided to hold
necropsy, which was held, and de-
monstrated that she was not pregnant.
The asylum had long been in need
of skeleton for use as a guide in
special dissections, which were neces-
sary in the opinion of the medical sup
erintendent, to be made for the furth-
erance of the work in the asylum, and
one, Dr. Mohlau, desired to prepare
and articulate the skeleton of Mary
Leonard, permission to do which was
granted. The flesh was removed from
the bones, placed in a soap box and
buried in the usual way, and the
grave marked with her name, similar to
other graves.
Before determining to use the skele-
ton for the purposes mentioned, DR..
Upton wrote to the address on the
commitment of the patient, 1t being
the only address of any relative or
friend known to him, which he be-
lieves was that Of her sister. and after
waiting several weeks, received no re-
ply, nor was the letter returned to
him. He postponed the dissection sew
eral weeks to hear from her relatives
as to the disposition of the body. He
never heard from them.
DR.. Mohlau had the bones placed in
a barrel and water placed over them.
The barrel was placed near the north
fence of the asylum grounds with in
structions given to have water kept
over the bones. Before preparing the
skeleton, DR.. Mohlau left the institu>
tion, and the barrel remained in the |
yard for about three years, and DR..
Upton, being busy in other lines, over
looked 1t.
The instructions for keeping the
bones covered with water were not
followed. The barrel came to pieces
and the skeleton fell to the ground. A
patient. named "Rupy," finding the
bones, threw them over the fence, be-
yond the limits Of the asylum grounds,
and DR.. DaCosta, assistant medical
having seen the bones
there, reported the fact to Mr.. Greg
Dry and Mr.. Jefferson Reynolds, menu
oers of the board of directors, with
whom he went to the asylum, and they
found the bones where they had been
thrown near the fence. DR.. Upton had
no knowledge of the barrel having
ALLEN apart and the bones being
:hrown over the fence.
In this case your committee finds {
hat there was carelessness on the
'art Of the medical superintendent in
ailing to carry out his original inten- G
Ion, or in default of such action, in
'mittingeto properly inter the bones In
he grave Of Mary Leonard.
Fifth. DR.. Mohlau Matter. Your r
finds that DR.. Mohlau, an q
innate Of the institution, confined for 4
he drug habit, was allowed to render s
ONE medical services to patients, un- s
Ter the supervision of the medical sup S
That he was properly Q
estrained at times, when It was nec- s
ssary, and at other times, he was al
owed to administer to the. needs of c
ONE of the patientA At no time was
e permitted to treat patients until he a
ad been in the institutions sufficient t
ength of time to have fully recovered t
rom the effects Of the drug habit. c
our committee finds that he was fit n
ed and qualified as a physician to
reat the patients as above specified. c
nd that the permission granted him to e
o so by the medical superintendent
yas in no wise censurable, but on the r
ontrary, the exercise Of a wise discre- o
lon on the part Of the medical super /,
for which he is in no wise e
menable to censure or criticism.
Sixth. The Alleged Mismanagement t,
n the Part of the Asylum Authorities. h
Board of Regents Your committee /,
nds that there Is no evidence showing a
ny official misconduct, mismanage- {,
tent, or neglect on the part Of the
oard of regents.
Medical Superintendent. Your COM
,ittee finds that the medical superin-
sndent was not aware of the abuses
,und by your committee, to exist IN
he conduct of the asylum, and herein-
bove specified. and that he is not at
ault for failing to ascertain their ex- La
ltepce:. that he had no personal q
noYlelGe Of them; and that in all p