Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-09-10
Madison, Sept. 6.

came to his death by his own act with
suicidal intent and censured the Men
about 5 o'clock the afternoon of Sep
TENDER 2. when the accident occurred;
that he was shaving and had laid his
razor on the bed that there was
space of about four feet between the
trunk and the wall; that his door,
opening on the quarters of the pa
tients, was open; that Conlin came
to the room and must and did pass him
Delmoss) before the attendant be-
came aware of the presence Of the lu-
matte; that Conlin had possessed him
self of the razor on the bed; that he
grabbed Conin and tried to take the
razor away from him; that he called
for help and before assistance came
Conlin had cut his throat that he
knew of Conlin's suicidal intentions
and that he had been informed OF pre-
vious efforts on Conlins part to take
his own life.
Herman Schoengarth was sworn and
testified that he was an attendant in
the sixth ward at the Mendoza hos
pital: that he answered Delmoss' call
for assistance and helped force Conlin
to the floor; that Conlin had inflicted
the wound when he first saw him, and
that Conlin must have died within
three or four minutes after cutting his
throat
DR.. Eugene CLANCY, sworn, testified
that he has been connected with the
hospital since November "a, 1897; that
he has acted as assistant superin-
tendent since July 1, 1899; that
he knew Conlin and was aware of his
dota hospital attendant, Harry Del
moss, for carelessness.
Coroner Matthew w. Lynch began
the inquest at o'clock in the county
board room in the courthouse. The
jurors were II. A. Helm, Matthew La
Crosse, J. S. Grady, John McKenna, G..
c. Pease and Richard Lynch.
The Wisconsin state hospital for the
insane was represented by halfdoz-
en- attendants besides Superintendent
e. l.. Bullard and DIR. Eugene CLANCY.
No members of the state board of con-
troll were present
Harry Delmoss was sworn and testi-
fed that he was an attendant at the
Mendoza hospital and had occupied
that position for a few months past;
that he was on duty in ward 6, the
ward in which Conlin and other patti
ents with known suicidal intentions
were confined; that he was on duty
-.
self-intlicted wounds; that he was in
his own room adjoining the ward
suicidal intentions; that Conlin was
suffering from melancholia; that Cos.
lin was released on parole June
last; that the parole was granted by
the superintendent in his (Chaney's)
absence; that Conlin had severed the
artery on the right side of the neck
as well as the wind-pipe; that when
he (Chaney) saw Conlin after the &C
cident the patient was dead; that
blood had doubtless flowed into the
lungs and that Conlin could not have
spoken had he tried.
DR.. E. H. Billiard, sworn, testified,
that he was superintendent at the
Wisconsin state hospital for the In
sane at Mendoza that attendants
rooms should be closed but that there
were no printed rules requiring it;
that general printed rules were in|
force under the direction of supervs-
ors; that il was the practice to keep
doors closed; that attendants were
80
which they were expected to follow
that extra precautions were used with
patients in the ward having suicidal
Intentions; that it would be difficult
II not impossible to formulate rules
covering every possible attempt at
self injury: that the attendants were
frequently changed: that they came
and went at frequent intervals; that
IL was difficult TO obtain and retain
efficient help in the hospital: that the
attendants were on duty from s
O'Clock in he morning until & O'Clock
in the evening and every other even
ing until $50
Several of the jurors. on the invita-
ton of Coroner Lynch asked ques.
tons regarding the rules which Dr..
Eullard answered His answers show
ed that while no printed rule existed
whereby attendants were required ID
keep their doors locked, such was the
custom
During the interval while the jury
vas considering the verdict. Or. Bal /
lard said that the hospital authorities
experienced much difficulty In secur- I,
ing good. permanent, experienced at.
PENDANTS, owing largely to the fact
that the salary of so per month was
not sufficient inducement. He said
that the possible SALARY for atten4.
ants to draw. no matter how long tho
term OF service. was only $50 pcr
month Dr. Billiard also spoke in