The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-30

Witnesses in Asylum Invest IT,
cation Are Called.
The Lists Are Made Up by Com
mittee To-day.

The legislative committee appointed
to investigate the state hospitals for
the insane began the examination of
witnesses at the Topeka asylum this
afternoon. This is the first formal ex-
animation that has been attempted.
rms committee put in all the time
this forenoon in going through the rec
ords Of past employees in the Topeka
asylum and selecting those whom the
mem berS thought might testify concern
ing matters in the Topeka asylum.
Some of those who have been dis
charged ana some of those who have re-
signed voluntarily were included IN the
list. It is frequently those who have
been discharged who are the most ready
to tell Of instances of brutality on the
part of attendants, although one rea-
son why some attendants have been
discharged has been neglect or brutality
towards patients
The idea in selecting the witnesses
now is so that the sergeant-at-arnls OF
the committee can subpoena them 20
appear before the committee next week
at the state house. After this general
list was made UP, the examination of
persons who are now employed in the
asylum commenced this afternoon As
Information IS secured of any specific
instances of brutality, more witnesses
whose names may be secured may be
called.
Or. T. c. BiddIe, superintendent of the
Topeka asylum, assisted the committee
this morning IN going through the en-
ploye record, explaining mari kings for
or against the employees on record, and
informing the committee where old EN-
ployes can now be found if he knew,
as he did in most cases.
The committee Will probably complete
its work OF examining present employees
of the asylum within q day or two, and
the sessions next week. at which wit
nesses viii be called who are not now
connected with the institution win be
sa-f r,f
naer employees who will be summoned,
as made up at noon today is as fol-
lows:
George W. Crouch, North Topeka.
Albert Z. Johnson. Usage City.
+. W Carroll, Toronto
J. P. Martin, ROssville.
H. J. Bender, Manhattan.
Anna L. Knox, Topeka
Tella M Knox, Topeka.
Howard Hanna Topeka
Clarence r. Helper Manhattan
H J. Beecharl, Topeka
Mrs H ]. Beecham, Topeka
J.. W. Dennis, Topeka
Mrs l. ". Dennis, Topeka
J. W. Gish, Rock Greek.
LYMAN E. Mason Lawrence.
Barnett A. MARCEL Ottawa.
Frank McMurry, Welda.
Gilbert Peterson, Topeka.
Oliver Gibbons. Oakland.
Alice c. Henley. Topeka
Maize Wade, Topeka
Grace Phillips. North Topeka
w r. Kane. A1eriden.
Senator W S. Fitzpatrick OF Chau-
tauqua county is chairman of the com
mittee, and Representative r. B. Camp
bell of Meade county IS secretary ne
other members are Senator h ". Con
rad of Montgomery, Senator e. W. ia
briel of Labette. and Representatives
Geo. P. Hayden Of Nemaha ana w: p
jerks of Franklin. James WICK mas
been selected as stenographer and W.
nj az fat
Governor Bailey has turned over to
the committee all communications ana
complaints which have come to MS OIL
fee concerning brutalities and misman-
agement at any Of the asylums- There
are thirty or forty letters in the bunch.
one of them is from an lola physician,
who says it has been reported to MN
that as many as three insane patients
have died at one Of the asylunls IN a
single day caused because they have
been morphine users and their supply
has been entirely cut off at once he
alleges that if the supply were gradual
ly diminished they could be cured
whereas if the use of the drug IS stop
ped suddenly the patients sometimes die
in great agony His information seems
to be hearsay, but he asks mat II De
investigated.
John D. Milliken, the Mcpherson at
tornev writes concerning a case OF
alleged brutality which mas been report
ed 10 nm, bul ne StseS no names ~ ~ ~,
letter to the governor but says he VIII
do so if the matter will be investlgat ted
Representative Campbell. as secretary
of the committee. viii write for the in
formation
Some of the letters are merely from
/ persons who have relatives confined III
one of the state asylums and whose
fears that they are being treated in
humanely have been aroused by the
killing of Amos Maxwell by two at
tcndants some time ago. These letters
invariably ask for a thorough investi-
cation Of the asylums.
One informant complains because he did
not get a job at the asylum. Nearly all
of the information is strictly hearsay. but
if it is followed up it might furnish clues
on which to work The cornraittee Will ex-
anime former attendants first, however, a