The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-12
Tte Wessfnger.
INVESTIGATION OF Nails
DEATH.

count, taken from The News and OBJ
server. of the action of the Wake coun
ty coroner's jury regarding the
death of Nall, the patient at the Ra-
leigh insane asylum. 1t will be seen
that the jury finds that the deceased
came to his death by blows given by
the four asylum attendants who cap
tured him. and that they are now in
Wake Jail, without the privilege Of
bail, awaiting the action Of the grand
jury.
We are glad that the c%oroner's jury
has given this matter such a thor
ough investigation. Whether or Dot
these four men are guilty of murder as
charged is not a matter to be discuss
ed now. That is a question to BIS
decided by a Wake county jury, but
there are other features Of this untor-
tunate case which are legitimate sub
jects of newspaper comment. They
are the cruel and brutal manner in
which the man was treated by his cap
tors after they had subdued him and
the action taken by the superintendent
Of the asylum subsequent to the mans
return and death.
That the captors treated their pris-
oner, a poor unfortunate man who
was not responsible for his acts, in the
most brutal manner cannot be denied.
Admitting that it was necessary for
them to use all the force and violence
they did in order to capture him (but
we do not believe that it was) there
is no excuse for their subsequent in
human action toward him as testified
to by the men at the phosphate mills.
Men who will treat an insane pa
tient under their charge in such man
ner are not fit persons to occupy the
positions they hold. Their conduct
should have been thoroughly investi-
gated and if found to be as testified
to they should have been dismissed
Immediately. But, SO far as the public
knows, DR.. Mckee, the superintendent,
though he saw the condition of The
man ON his return, and though the
latter died in a short while, took no
further notice of the matter than to
listen to the reports of the men who
brought the patient back in such de-
plorable condition. And after the
mans death there was no further no.
tice taken by the superintendent until
tho nrocc ond tho n,h1ia ho~o~ ~ ID
mand an investigation of the affair.
When he finds that the state and
county authorities are going to make
a searching investigation into the mat
ter then comes his belated request 20
the coroner and solicitor that they
shall make investigation.
There can be no other ]supposition
than that had not DIR. Mckee found
that the mans death was to be looked
into by authorities other than those
of the asylum he never would have
asked fer it.
Had DR.. Mckee, the day after Nalls
death, notified the coroner and the
solicitor and asked them to take the
matter in hand people today would
have much more confidence in mis-
management of the asylum. AS it IS,
his conduct is liable to be construed
as c%ondOning the offence of his subcr-
dinates and wishing to shield them and
keep their misdeeds from the knowl-
edge of the public. Had he acted as he
should have done it would have n
creased the peoples confidence in
him; have created the impression that
he considered his chief duty to be The
welfare of the patients under him and
not the fostering of the interests Of
his employees.
Now that the ~coroner's jury has
found that these men, who up to the
time Of their arrest were still in the
service of the asylum, were directly
responsible for the death of Nall, we
think DR.. Mckee should ask the board
of directors of the asylum for an in
vestigation Of his conduct in this mat
ter, and if he does not do SO her
there is all the more reason that such
investigation should be made. If he
felt sure that he was entirely free
from blame he would have been pref
ty apt to have asked that his action
be investigated.
Let this whole matter be thoroughly
ventilated. The people want no white
washing of ~subordinates by the super
intendent of the asylum nor of any
officials of the institution by the au-