The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-17
IT is n DISGRACE TO THE STATE.

that the new building ordered by the
Legislature would not be completed
under a year This is disappointing
news. The money was available last
April and the building should have
been ready for occupancy by the first
of January when the need for it is
considered. 1t is TO be hoped that
the authorities will push the work
more rapidly and have the addition
available by the spring.
In his statement DR.. Murphy, super
intendent of the Western Hospital at
Morganton, IS quoted as follows:
DIR. Murphy related several pa
thetic instances in illustrating the ne
cessity for larger appropriations by
the Legislature for the care of the in
sane. There is an insane young Wo-
man in Allegheny county, he said,
who has been confined for ten years
in a pen adjoining her fathers home.
and that the roof was not of sufficient
height 10 permit her to stand erect
and as u. result her body is deformed
as much as her mind is deranged.'
If DR.. Murphy has been correctly in
formed, tho treatment of that insane
a severe refie elton uDon the manage
ment of the Western Hospital, and &
disgrace to the state Of North Caro-
lima. Think of it. good people of this
State a young woman confined i'm a
pen for ten years" while the people
have paid taxes to give her and such
insane persons treatment in the West
fern Hospital. 1t makes one sick to
hear that a case, appealing so strongly
To common humanity, could be neg
lected by theiN hos-.iital authorities
while in these .ears room has been
made for rich men who ought TO have
been treated at Keelev, and pay-pa-
tients have been admitted whose peo-
pie are abundantl.' able to pay for
their treatment in private sanitariums.
We sincerely hope that DR.. Murphy
did not hear of the case of this young
woman until this week. We would
hate to believe that an head of an
insane asylum would fail to make
room for her in preference to admit
ting any person whose people were
DIR. Murphy knows of this case. the
people of North Carolina will demand
in no uncertain terms that a place be
provided for her IN the MorgantOn
Hospital before the se-ere December
weather comes. Failure to 90 so
would make the States provision for
the ''indigent insane" a hollow mock
cry. The insane asylums We're built
and supported to care for such unfor-
tunates and yet We have the spectacle
i'm North Caroline Of that young WO-
man confined in pen for ten years
while the doors of our hospitals have
opened TO those whose families would
have cared for them in comfort at
home or in private sanitariums. Do
the directors of the Western Hospital
know of this case which DR.. Murphy
makes public in urging upon the Gov
ernor to recommend a big bond issue
to the next General Assembly? How
long has Dr. Murphy known of this
sinful neglect? Are the authorities
of Allegheny county cognizant of it?
Where is the Board of Charities? Is
there no power in the State that has
known of this inhumanity upon the
part Of the state. Did Governor Ay-
cock know about it and do nothing?
Did Governor Glenn ever hear of it
before yesterday and take no action?
The recital of The horrible case
shocked every reader of yesterdays
News and Observer. DIR. Murphy says
this woman has been confined in a
pen for ten years. When was it
brought to his attention? Did he lay
it before his board? What action, if
Murphy heard of the case only on his
way to Raleigh and that he has al
ready taken steps to secure her admis-
sion into the institution. That is the
only situation that would relieve him
of merted criticism.
But we may be told, there is no
room for her Who makes that
statement? The Constitution is plain.
The directors and officers of the in
sane hospitals violate the Constitution
of the State every time they admit an
insane person who could pay in an
outside institution, or admit pay
patient. Are there any pay-patients
i'm the hospital? Are there any pa
tients who are not INDECENT in the
legal ~ aiming of that word? Are
there ~ inebriates? If 50, they are
there contrary to the Constitution of
North Carolina and they are taking
a place provided by the laws of the
State for such unfcrtunates as the
young woman in Allegheny county
who has been confined in a pen for
ten years" Was any suggestion made
at the Conference in the Governors
office as to taking care nOw-thiS
month-of this young woman and
other INDECENT insane" who are con-
fined in Jail? 1t is fourteen months
before the Legislature meets Is she
to be confined in the pen" for four
teen months while the authorities dis
cuss q five million dollar bond issue, |
the Legislature discusses it. and the