The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-05-16
FLOGdINGs AND VERY BAD FOOD.
Bad Conditions at a Government
Institution.

Washington, d. c., (SpeciaD Fifteen
witnesses were examined BY the Oleot'
Special Committee, appointed by the
House OF Representatives 20 investigate
the administration OF the Governcment
Hospital for the Insane. located near
this city.
Omie Caddell, employed five years in
the laundry, had never seen any wrong
doing on tie part OF physicians or at
tendants. This was also the statement
OF Katie Butler, also employed for one
year in the laundry
5. Dawes Shuster, who had been a pa
tient in the institution from June, 1904,
to November, 1905, complained OF the
food and attendance. 1t was the worst he
had ever seen.
Cornclia l.. Corbett young woman,
said she had been an inmate OF the IN
stituton for % months. She was taken
there with her mother, who had suffered
slight shock of paralysis. Miss Cor
beit had no complaint to make OF the
attendants. but said she, herself, took
care of her own room and of her mother.
She complained of the manner OF her
commitment, saying both she and her
mother were taken to the asylum in a
patrol wagon without notice or trial;
that in later court proceeding she was
not allowed to have her witnesses heard.
She blamed the pastor Of church III
this city for her troubles. The committee
did not go into this matter.
Coroner Nevitt testified regarding a
death he had made inquiry about which
had occurred by accident, but in which
respect the death certificate made no
disclosure.
Edgar Ball. who had been all attendant
at the institution for II years but who
is now a railroad employe, told the
committee that he had tiogged patients
but that this was necessary at times.
He criticised the food, and said that
the institution was run better under DR..
Richardson, former superintendent,
than under DR.. White, the present super
intendent.
T. W. Belt, of Leesburg, Va, who was
an attendant from December IL, 1905, to
March p last, said he was discharged
because he complained of the way the
chief attendant Clark NJ. Teats, treated
patients In the case of a patient named
Percy Eckles, from Pennsylvania, who
had been fed on liquid diet for several
months, Belt said Teats knocked Eckles
down many times. After one such oc-
currence Eckles died within a week. In
the case OF an old soldier with broken
leg, Teats, the witness said, delighted
in lifting up this leg and letting it drop
Just TO hear the old man yell and curse.
This patient also died shortly. He de-
clared that Teats carried away govern
ment soap and tobacco. Teats, he said,
is still holding his position. During bis
service, he said, he had never seen DR..
White, the superintendent, visit the ward,
and doctors were there infrequently.
Mrs. Ella l.. Washburn, who has a
husband and brother as inmates in the
asylum, complained OF the lack Of attend
ants, and also stated that she had seen
cruel treatment administered This was
also the testimony of Mrs. Alice Cara
her, whose husband is an inmate Her
husband, who is suffering from paresis,
was a physician, has been in the asylum
three years, and, she said, has been given
black eyes seven times, although he is
bedridden.