Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-22


management under DIR. Godding, or under
DR.. Richardson. with both of whom DR..
Stack had served in his twenty-nine years
of service
DR.. Stack said he didn't believe any or
ders had ever been issued to have the pa
tients taken out of the way when the
board Of visitors was due There would
be no object in such move, he said
Returning to the butter problem, under
the leadership Of Representative Smyser.
DR.. Stack said that everybody at the in
stitution, from the superintendent down,
used oleomargarine. 1t was perfectly
wholesome and healthful-more so than
butter. Moreover. it cost the institution
several thousands a year less for oleo-
margarine than for butter.
How much vacation have you had
lately?" asked Representative Smyser.
- HAD a little one in 1901, replied DR.
Stack, cheerfuliy. but 1 haven't been able
to get away since then"
Then you should be greatly Obliged to
the committee for getting you out for q
day rejolned Mr.. Smyser.
DR.. WeakIey.
DIR. Weakley a local dentist who visits
St Elizabeth once a week to look after
the teeth of the inmates, took the witness
chair He had been going once week
for ten years. He considered that the
hospital was splendidly managed. OF late
there had been great Improvement. Some
years ago he often saw 10 per cent OF
the patients in some wards restrained
Now he saw very few restraints used In
the hospital.
Yesterday Afternoons Testimony
At yesterday afternoons session Or. Pres
ley c. Hunt. a practicing physician OF this
city. neurologist at Providence Hospital
and called upon by the District govern
ment to examine into the sanity Of alleged
lunaucs, testified as to procedure in COM
mittlEg patients TO the Government Asylum
for the Insane.
In the ten months that [ have been go
ing 10 the asylum" said DIR. Hunt, There
has not been a case of 'reiircadtns' pa
tients over there. Every case has war
ranted commitment"
DR.. Hunt believed the treatment OF pa
tents as good as at any similar 1nstltu-
ton in the country. and taa. the number
OF attendants is sufficient to properly care
for the patients. The food, according to
DIR. Hunt is good as can be expected
under the circumstances.
The food IS not as 5000 as at ProVi-
dence Hospital said the witness. but
l think Providence Hospital. has the best
facilities for distributing food in this city,
If not in this country. l would suggest
that kitchens be attached to eacn OF the
buildings of the government asylum. Then
the food would be in better condition when
l. reached the table.
Chas. j. Burch.
Charles ]. Burch, a supervisor at ST.
Elizabeth for twelve years and for twenty
three years an employee OF the Institution,
testified that he had served three years
at Bloomingdale Asylum. New York. This
latter institution. although private. does not
treat its patients as well as they are
treated at st. Elizabeth's, according 20 wit
ness.
The food Is very good" said Burch.
Il haven't seen or heard Of any cruelty
at the asylum during the last two years"
continued Burch. Il nave heard some
complaints against the attendants. but
have investigated these complaints. ana
when charges were proved the attendants
were discharged"
Burch absolutely denied the statement
made under oath by former attendant
named Ball that he (BalD had received or
ders from Burch to 'tos Il patient to MAKE
him behave" Burch said Balls testimony
was untrue.
My record at the asylum, SAID witness,
will prove that l not the kind of
man to order patients fiogged or strapped
l do not believe in that sort OF trea tment
and would not tolerate it,"
Witness declared that it is not the Gus
tom at the Institution to get he old pa
tients out of doors and owe: he hills" so
that the board OF visitors could not see
them. He offered 1t as his opIrIon that tes
tlmony tending to sustain this charge was
false.
Several specific charges of cruelty made
by former witnesses were denounced as
false by Buren, He did net believe that
any two patients had been bathed in the
same tub and same water. He could not
understand why such charges had been
made, and. in his. opinion. the present force
of attendants is humane and considerable.
In reply to a question by DR.. Barchfeld
witness admitted that his salary was raised
a month ago by DR.. White.
Miss McLanahan
Miss Ethel Mcfanahan head nurse of the
male department at the asylum. testified
that she had witnessed only one case of
cruelty in the six years she had been head
nurse The offending attendant. in this in
stance. was not only discharged. but ar
rested.
Il never heard Of all this cruelty until I
read Of 1t in the newspapers said Miss
McLanahan.
The testimony of r W. Belt concerning
cruelty 10 certain patient was not true
The fracture of the patients hip occurred
four months before Mr.. Belt was employed
at the asylum. He had never been in the
asylum prior to his employment"
Miss McLanahan was as positive in her
testimony as had been the preceding wit
ness, and she fatty contradicted statements
made by the witnesses for the prosecution.
She thought the food very good; but she did
not ",are much for the butter
Well. is 1t butter?" demanded Judge
Smyser
No replied witness. Il think 1t was
oleomargarine."
SAlo' -ttl4dlldlIdil CID not DeIfEye cruelty
could be practiced in any of the wards of
which she has charge without her knowing
about II.
Mrs. Ethel Cusick for five years a nurse
at St EHzabeth's, testified that the treat
ment of patients is excellent, as far as she
knows. The complaints made by Mrs Lot
tie G Wright, who was before the commit
tee week ago. were declared unfounded
BY Mrs. Cusick.
She said Mrs Wright had to be restrained
With a resting sheet for her own welfare
J. A. Gleeson, who has a daug.,er an in
tate Of the asylum. testified that the treat
Bent accorded his daughter could not be
1lrpassed
My wife or l go over to see her two or
sree times week" said Mr. Gleason,
'and l have never seen anything to com
Gain Of The nurses and attendants can't
D. beat"
Mr. Gleeson stated that he paws s65
every three months for his daughters care.
and is perfectly satisfied
c p Rhodes. a proofreader at the gov
Srnment printing Office, testified that he had
many times visited the asylum. first on be-
hair of the local Christian Endeavor So
ciety. and later to visit his father-in-law,
who had been a patient.
Il don't think my father-in-law could
haar1 fad iaft ~