Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-05-24
INSANE GO HUNGRY
At STATE ASYLUM
Not Enough Food Given 10 the
Wards Of The Commonwealth
50 States q Physician.
PATIENTS ARE TREATED CRUELTY
Old Confederate Veterans Not Violent
But Are in Their Do.ase and Could
Not Harm Anyone-Workmen Do
Not Have Enough to Eat-Reli-
gon and politics at the institution.
Especial 10 the Daily Press,


WILLIAMSBURG, VA, May "a
Chairman Sadler called the invcsti-
eating committee to order today at
$3.50, and Captain C. B. Trevillian,
the supervisor of the institution. was
called to the chair.
The witness, who has been con
ncctcd with the institution since
1877, said his duties. were the super
vising of the care of the male ma.
TENTS. and seeing that the attend
ants performed their work as re-
quircd.
He was asked If he had known
about the inhuman punishment in
flicted by DR.. Williams. and he re-
piled that he knew of two cases. He
had heard of more. lie has seen two
patients being forced into the water.
1t was done to control their temper.
He believed in some cases the water
treatment was beneficial.
Patients Get Brutal Treatment.
1t took three Or four men to force
n patient into water. He had heard
that attendants forced patients into
water without being authorized. 1t
had been investigated but was not
proved. 1t is the custom here. he
said, usually to bclicyc the attendant
instead of the patient. There, is no
amusement here for the patients.
About third of them are allowed
upon the grounds.
How many patients have you here
from the Soldiers Home. in Rich
monde" asked the chairman.
Probably thirty"
-Four have been brought hera
since the committee has been here;
are they examples of the veterans
you usually gct?"
Yes"
Have they given any sign OF vic.
lence to themselves or anyone else ?"
mo. One of them. is blind, two
are unable to walk without assist.
ance; one has been put in the mfr
mary. They are afflicted with senile
dementIa"
Food Cold When Eaten.
The Captain testified that in bring
ing the food from the kitchen to
the dining room, the distance it hal
to be brought caused it usually TO be
cold when it was eaten.
The kitchen facilities, said the
witness, are not complete here.
The witness said that every pre-.
caution was taken to prevent the
patients getting knives and forks
with which to iniure themselves.
Not in Either Faction.
DO you know there are two fac
tons here" asked Mr.. Guild; "the
administration and the anti-adminis.
tration
II have learned 1t since the inves.
tigation began said the witness.
ITO which do you belong?"
Neither"
Fhe patients breakfast sometimes
consists of bread, molasses and tea
or coffee: This Is about the average
breakfast. There are about 100 bis
cults brought to the dining room.
He did not give the number OF pa
tients who were fed. There was
sometimes not enough bread to go
around, The biscuits go to the men
who work The others gee loaf
bread. The bread is cold.
DO the patients get enough to
cat" asked the chairman.
Workmen Poorly Fed.
Il do not think the workingmen
get enough to eat" replied Captain
Trevillian.
They get enough water don't
they?" inquired the chairman.
Yes; and plenty of coffee
Yes" said the chairman. 81 do
think they get coffee"
When patient, said the witness,
is a gormandtzer, he eats whatever