The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-07-20
THE ASYLUM
AND SCANDALS.
'Dova" Allison Sesks 10 Get Raasrms
RaaAhllaAaA g That lnaaItntlen.

-Doys" AllisoA Sssks 70 Get Rsasrma
RssahlisAsA - That lAssitntiOn.
Mr. Allison Il = member Of q we'll
known Florida family, and tells Of the
erpelties practieed In this place dedi-
Gated to the care Of lunaties.
II. ''Dove" Allison, fruit and vege-
table grower Of Dade county, who has
been an Innate Of the State Iunatic
asylum, is in the city and tells Of hor-
rible condition that exists in this insti-
tuition.
Mr.. Allison e father was the first phys
ician Of this institution, and the family
are well known ell over Florida. Mr.
Allison evidently had some nervous
trouble last winter, due, as he says, to
exhaustion brought on BY waiting on q
sick uncle; but that he reached his nor
NAL state afterward Il evidenced by his
actions then aid since. Mr.. Allison has
certificates Of character from leading
citizens Of Florida, and is now working
to secure numerous reforms In the
State asylum.
BRUTAL TREATMENT ALLEGED.
He has issued printed statements re-
garding conditions at the asylum, the
latest Of which IL IS follows:
Eat the asylum was choked, beaten
over the head and face, stamped In the
stomach, kicked repeatedly, and other
wise mistreated, and, as one Of the at
tendants put It, You caught hell for
three days / then had gotten better,
told the three villains was not insane,
knew everything that had passed before
my eye, and defied them to lay the
weight of their hand on me again. The
sixteenth day / had the worst chill and
fever l ever had, and was kept drag
ging around nearly eight hours before ]
was allowed to go 70 bed.
II have seen many inmates choked TO
the floor on different occasions and 9TH
erwise mistreated for no offense at all,
and those in the rough rider depart
ment are abused In 50 many ways that
they are made TO feel that those in
charge care no more for them than IL
they were wild beasts There are num-
bers that are not insane, but are kept
there by villains on the outside. Many
are worked like cnvicts. was worse
than murdered by people st Live Oak,
] was treated so badly by the attend
my condition In their let
tiers to my friends This illegal impris-
onment, with those Misrepresentation
knocked me out of the best crop and
best years work ever had, costing me
fully 81 500, and nearly cost my life
also at different times. This was the
climax to a life spent for others. Gov.
Broward has been in possession Of the
factR for two gnOntha and ma far aa 1
know, has done nothing TO correct those
evils. NY letter to The People of
Florida and Preliminary Report of
Last Legislative Committee" will be
mailed to any address on application TO
me at Live Oak or Miami. intend TO
do my duty regardless Of my own peril
facts at the proper time"
Mr.. Allison's charges should be in
vestigated, for II they are true the in
Jacksonville Metropolis.
We print the foregoing for informa-
ton. We are not advised whether the
abuses complained Of by Mr.. Allison oc-
CURED before or since the time when
Superintendent WhitneT took charge of
the hospital. We cannot believe Il TO
be possible that the accusations apply
to the present management. But, as
the former charges Of two years ago
were but partially investigated, we
opine that there will be further work In
that direction for the coming Legisla-
ture, and that when that time comes
the public will be fully informed on the
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