Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-06
EVERYTHING LOVELY
At ST. Elizabeth Insane ASy-
<e. Ium
ACCORDING TO TESTIMONY
Given by Attendants Before the
Special Committee Today.
SOME COMPLAIN OF THE FOOD
But Only in a Mild Way-Insuffi-
cheney of Wages Was Spoken
of by One.
ACCORDING TO TESTIMONY
SOME COMPLAIN OF THE FOOD

The Olcott special committee heard
number OF attendants and ex-employes or
ST. Elizabeth Asylum at todays session
Nothing was brought out tending to show
that patients had been ill-treated or that
the food at the institution was as bad as
has been charged. At II o'clock the quota
of witnesses summoned was exhausted and
the committee adjourned until tomorrow.
More Employees Testify.
r. c. Truman. an attendant on Poplar
ward OF which DIR. Stack. the first assistant
physician has charge. testified that DIR.
Stack deserted the ward three four times
a week DIR. Stack testified before the COM
mittee the other day that he visited his
wards once a day. E. Brown. an attendant
who was for a long time under DIR. stack,
said DR.. Stack visited his wards five times
week The food was sometimes good,
sometimes bad"
Mack Duaney. an ex-attendant. was
called to testify concerning a specific In
stance of alleged cruelty. He said that the
patient in question had been well treated,
and was excused.
Il l. Mari. an attendant on Dawes
first ward. complained of the fooc which
he insisted was poor and badly cooked.
William b. Barry. who was formerly In
charge of the work rooms store house ac-
counts and repair department at st. Eliza
beths was the next witness. He had en-
tered the institution In 1850. left in 1891, re
turned in 1852 and left again in 1893 He
had originated the system of work in the
institution by which most of the clothes for
the inmates were made by women patients.
Never Struck a Patient.
w II. Ford. an attendant at EFT. Eliza
beth under Dr. Stack. said that the lat
ter was around the wards as often as five
and six times a day. He considered the
food was pretty good. well-cooked and
warm when served. In other parts of the
institution the food was not so good. large
ly owing to the great quantities prepared
at one time. He had never seen patients
cruelty treated. He had never. he said.
struck a patient with a strap. previous
witness accused Ford before the committee
of having cruelty beaten a patient.
c. w. King an attendant on Dawes base
ment ward under Drs. Stack and Glass
cock. said that Or. Glasscock came
through almost every day and DIR. Stack
three or four times week. He thought
the food was fairly good. Patients and at
PENDANTS had about the same kind Of food
What do you mean by fairly good?' in
quircd Representative Smyser.
Pretty good, probably as good as could
be expected" replied the witness
Twelve OF the feeblest patients In his
ward got milk, the witness said; the 9TH
ers got none.
Peter Bayer. for the past month at
tendant at St Elizabeth was called. The
food he thought was as good as could be
expected. Sometimes ne noticed that the
potatoes were not thoroughly cooked, Wit
said he now in a hospital ward.
DIR. Stack visited 1t once every night and
DIR. GlasscoCk twice a day.
Could Not Get Married on the Pay.
w. S. Throll. an attendant in Oak ward,
had never seen any cruelty toward patients.
He had never seen the straight Jacket used
except in several cases where patients had
tried TO commit suicide. The food was pref
T. good. except that sometimes the beef
nd not
complained OF the long hours Enough
to drive fellow bughouse.' he said. much
to the amusement OF the committee.
Then" he added. the pay Is small.
Only So a month and fellow couldn't get
married on that"
How old are your inquired Representa-
tive Smyser. "Twenty-three." replied the
witness
contemplating matrimony?" queried Mr..
Smyer In insinuating way
We'll" replied Mr. Throll II don't want
to stay single all my life, and If l got
married on S5 a month I might as well
put the woman in coffin and bury her"
Charles p. Bicksler. attendant at the
asylum for the past twenty years, said that
the food varied In quality and In the man
ner of cooking. Sometimes meals were
good and sometimes bad. The meat was
often tough. Bicksler. after twenty years
service, was receising $50 a month.
John X Humphrey, for the past thirteen
years an attendant at the asylum and for
the past five years an attendant in Beach
ward. said that DIR. Glasscock came
through" ono a day and DR.. Stack three
or four times a week.
Sometimes the food was good; some
times not. In his ward the patients got
better grub than the attendants. There
were two rooms set apart as smoking
rooms for the old soldiers. They were bad
~ ventilated and were not kept very clean
But they were not near any hospital wards
He had never seen any cruelty to patients
NO man who abused patients would be toll
Grated.