The Arizona sentinel., 1906-05-02
INSANE ASYLUM SCANDAL.

The report of the Territorial Grand Jury upon it's investiga- lions of the insane asylum man. agement diScloSeS such astoniSh. ing carelessness. cruelty and bru- tal treatment of patients as to seem almost incredible.
 Following is d summary of the report:
 Robert Brichley and William Hayes, attendants, censured for brutal treatthent of patients.
 Former Steward Nj. l.. Vinson, eensured for diyerting asylum supplies to his personal uses.
 Censures practice of nurses in administering sedatives and drugs without consulting physl- cianS.
 Jury makes recommendations looking to the stoppage of the abuses prevailing in the institu- lion.
 In the name of the Almighty, is the word "cenSUre to con- sutute the limit of punishment which these brutes are to receive for
 Choking and beating into sab- mission poor unfortunates bereft of their reason?
 The evidence disclosed the fact shat attendants had been iii the . habit of administering Derphine and other drugs to patients with out orders and not under the sn- pervlsion of either the sapef'in tendent or other physician. Does the word "censure fit such inhuman and dangerous prac- ticeS as these?
 Such practices should be des ignated as criminal, and extreme punishment inflicted upon the perpetrators and upon the man. agement which permitted such maltreatment.
 The report concludes with the statement tha4 it is made because Ehere are many unfortunate peo- pie in the asylum who' are de- serving of considerate kindness, and in the hope that the abuses of the past may not be repeated.
 The jury is too mild in its rebuke. Of all the afflicted in this world, no class of unfortunateS are so much to be pitied-none so deserving of kindness and consideration '-as persons de- prived of the reason which God gave them. To brutally treat an insane man or woman IS the very acme of cruelty. and no mercy ought to be shown the perpetra- tors. The warden of such an Institution is really more culpa- ble than tRoSe under him where such crimes are committed, for permitting such wretches to re- tain their positions, If Dr. Ward was not cognfzant of the brutal treatment of patients consped hn his care he is trEly anSt fer the position he holds,
 In addition 50 the inhUna1 treatment of patients, the evi- aence diseloses that M. l.. Vim son, a former steward, was re- moved by the Board of Control for having diverted asylum sup plies to his, own use and that of his family And he was simply removed. Had he been employed m some store and caught thiev- ing in that manner he would have most likely served @ term in iail and possibly in the penitentiary.
 The whole story of the asylum Investigation Is sickening dis graceful-dephorable, Let the proper authorities take aceion quickly. The guilty should be promptly punished, if possible, for the crimes of both commis- sion aud omission,
 Not long ago 8 poof, unfortu. nate woman innfate was sutfo- Cated by Q Renale attendants, who saturated & cloth with turper- fine and with tlre help of another forced tlse cleth into the poor woman's mouth and held it there Hntil she became unconscious. She never recovered conscious neSS.
 In the name of decency let Us Aaye SANE as we'll as humane management of the Territorial