The Washington times., 1906-02-18
Committee Reports on
Alleged Conditions at
St. Elizabeth 5.
BILL BEFORE CONGRESS
Radical Changes Are Urged
by Those Interested in
Movement.

The Medico-Legal Society, Of the Dis
frict, is wagfug IN Congress a campaign
to secure the release of the criminal in
sane from the Government Hospital for
the Insane In this city. The society
LOOKS upon the present system as a
great wrong TO the District and it has
high hope that its efforts will meet
with success at the present session.
Under the present law three classes
OF persons are committed to St. Eliza
beth s--the INDECENT insane of the Dis
trict of Columbia, insane soldiers and
sailors of the United States Army and
NAVY and the criminal insane of the
whole country. who enter the plea Of
Insanity in a Federal court and have It
sustained.
Precepts of Bill.
The bill introduced IN Congress last
week directs the Attorney General to
transfer the criminal insane now at 81,
Elizabeth's 10 State institutions, esDe-
cially provided for the custody of the
criminal insane and in the future 10
send such persons directly TO such in
stitutions. The bill further provides the
Attorney General shall report 10 Con-
gress the cost of building 4 pavilion for
the criminal insane. within the Federal
prison at Atlanta
The first provision OF the bill is de-
signed to give immediate relief: the
second suggests Il permanent solution
of the whole problem.
Dr. Charles NJ. Emmons, who is TAX
ing a deep interest In the movement,
says it is in the interest of the insane,
not criminal. whose misfortunes COM
pei their confinement At St. Eiizabeth's.
He regards ii as wholly unjust in act
tion and wrong in principle.
Committee Report.
Dr. Emmons believes, moreover, that
If the criminal insane were confined in
a peni;entiary, as, he says, they should
be, the number of pleas of insanity
would be very considerably reduced.
The criminal who knows a plea of in
sanity Will not keep him out of prison
and a real PRISONS not so likely
10 make it,
lJr- Charles NJ Emmons and Attorney
Richard 2. Evans have just submitted
their report 10 the society. and il was
given out last night
The committee disavowed any inten-
tion TO reflect upon the integrity or
ability of DR.. William A White. the
superintendent OF the institution, who
as an alienist of national reputation.
Some Complaints Made.
In speaking of the discipline at St.
Ehzabeth's Hospital. the committee
says;
1t would appear from complaints and
statements made to US. that straight
Jackets, handouts. etc. are in frequent
use; that the feeding tube" has been
upon occasions. thrust through the nos
HnU-n h. =
punishment and discipline. as well as
Of alleged necessity: that ''wring!ng ont
by wet towels and TOW cling with dry
towels placed about the patients neck
and twisted from behind until the pa
uent falls over semi-cOnscious tsome-
times with soap in the mouth)-is not
"n uncommon practice; that the sad
".e' has been used. n times. con-
tFivance upon which refractory patients
are said TO be placed in a reclining no.
siuon, fastened hand foot and neck. and
80 that no movement is possible except
10 FoH the eyes around a circumscrlbed
area OF The ceiling. and thus left for
hours.
Kicking and cutting by attendants for
azure 90 obey orders, or do work Drcn-
'tiy. or Tor taking an extra sDoonf1lI
-, ueanS dt table, etc. - alleged An
turbed at night by a somnarn b1IIietio G' ~.
lleht; striking him in the mouth ana
knocking him down, and carving MS
H"h hand in bandage for several davs
IN consequence: and of anofbs~ =, -, &c
ing him % ''i Ni9C'pli4i-
Make Patients Fear.
There are different ways of trainine
horse-but one attendant made the
statement that he vas instr,,,tos
make patients fear him. as hA p,o,,Id =