Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-04
THE INSANE ASYLUM
SPECIAL HOUSE COMMITTEE MET
THIS MORNING.

The inquiry into conditions at st. Eliza
beth Insane Asylum. authorized by the
House of Representatives two weeks ago.
was begun this morning by the special
committee appointed by Speaker Cannon.
consisting of Representatives Olcott OF New
York. chairman: Smyser of Ohio, Berch-
field of Pennsylvania. Hay of Virginia and
Padgett Of Tennessee. Mr.. Padgett was
the only absentee at today's session.
But little was accomplished this morn
Ing. After Representative Clark of Florida,
who with Representative Sulzer of New
York and Attorney Evans of the Medico Lee
gal Society of the District of Columbia.
was instrumental In securing the investiga-
ton of the asylum, had made brief state
ment explanatory of the charges expected
to be proved. and Mr.. Evans had replied
to questions Of the committee, adjournment
was had. The committee will meet at 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning to begin the act
ual taking of testimony. A number of en-
ployes of the asylum have been subpoenaed
and will be on hand.
Representative Clark's Statement.
Representative Clark explained to the COM
mittee today that he expected to prove by
witnesses that patients at the asylum were
treated with extreme cruelty; that they
were choked by having wet towels twisted
around their necks; that they were knocked
down and otherwise treated brutally on the
slightest provocation. Mr.. Clark also stated
that 1t was the custom of Of. White super
intendent of the institution to go to court
IN Iunacy proceedings, in cases where old
soldiers were confined in the asylum. and
name local attorney. Fleming by name, as
a committee on lunacy. Jennings law part
ner, Mr.. Clark asserted drew the netition
Tor Or. White and received e. fee Fleming
also received fee, the court officers re-
celved fee and all these various fees were
PAID out of the old soldiers pittance. There
were fifty or sixty of these cases in a year,
Mr. Clark asserted. Furthermore those
bringing the charges, MIR. Clark said, in
tended to make point of the fact that the
criminal insane should be separated from
the other insane.
Didn't Know if This Was So Now
Representative Olcott asked whether Mr..
Clark knew that this was not the case at
the present time
Mr.. Clark replied that he did not know
what the conditions at the asylum were at
the present time. He understood however,
that since the Introduction of his resolution
there had been a general cleaning up at
the institution and that everything over
there was probably in fine shape just now.
Mr.. Mcnamara to Represent District.
Assistant District Attorney Stuart Mac
namara told the committee that he had
peeii instructed 10 attend the hearings to
look after the governments interests. and
Mr.. Clark took occasion to remark that he
should object to Mr. Mcnamara repre-
senting superintendent White.
Attorney Evans made brief statement,
recalling an investigation of two years ago
by the board of visitors of the asylum This
investigation was so farcical, Mr.. Evans de-
clared. that he hadn't bothered to go to the
board of visitors with the charges of the
Medico-Legal Society. In reply to questions
by Representative Smyser of Ohio, Mr..
Evans said he had practiced law in Wash
ington since 1875, and that he now repre-
sented the Medico-Legal Society.
He didn't seem TO know much about the
society, however, or couldn't give the COM
mittee much information as to Its charac-
ter, purposes, membership and the like He
remembered, however, that some members
had resigned after the society had pub
lished the charges against the institution.
Evans Questioned by Committee.
In reply to questions by committee MEM
bers, Mr. Evans said the charges investi-
gated two years ago by the board of Wis
itors were prepared by Thornton O. Pile,
one of the attendants at the institution
They had been Endorsed by other employees
at the asylum. The charges were referred
to the board of visitors, and shortly there
after Piles resignation was demanded and
refused Pile was then discharged and a
farcical investigation conducted. Mr., Evans
declared.
He wanted the committee to call for the
records of the Institution to demonstrate
the truth OF his statements. Mr.. Evans re-
marked that Mr.. Pile was one of the former
attendants who would be called to testify
Mr.. Mcnamara and Attorney Fleming
wanted TO ask Mr. Evans some question but
the committee refused permission.
The committee then adjourned to meet to-
morrow morning at 10 clock.