The Washington times., 1906-06-11
FOUL AIR GAGGED
ASYLUM VISITOR
IN iCE-COLD ROOM
Found Paralytic With a
Broken Hip and Nurses
Not Within Hearing.

That she found a paralytic woman
psSi-sat, with a broken hip and un-
ccnsc.ous, locked in an icy cold room
at S. Elizabeth's, with her nurse out
OF calling distance. was the testimony
given today by Mrs. Lila S. Pavy. a
well-known Christian worker, before
the special Congressional committee
now investigating the Government Hos
pital for the Insane
Mrs. Pavy said under oath that, when
the room IN which the patient was con-
fined was unlocked. she staggered back
Into the hall. gagged by the foul air
that came from the room
Mrs. James Dean testified that spoiled
meat IS often served 70 the employees
Of the asylum, and that she has seen
them spit 1t out because they were un-
able to swallow it,
Son Is Fairly Treated.
Mrs. Augusta E Kellogg. the first wit
ness, said her son, a contract surgeon
OF the army, is at present an inmate OF
the asylum She has been visiting MIN
every day for the past two years. and
has found that he is treated in an ex-
ceilent and most humane manner. She
thought all the patients get kindly treat
menJ.
The only thing have noticed" she
said, lis that some Of the attendants. ac-
cOrding 10 my opinion. are rather young,
and. perhaps, are not as sympathetic az
Older attendants might be-
William T Anderson. a sergeant Of the
local police force, said he worked at St.
Elizabeth's thIrty-three years ago. Be
ing in charge OF the Anacostia police
station he frequently goes TO the asylum.
Some OF his men have been called on 10
arrest people al the asylum, such as
arresting attendants for assaulting pa
tients.
Woman Assaulted on Grounds.
About a year ago" he said, "a wom-
an, an employe at the asylum, came 20
me and told me she had been assaulted
in the institution grounds at about 5
o clock in the morning. She later re
fused 10 prosecute the guilty party. not
wishing the nOtorieey OF such course.
c. P Brown. an Anacostia policeman.
said he had seen Foreman Maenche, OF
the asylum laundry. frequently, but had
never seen him under the influence Of
liquor.
N. r. Harnish. assistant storekeeper
at st. Eliza beth's. testified that the
groceries used at the asylum are good
AdHlA4E SLOCNiAtS- 41G Als4S DSNA1 ell AAAC
asylum many years. Since DR.. White
assumed control. less sugar. less TIA.
and less coffee are used than was form
erly the case
Physicians Get Best Food.
The physicians and other officers
there" he said. get better food from
the storeroom than the patients do.
That's reasonable, I suppose"
Mr.. Harnish testified that there are
now employed in the storeSoom four
men. as opposed TO the FIVE who were
there before DR.. Whites time. The
head storekeeper. he said. gets 81 800 a
year. as opposed to the 500 drawn by
the storekeeper who was there before
DR.. Whites arrival
Frank Davey, paroled patient of the
own accord in the asylum dining room
and kitchen
He had seen an attendant hit a patient
for tearing up his clothes. He dealt the
blow with his open hand
Mrs. James Dean, employed in the
asylum sowing room the past five years
testified that she takes one meal a day
in the asylum dining room, where the
meat served is often spoiled and the
Most of the food she said is i'm
properly cooked Week before last saw
employees spit out the beef because il
9ras so tainted that they couldn't swal-
lOy il. can say this-that cook out
there knows nothing about cooking
I just can't eat the food there. I
often content myself with a cup OF tea
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