Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-15

THE LACK OF HELP SHOWN
By the Testimony of Albert C. Hay
den, an Attendant,
WHO ALSO TELLS OF POOR FOOD

Albert c. Hayden. for the past thirteen
years an attendant at the ST. Elizabeth
Asylum, was the principal witness before
the Olcott special committee at today's
session. Mr.. Hayden, who made a most
favorable impression upon the members
of the committee and those In attendance
upon the hearing, testified concerning the
lack of help at tho asylum. the improper
classification of employees, the poor food
and the handicaps under which the nurses
and attendants labored.
According to Mr.. Hayden. DR.. Richard
son, just before his death. requested 100
additional nurses and attendants. Since
DR.. White has been in charge there have
been two reductions in the number of this
class Of employees.
Two ex-patients were before the commit
tee at the morning session, but were only
partially heard.
The afternoon session began at o'clock.
with sixteen witnesses waiting to be
heard.
Had Seen Patients Abused.
Charles Hayes, formerly an employe in
the asylum dairy, but now in the green
house, was the first witness sworn. He
had seen patients badly treated.
Medicine means a throw-down and
SbdhiIS, Sdiu hayes haNN cSNH tis'c
medicine applied
why didn't you protect the patiently"
asked Chairman Olcott
..Because I reported an attendant once.
He was fired. but the other employees
wouldn't speak to me for a long time"
There was no justice at the asylum he
said. The bosses got Ill the best of il.
They were allowed to have flowers from the
greenhouses. The patients couldn't have
any. There were other things in which
the bosses got all the best of 1t.
"One boss, Maenche. the laundry fore
man." said the witness. "is noted drunk
ard"
The food at the asylum was very bad.
the witness testified. Sometimes the meat
actually smelled te heaven. Often he had
to leave the table, the grub was 80 poor.
why do you stay there?' inquired Mr..
Olcott.
people getting their raises and I'm
held down. 1t isn't fair DEAL
You should say square DEAL suggested
Mr.. Smyser. amid general laughter.
Mrs. Temples Husband.
Mrs. Malvina Temple, whose husband
was an inmate of the asylum from July.
1901, to December 10. 1903. took the stand.
Her husband had been frightfully bruised
on a number Of occasions. The attendants
told her he was struck by patient or
had fallen. She recognized some OF the
bruises on her husbands face as having
been made by fist. She had not seen
attendants strike patients.
The food was rot good. She had taken
him things. including shoes and clothes.
that he never received.
The last four months of his Illness her
husband was a sufferer from consumption.
and his bed was directly in front of a door.
SO that he got every draft. protest to
DIR. Simpson made by Mrs. Temple had
done no good. Mrs. Temple had seen other
evidences of Ill treatment.
MIR. Dulaney's Evidence.
Turner A Dulaney of 1888 Jackson street.
Anacostia. from 1900 to 1904 employe OF
the asylum. was sworn. For ten months or
his service he had been an attendant The
rest of the time he had assisted the asylum
carpenter. Dulaney had never seen pa
tients ill-treated IN the wards, but he had
seen patients kicked by attendants while
walking around the grounds.
Where were they kicked?" asked Mr..
Smyser.
'In the rear replied Dulaney.
did you make any complaints?"
NO." replied the witness. there's a regu-
lar keep-mum plan over there
Dulaney said he was once sick while en-
p.oyed at the asylum and had asked for sick
diet He asked three times. and was re-
buked by DIR. Hummer. Witness threatened
to go to the supe erintendent. and he got the
SICK 0Iet WITHIN twenty minutes.
Dulaney said he went to DIR. White
and offered to board himself for SO n
month. White denied the request In
this connection Dulaney said that he
tion of $26 a month for employees, and
he wanted to know why DIR. White
hadn't saved the difference when the op-
portunity was given him.
Witness said the food at the institu-
tion was very poor. The oleomargarine
mixture served mt the asylum for butter
looked and tasted like tallow. The meat
frequently had bad odor. Sometimes
patients had to be satisfied with two
slices of bread, three prunes and cup
of tea for their evening meal. He had
seen this slender diet served quite fire.
quently.
G. ]. Fritz who said he knew about
the asylum from intercourse with en-
pIoyes," was sworn. He said he had
never been In the asylum. and was
promptly EXCUSED.
Eugene Boil Of Prince George county.
Nd. an employe of the institution before
DR.. Whites time, was excused
Food Was Bad.
Joseph w Belt, twenty-one years cid. OF
Leesburg, Va, from October, 1905. to jan
uary, 1905. an attendant at the asylum.
testified that an attendant named Hawkins
always carried piece of insulated wire In
HE nocket which he used to beat patients
over the head with Hawkins had threshed
,.atteuts for walidng up and down the cor
ridors instead OF sitting down.
s4It was not NECESSARY to do that, said
the witness.
said Mr smyseI. why didn't you report
thfs?s
Il didn't know what I'd get said to me-"
replied Belt
The witness said he had also sesn Haw-
kfnB strike maine In the stomach.
ssThe food In the ayiukn was poor" said