The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-06-15
Lrrom sntnrdny,a Dnllyl

lFrom Saturdays Dnilyl
The piercing rays of searching
investigation, which began In the
state insane hospital here yesterday
by the state board of public lands ana
buildings. burned hole into the dark
ness that had cloakcd the various ru-
mors and wierd reports of cruelty
about the institution, brought out the
sworn statement of DR., Nicholson that
the best of fellowship now prevails be-
tween himself and the superintendent,
and ended late last night, after long,
hard session, with the fact pretty pos
itiyely established that Dame Hear
say and Mrs. Rumor, together with
Mr.. and Mrs. Personal Animosity, had
made thorough trip around the state
of Nebraska, spreading bits of false
and unfounded gossip about the Nor
folk hospital for the insane that acted
as a boomerang in effect.
After DR.. Nicholson, the assistant
superintendent, had completed his tes-
timony late in the afternoon, having
been on the stand from early morning,
four attendants who had been involved
In one way and another, were placed
on the stand. Two of them, who
threw light on the insignificant foun-
dations for the full-grown rumors that
developed months later, told clear-cut
stories and corroborated the testimony
of DR.. Nicholson in which he admitted
that there was nothing to back up the
charges he had written In his letters
TO the governor. One attendant testi-
fed to rough handling by former
attendant, who was discharged at the
time, and the other one gave various
and conflicting stories of rough hand
ling by Charge Attendant Ellis, which
Mr.. ellis denied in u large measure.
At 9 o'clock last night the board ad-
journed until next Thursday morning
for the accommodation of Governor
Mickey's attorney, Mr.. Stewart, who
had pressing business In Lincoln to-
day.
AT the next meeting the whole mat
ter will be finished and an effort will
be made to have present julius Alt
schuler, to whom much of the hearsay
has been traced, and Blair Goff, for
mer attendant at Pierce. who was
present during the time that incidents
are alleged to have occurred,
Governor Mickey and Attorney Gen
eral Norris Brown arrived from Lin
coin yesterday noon and returned with
the state board this morning. Govern
or Mickey was in the investigating
room only long enough to hear DR.
Nicholson testify that he had gone
hunting on Sunday, at which point the
governor left the room and remained
of the day.
After testifying that good fellowship
now prevails between himself and the
superintendent. and that he is perfect
ly satisfied with the quarters nov
which he complained of as persecution
last summer, DR., Nicholson stated
that he had never made record o
any kind for the purpose of keeping
facts from the governor. He said h
did not let DR.. Alden know anything
of the Wolfe letter, had never seen
towel dragging incident, and that
the feeling which now prevails ha
then prevailed, he would have toll
DR.. Alden instead of the governor O
things he heard. He said DR.. Aide
had talked to attendants accused @
cruelty and that he does not nov
blame Alden for keeping employe
who were accused but not proven t
be guilty of cruelty, Attorney Doyle
who represented DR.. Nicholson, yer
cleverly worked out the testimony ths
Dr. Nicholson is now on good term
with the superintendent and the faC
that the letters containing charge
against Alden went to Mickey as a +
suit of Mickey's request and NJ
through malice.
Alden lmplored Careful Handling.
Earl Brakeman testified that he VIZ
present during the Shockley fight ar
that Shockley struck Byerly in Il
nose, who kicked back in defense. I
said DR.. Alden came in at the tin
of fighting and cautioned the men
handle Shockley carefully. He sa
SnOChley was HdHulSu CdT6lully III
that Byerly was eXcusable for kickil
for the reason that Shockley was
strong, heavy man.
Nicholson Approved 6yerly.
Nightwatch Byerly, one of the M
accused of cruelty in Nicholson's Il
ter, swore that he separated Shockl
and his fellow-inmate in their fig
and that Shockley then fought t
whole ward, finally knocking Byel
in the head. DR.. Nicholson told By
ly that he was satisfied with Byerl,
treatment of patients, Byerly swo
that julius Altschuler, who is NJ
wanted for testimony, told him VIII
he left that he would make trouble
Nicholson and Alden too. He ney
heard of any cruelty in the insti
tion.
Byerly swore that Shockley was l
injured in the bathroom, never hea