The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-08

come to their death otherwise than from natural causes, and that the al- legged patient, Mrs. Allen, referred to in the testimony of some of the wit nesses, had no existence in fact.
 "As to the Hines cases; 1t is charged tbat he met his death by violence at the hands of the nurses. The Commis- sion Is of the opinion that on account of the discrepancies in their evidence, and tho physical facts of the case, Hines did not meet his death in the manner testified to by the nurses of the institution.
 Hines case to Grand Jury.
 "The Commissioned examined several alleged witnesses to the transac- tion, and are informed that there are several witnesses who would be able to give valuable testimony as4s to the facts, whom the Commission were un- able to have before it.
 ",The Commission therefore recom- mends that the grand jury of Tusca- loosa County further investigate this case, with a view of returning indict- ments against the parties charged with this unlawful killing, if the evidence justifles il.
 Tn reference to the Johnson case and the other cases before the Commis- sion, the members of the Commission realize and appreciate the trying posi- 
 sidering the testimony of the inmates of the institution. and former patients, suffering with the form of insanity known as paranoia, and have been loath to base a finding upon such testt- mony unless circumstantially corrobo- rated, or ,corroburated by the indepen- dent testimony ot other witnesses, and therefore, although direct charges are made against the nurses for violent and inhuman treatment which resulted in Johnson's death.the Commission is of the opinion and find that though mis- treatment may have occurred his death was not caused by abuse.
 Another Murder Case. "A witness by the name of R. M Cornelius, a citizen of Tuscaloosa Coun- ty. who was a former nurse at said institution in 1899, testified before the Commission that a nurse by the name of Montgomery told him, I am going to get me man this evening", and also told the witness the name of the man. which he had forgotten.
 The witness further testified that he saw Nurse Montgomery that evening late, about supper time and the nurse told witness that he believed he had got him man on Ward No. 9, and the witness asked the nurse, Is he dead and the nurse replied. Yes
 'grhe witness was on duty and testi- fled that next morning before pr. Searcy and Dr. Faulk, who had charge of the west wing, went through the buildings Witnes oCrnelius went up on Ward No. with his key and went into the cross-halI and found dead man. This witness testified that the mans throat and breast were considerably bruised.
 The Commission recommends that this case be further investigated by the grand jury of Tuscaloosa County. "The Commission investigated the case of Joseph Burka, from Bullock County and as to this case there is evidence before the Commission that he was severely maltreated and over worked on the day of his death, but the Commission is unable to find that this maltreatment and overwork caus- ed his death.
 'aThe Commission is fully mindful that the recommendations made in this report will greatly incEease the ex- pense of maintaining this institution, and we believe a more liberal appro- priation for this hospital is matter of imperative necessity Under the exist ing law the only support given these hospitals by the State is an appropri- ation not exceeding $S per week for each patient.
 More Money is Needed.
 Out of the fund thus appropriated must be paid all expenses for furni- ture, clothing, bedding, salaries. wages, fuel, lights, medicines, food and in- cluding improvements and new build- ings (which are needed from time to time) and the many expenses incident to so large an institution, we there fore recommend that the maximum weekly allowance of $3 for each pa- tient should be increased by law to s4. Tn conclusion, the Commission has to say that in an institution of the magnitude of the Bryce Insane Hos pitai. 1t is well nigh impossible that an occasional act of undue violence or maltreatment at the hands of a certain class of nurses that may And employ ment therein will not occur, but 1t is the deliberate judgment of the Com mission that this is not due to neg lect or inefficiency on the part of the superintendent and his staff of assist ants and supervisors, but rather due to the inability of the supervisor, on account of his many duties, to have an eye at all times on every detail of the establishment, and whatever may have occurred in the past the members of the Commission, with the recommen- dations herein made carried out, in- eluding the additional appropriation herein recommended, feel 1t their duty to assure the people of Alabama that they have every cause to believe with the present management, a more thor ough and vigilant supervision Sf the entire establishment will be had here after. ",The Commission is of the opinion that the institution Is one of the great est and most valuable of It's kind in the South. and indeed place where the people may safely entrust their af- hicted and unfortunate.
 "In making this examination the Commission was furnished every fa- cility for a proper and complete inves- tigation of every department of this institution.
 "An of which is respectfully sub- mitted.
 "Jere c. King,
 Chairman.
 "Jos. j. Arnold,
 "Gaston Gunter.
 "Wm. N Hays
 Henry F. Reese.
 Montgomery. Ala, Sept. 7th, 1907"
 EILENBERG-LINDN
 CnNSERV ATnRY nES MTGIC