The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-10-06

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there, but came up frequently and locke
after the patients at the slmshous
While he was away the institution was
charge of Dr. Lyman Hollingshead. d
Sitgreaves spoke of the cases of consuml
tion and thought there were two or thrt
that should never have been sent to til
place, but he could not see how th
steward could refuse to admit them
they were legally committed No recor
of the diseases is kept, but the witnes
supposed there would be when the ne'
hospital is finished. With reference
the alleged assault on the Jones child, d.
Sitgreaves said he made an examinatio
but was unable to find anything to sui
stantiate the charge. He did not talk t
the steward about it, nor to the Prosecutor
nor did he say anything to the child
merely made the examination and if Gale,
before grand jury he could not give an,
evidence that would support the condition
as reported to him.
DR.. Richard HI. Parsons was next callet
and stated that he was the physician 8
the insane asylum. He told of the mum
Der of patients now at the asylum, and thu
salary he receives, which is 5000 per year
He has been physician at the institution
for six years. He does not keep any
record of his visits, but he goes there
every other day, sometimes twice day
On the matter of attendants he said he
might use more but he had always con
sidered an extra number more of luxury
than necessity and had never asked fol
them. Asked if it would not be bene-
fetal to have resident physician for both
price now paid for Ewo, DR.. Parsons said
it would not, as the service would not be
improved. 1t would not be possible to
get physician with any sort of paying
practice to give it up and reside at the
institutions at the price the county would
be willing to pay.
Mrs Williamson here spoke up and said
there was really no criticism to make
about the manner in which the asylum
is conducted unless 1t be that there should
be more attendants. She considers the
service at that institution very much I'M
derpaid as it is one of the best kept places
that has come under the supervision of
the commission.
G. Clarence Deacon, superintendent of
the insane asylum, produced a copy of
the register, and Mr.. Hahn tried to find
fault because he had not brought the
original, but this little objection was
knocked out by the secretary saying he
had only called upon Mr.. Deacon to bring
a copy. The witness said that he tried
in every instance. to discover If patient
has relatives able to pay for main
tenance at the asylum. At present there
are Is for whom $3.50 per week is being
paid. The sexes are separated except at
meal times when they occupy one dining
room, the men on one side. the women on
the other, with attendants accompanying
them. Asked If this did not have a
tendency to excite the patients, the reply
was that it never had thus far.
George F. Harbert, steward of the aims
house, was then called. He said he had
been in charge of the almshouse for eight
years, and prior to that had been black
smith, farmer, freeholder and sheriff. He
tries to have general supervision of the
place and to keep the inmates within the
of the law to the best of his
ability and understanding. He is not en-
gagged in any other business. He keeps a
record of the inmates and produced a
copy. 1t did not show Murray's commit
ment. This man had been sent to the
place three times. The last time was not
really commitment, but the fellow was
let in on an order from justice of the
peace. Murray was never discharged. but
ran away. 1t was five years since he first
went to the almshouse. Murray was as
signed to the kitchen. Josephine Iretti
was not sent to the kitchen by him, posi-
bly, by the nurse, but Mr.. Rarbert said he
knew she was there. He did not consider
her so extremely feeble-minded. He saw
her every day, and with himself, wife and
Miss McGettigan continually In and out
of the kitchen did not consider 1t mad
visable to have her there with a man.
Help had to be had and it was very hard
work to get it outside of the institution.
He knew of the unfortunate circumstance
that occurred, and knew of the two rum
ming away. Murray returned in about
seven months and was told to report TO
the kitchen. Mr.. Harbert knew that the
man had private disease when he first
entered the almshouse, but thought he
was cured. The case of the Budden girl
was alluded to and the steward said he
knew of that. but there was doubt In hi
mind whether Murray was responsible for
the result. He did not bring the matter
to the attention of the Prosecutor Of the
Pleas. He had made application to have
the Budden girl removed to the Home at
Vineland, and if the authorities had not
been so slow in acting there would not
have been the result that did occur.
Referring to the case of Joseph Risley,
the man who was admitted while dying
from consumption, Mr.. Harbert said he
had nothing to do with the physical con-
dition of man committed to the institu-
ton. eff the commitment papers are
legal and correct, " he said, 'ft is my duty
to obey them" He said the standing
committee visits the place once month,
and he reports to them all that he thinks
needs their attention. He did not tell
them about Murray running away at the
time it happened, but did tell them after
the man came back, and they said "send
him off" Murray Is now in Jail on COM
plant of the steward in connection with
the Budden case. The commission then
took up the subject of the farm, how
much is raised, how much used, how much
sold and many other matters that will go
to make up a report, but do not hav G
much bearing on dependency and crime.
On getting through with these items the
steward was called back to the separation
of the sexes, and he said 1t was impossible
under the present conditions to comply
with the law. After the new hospital il
completed, which will be about the first
of December, conditions may be improved
All of the features which appear to bt
Objectionable have been reported to the
Board of Freeholders. If the law is tt
be absolutely obeyed 1t will require two
separate buildings.
The Willow incident was referred to.
Mr.. Harbert said Miss McGettigan called
his attention to 1t and he locked Willow