The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-10
MURDER CHARGED
IN ASYLUM PROBE
FOURTEEN CASES OF CRUELTY
AGAINST ATTENDANTS AT
STATE HOSPITAL.
EIGHT KILLED SAYS CORONER
investigation Of Death OF John Adams
Brings Out Statement as to
More cruelties Hitherto a.
kA, unsuepectsd.

Massillon, June 10.--Acting Coroner
John C., Boutwell, Tuesday filed
charges in which he declares seven
patients, besides John Adams, died as
the result of violence in the Massillon
asylum.
Bothwelrs charges recited IA dis
tinct cases OF cruelty by attendants.
lie says his witnesses are former at
tendants and others.
Alta secret conferences with Secre
tary Shirer and members Of the state
board of charities subcommittee, sent
here to investigate the death OF John
Adams, aged 81, Beach City, Boutwell,
filed his charges, He says he can
bring witnesses to prove each case.
DR.. Il. G. Goudy. who made the
autopsy on Adams body, testified
Tuesday afternoon that he had known
the. old man for 26 years and that he
had never been dangerously violent.
He said he found Ave large bruises on
his body. the effect of direct violence.
Four ribs were broken, he said. and
one rib had been driven through the
lung.
Supt. II. c. Eyman, first witness
before the committee in the case OF
John Adams. aged inmate who. the
coroner found, died OF violence in the
asylum. He testified Tuesday that he
never saw John Adams, 81, the
patient whom Coroner Boutwell, de.
clared met his death by violence in
the hospital. Adams had been In the
hospital four days when he died.
Records OF the hospital concerning
Adams were read to the committee
by Eyman.
Attendants report said that Adams
was noisy while patient On the
fourth day Adams was in the hospital
Attendant f. II. Hubbard made an
entry In the accident book saying that
Adams had broken a rib.
The record said that the manner
in which the accident had happened
was unknown.
There was no full record of Adams
condition.
The superintendent explained that
the reason he did not see Adams was
that the ward in which he was kept
was being fumigated the day he went
to see him. Eyman further testified
that he made at least one visit every
week TO all the wards in the institu.
ttion.
Boutwell, testified that Adams
chest bore the marks of shoe, the
heel and sole being plainly shown. He
said four ribs were broken instead of
one as the hospital reported, and that
there was no sign OF pneumonia, al
though the hospital had assigned that
az The cause of death,
Each rib was broken by a distinct
blow. he testified. The black and blue
marks were too numerous to count,
he said.
C. A. Nauman, assistant supervisor.
admitted on the stand that on one oc.
oasion he had to use patient with
unusual force. He said the patient
kicked him first. This was the only
case of roughness with patients in
fye years service he had ever seen,
Nauman testified.
"Straight-jackets are not used in
the hospital" said Nauman. Some.
times we use resting sheets, however
| have seen patients with blacked
eyes"
Dr. f. C. Brown, hospital physician
testified that straight.jackets were
sometimes used.
"If the committee finds that Adams
met his death by violence, then we
win report that to the governor first.'
said Secretary Shirer. Whatever the
result in the Adams case. we will in
vestigate the Boutwell, charges"