The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-08-22
MRS. THAW IS BITTER
SEVERE IN CRITICISM OF MATrEA.
WAN ASYLUM.
A1oaAew of Harry Declares Her Son A
Accorded Aaore Mtsrreatnnent Than
Before BECAUSE of Testimony.

a Matteawan. N. Y, ~ Aug 21.--Mrs.
Mary coplsy Thaw. mother of Harry K.
Thaw. today made public statement
crtticising the treatment accorded to
her son In the Matteawan State Hos
pitsl for the Criminal Insane since his
returny.to that institution by order of
Justice Mills.
Mrs. Thaw said not only that the
comforts accorded her son when he
was first sent to the asylum were not
restored after his recent return, but
that he had lately been denied privi-
leges that he enjoyed for the eighteen
months he was in the asylum. DR..
Lamb the superintendent OF the hospi-
tai, Mrs: Thaw said, when asked the
reason for the discontinuance Of privi-
legea to Thaw, answered that what had
been done for him was not appreciat-
ed.
Mrs. Thaw said. 80
Even the privilege is denied me Of
giving my son the whites OF eggs and
orange juice prescribed for him by mis-
own and my physicians. and which
heretofore ! have given him each after
noon when I made my visit.
''For the first time in these eighteen
months. they have denied nIm the priv
ilege Of playing the piano.
He is still locked up In the pare
cell. which I described IN court, at 3
o'clock. although other patients, some
Of whom do not work, are allowed to
remain up till o'clock.
Yesterday my SON had nothing what
ever to eat from e:l6 q. m, to 5:45 D.
M. because q lawyer came to see him
at noon dinner hour. Even the keep
ers wished to get him something to
eat, but DR.. Baker gave special orders
that they should give him nothing auE-
ing this IL Ia hours OF starvation.
I'VE inquired of DR.. Lamb the reason
for the deprivations. He answered that
what they had done-was not appreciat-
ed much when we went to court. To this
Harry replied: DR.. Lamb. treated both
you and DR.. Baker much better in
court than you deserved, as you know,
when testifying. So this must be re-
venge for what my mother said DR..
Lamb made no denial.
1--WE asked DIR. Lamb more IMAM once
II he had any further reason except re-
venge toward me and the desire to
enfeeble my sons health So that he
would not be able TO testify next time
as he had done when opposed to Mr..
Jerome at the late hearing. DIR. Lamb
could give no reason for this infamous
conduct.
Superintendent Lamb of the Mattea-
wan Asylum, said today concerning
Thaw's treatment at the hospital:
when all arguments are made, the
question roaming for final settlement
is, shall Harry K. Thaw submit to the
same treatment and accept the same
privileges as are accorded all other
patients at the Matteawan State Hos
pital. or shall he have all changed so
as to suit his peculiar wishes?
"At no time during his residence in
the hospital has he suffered any pri-
Walton whatever. In fact, every time
Mr.. Thaw has left this Institution to
take UP temporary jail residence, and
there. in a measure, follow his own
rules and inclinations. he has lost
weight. only to regain 1t directly on
his return to our care. The visiting
privileges to Mrs. Thaw have been
more liberal than she could gain in
In any other State institution that I
know OF. 1t is to be regretted that
differences have arisen. but the medical
officers here can scarcely concede to
any patient the sole right OF prescrib-
ing for himself his own medicine. diet
and rules OF conduct. 1t is for lack of
reason and judgment that he makes
no effort to adjust himself to condi-
lions which are by no means unfair or
unjust"