Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-12
FINDS DEATH OF
GRASSMEE DUE
TO BRUTALITY
JURY AYERS PATTON PATIENT
DIED FROM SHOCK
BELIEVES INJURIES INFLICTED
BY NIGHT WATcHMAN
Acting Medical Superintendent and
Acting Supervisor of Insane Asy-
lum censured for Not Detain-
Ing Alleged AssaIIant

T ACTS brought to light at the inquest
over the body of Henry Grassmee.
Il whose death et the Southern Califor-
mia hospital for the insane at Patton
resulted In the arrest of Hans S. Berg,
night watchman, and severe censure for DIR.
Gustave Wilson, acting medical superin-
tendent of Patton, and George J. Butler,
| acting supervisor at Patton, arc:
That Henry Grassmee helpless pa
tient, who had never given any trouble.
That DIR. Wilson in issuing death cer-
tiGcate had ascribed the cause of death to
paresis and exhaustion.
That DIR. George w. Campbell, who per-
formed q second post mOrtem, gave tho
cause of death as shock and hemorrhage,
caused by severe crushing Of the chest
cavity.
That Henry Grassmee had been strapped
to his couch and lay for twenty-fOur hours
without medical attention after such in
juries had been inflicted.
That other patients In the ward
with Grassmee were physically unable to
infct injuries sufficient to death.
That DIR. Wilson, in the first autopsy
gave out the statement that death would
have resulted from paresis If injuries had
not been inflicted.
That DIR. Campbell stated 'ne Drain was
In Norman co"ul''On anu
possible.
That DIR. Wilson's examination showed
but two broken ribs, while DR.. Campbell's
autopsy showed thirteen broken ribs.
That DIR. Wilson failed to state in his
d..tt, o.r+ifcat. that IN niuries were con-
-
tributory causes OF aea'n.
Ill aAA 4xna.
That Dr. CampDeh testhed sucn INJURIES
would have caused the death of q person
in robust health.
. That Night Watchman Berg was dis
oharmad oftar tt xva. tbougbt he was re-
-, 80 ,,...a..,..,. ,,,,,,,.. "a =,
spo"si"io Ao'
effort maoe TO prevent MS escape'
That the Injuries were not inflicted at one
certain time, but showed that repeated
blows caused death as stated by DIR. Camp
hall
rt.. h1.,,,. sbo,,ad .v;dances a, heel
, -. -. D. =.
mas @1 ,"s "asss ;. r. rr,,,
wore boots, had access 70 tne roo"'
That the coroner Of San Bernardino
county was not notified because Grassmee
eventually would have died from his dis
.ase. as testified bv DR. Wilson,
- - 1,s..,..,'.lI l., av,a.,c. cola
An1t Df' o",'p- - -. -,
that Srassmee Du' Aor "ru''Ai "e' "-u
| a possible chance for entire recovery
These and other startling facts con-
/ aorr,,,or +ba brutal death of Henry
Ciass,5, r,,are dieclosed at the inouest
stts n-.oS. ~ hod1S Of the undertalrino-
helu S,sss9 UEer one poy oS yot,erhnI+1ar e Nills
s -. . Lriae bo,,y x,oa uSea
yesteroay. OntS 4stt,oo1rr q oo and fba Co..
10 Intlouuce seS s.naS a., sc rano,+
onei ta,e ,1,,tss 1u+s ioter
ten minutes l1tel. - ,ooo,,,od hr,,+o1
Ihal inc pAtiei5s .;.4as iso ~, +ho 1atto,,
treatment was auiilllseu oy ane i,1a,aSt
ofnclais VINO testineu az n 1ne ise so,. 70,
DuC ,.. Wno II 20 eAoo ro,,iS ,ot nositivalSy
state. only remarking that Hans s.
Berg, night Waterman, hao peen us
charged because ne hao 1dileu 70 1spo'e
the condition OF Grassnee. -,
The report OF the jury reao; We, rsis' ele
/, jury, find that the deceased, dehfy
Grassmee, came to his death from
shock and hemorrhage, following severe
crushing Of the chest cavity ana tne
abdomen which injuries from tne evl-
dence appear TO nave peen lnnlcteu oy
one attendant, Berg, at the state insane
asylum at Patton, and we censure Dr.
Wilson and Supervisor Butler Tor not
taking proper steps TO iIsu,e DUB Us
tention by the authorities"
Hardly had the report or the jury.
which was anticipated, been announces
before the wires between Los Angeles
and San Bernardino became pusy' and
Berg was kept under surveillance until
arrested yesterday afternoon by ORDER
of W. e. Byrne, district attorney OF
San Bernardino county.
That a wholesale mVeStlsa.lon '3i, az ',le ne
methods employed at Patton VIII be
made was the statement OF Dlstrict At
torney Byrne, who did not wish 10 dis,
cuss the matter fully yesterday unui
he had investigated more thorouenly.
When this investlgatlon mas peell nlauo l,1lt
| ranOrt
ernor Gillett, and tnat Mholesale
house cleaning at Fattoh VIII Oe Or
dered seems assured.
Death Said to Be Brutal
| ,a - ,,,,ns1aroh+er will ba
a cnssi 81 ~ % ra.e aod 1,,st what ar
I9 IouS til ~ ~ +ol-en a9ainst A citing Medi-
tlon 1 Wi,i oe '+a,dant Wilson Is NOT
S.a-,,s eal t,,t - Distric+ Attorney Rvrne
NaVmI' Stntni +hat If his investigation con-
srroad the testimony given at the in