The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-21
INSANE MAN ASKS
LARGE REWARD
Frederick Blake Wants $780,
900 for Serving Twenty
Years in Asylum.
CHARGES BASE TREATMENT
SAYS HE WAS BEATEN TO A PULP
AND POISONED.


Frederick Blake of st, George presents
TO the senate of Utah his modest claim
for 5000. COO on account OF confinement
for twenty years in the state mental
bospitsI at Provo. Mr.. Blake is 81
years old. He was released from the
asylum eighteen months ago, not be-
cause he had entirely recovered from
insanity, but because his violent at
tacks had ceased. Against the hospital
officials ne charges all sorts Of cruelties,
declares that his twenty years in the
mental hospital were twenty years of
agony caused by constant torture.
His charges are, of course, absurd,
because of the fact that the old man
stiU suffers from a disordered intellect.
II is true. however, that before he be-
came violently insane twenty years ago
he was a well-to-do farmer and stock
raiser Of Washington county. During
the twenty years he was in the hospital,
through neglect. his property so de-
Perforated that he is today penniiess, in
addition to the fact that he is broken
in health.
The petition to the legislature was
sent to Senator Miller by Mr.. Blake.
and by the senator presented to the
senate without comment. 1t was re-
ferred to the committee on appropria-
tons and claims. The petition in full
follows;
The Insane Mans Plea.
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives. State of Utah:
"Gentlemen-I present my plea and
damage account of three hundred thou
sand dollars $500, O00) for twenty years
false imprisonment and the crueiest
kind of treatment I'm the state mental
hospital at Provo. Utah. Your honor
able body win allow me, according to
the laws Of our dear country, to testify
that / was committed from st. George,
Washington county, Utah, Jan. 5, 1887,
under a false report, without hearing.
Il found in the state mental hospital
very cruel treatment to the patients by
the employees. | spoke in a kind way
TO the attendants, advised them to treat
the patients with kindness. But they
swore at me. and threatened that they
would pack me out in a wooden box.
told them that if they took my life
they would shed innocent blood, and if
law could not handle them, the ven
geance of a just God could. But they
dashed me to the walls and the floors,
stamped me with their feet and shoes,
cracked my skull. mashed i'm my right
ear and ribs and picked me up a mass
OF broken bones. put me in a room for
a corpse. expecting to bury me. I don't
believe that Christ suffered more. After
about two years I made my escape to
salt Lake for a hearing of the treat
ment: of course, | was hunted for as a
bloodhound would hunt for his prey,
and brought hack, where I was tied
and strapped TO an iron bedstead. and
beat with an oak club at a midnight
hour. broke my right arm and ankle.
and my flesh was mangled from head
to foot, and left almost lifeless form.
Poison Burned Holes.
After several months, and I was get
ting better. four men came at midnight
with lantern, cup and bottle of poison
when ] was asleep, ordered roe out of
bed and forced the poison down me
with a pint cup. 1t burned holes in my
skin and flesh. They left me, expecting
me TO die for days. Superintendent DIR.
Pike said he would lock me up in a
close room. and that ne would kill me.
He shut me up for seven years, not al
lDwed To go out for walk. They only
done this to hide their crimes. Gentle
men and legislators of Utah I do testi-
~ I always was civil, never raised a
hand to modest one of them in all their
treatment, and in all my escapes. three
Of them, defy anyone to bring a COM
plant against me. You can advertise
if you want to see il 1 wronged any
one. I found friends that treated me
with respect.
Gentlemen. it is my bones broken
and flesh nangled and the poison
forced down me, il was me that SUI
fered the cruelty for twenty years
through Villainous work. I have only
been out Of the hospital for eighteen
months; this is the first time 1 have
had to present the case in your power.
] advise you to not let it pass by for
fear the vengeance Of a just God may
meet some one. 1 ask for 100000.
Is Now PenniIess.
"ff I am wanted to appear at your as
sembiy, send your order and a pass on
the road. / can come without any Off
Ger face to face, you can question me
on this plea ! have names for wit
nesses, and my own statement is some
evidence. am s. years old Jan. Is. I
was wealthy when they took me to the
hospital. good homes. horses, cattle.
sawmill, farming land. The county took
some To pay the hospital lees, and eV-
erything I had most, but seven acres
of land. was sold.
4 have no home to live in. neither a
horse or a COW till it is paid for. If it
was one of you or your dear ones YOU
would act. I demand my rights
Il further make a proposition: If the
state OF Utah Will pay me annually 81
500. commencing March (. 1909. as long
as I live on this earth viii accept.
When a soldier goes to war and has
his limbs broken or cut off. he gets a
pension Treat me likewise. Yours
very respectfully.
FREDERICK BLAKE
II refer YOU to the following as Wit
nessss of the statements herein made:
Fred Jones, superintendent OF ward
Hugh Money, joan Hothouse, Jone
Love, Harry Williams. William VIII
liams. Mr.. Simpson and Kirkham.
nightwatchers.
More names can be got # you wish
it from the hospital time book"
Elks' Excursion to Coast.