Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-20
Washington County Man Asks for
100000 for Damages
Sustained at Provo.
WAS IN MENTAL HOSPITAL
Wh1c There lie says Treatment Was
Cruel. While Ills Property Was
Used Up by the County.


that IL wanted Tor good roads, and
more than twice the sum desired as
initial Appropriation toward a capitol
building, IN paying damages 90 q citi-
zen OF Washington county.
petition presented by the claimant
for the small fortune was introduced
by Senator Miller this morning. Il asks
for 100000 and sets forth as reasons
the fact that the petitioner received
harsh and cruel treatment while con-
fined Tor 90 years in the state mental
hospital ar Provo.
The petitioner Frederic Blake. is
known I'm Washington county as a
veteran citizen, widely acquainted who
was once worth a great deal Of prop
erty. While In tho mental hospital an
of this property passed from his pos
session, and now, after being released.
he is practically penuiless. The peO-
pie there who know his position feel
the keenest sympathy for him.
His petition is as follows.
81. George. Utah. Jan. d. 1909.
TO the Senate and House OF Represent
atves. state Of Utah.
Genuemen-I present my plea ANA
damage account of three hum
dred thousand dollars S2OO.o 0O) for
twenty years false Imprisonment and
the Cruelest kind az treatment. iu tine
state Mental hospital az Provo. Utah.
Your honorable body viii allow me-.
according TO the laws Of our dear
country, 10 testify that 1 was COM
nitted from 81. George, Washington
county Utah, Jan. 5, 1857, under q
false report without a hearing
1 found ia the State Mental hospital
very cruel treatment t0 the patients
by the employees. 1 spoke iu kind
way 10 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 81 they took
my life they would shed innocent blood.
and lr law could not handle them. the
vengeance of a just God could. But
they dashed me 20 the walls and the
floors, stamped me with their feet and
shoes cracked my skull. mashed in my
right ear ana ribs and picked me Up
q mass OF broken bones; put me in a.
room for corpse expecting 20 bury
ne, ! don't believe that Christ suffered
more. After about two years / made
my escape 10 Salt lake City for a
was hunted for as a bloodhound would
hunt for his prey. and brought back.
where / was tied and strapped TO an
IRON bedstead, and beat with an oak
club at midnight hour. broke my
right arm and ankle. and my flesh
was mdngled from head TO feet. and
LETT almost a lifeless form.
MEN AT MIDNIGHT.
After several months. and was gel
ting better, four men came at midnight
with lantern, cup and bottle Of poison
when ] was asleep, ordered me out OF
bed ana forced the poison down me
with pint cup. 10 burned holes in nv
skin and flesh. They left me expecting
me to die for days. Supt. DIT Pike
said he would lock me up in "a close
room, and that would XIII me- He shut
me up Tor seven years not allowed To
80 out for walk They only done
this TO hide their crimes Gentlemen and
legislators Of Utah / do testify / al
ways was civil never raised "a hand To
modest one or them la an their treat
ment and In an my escapes three of
them, ] defy any one 10 bring a conn
plant against me. You can advertise
IL you want % see II I wr0nged any
one, ] found friends that treated me
with respect
Gentlemen-It is my bones broken
and flesh mangled and the poison
forced down me. IL was me that sur
fered the cruelty for 90 years through
vlllainous work. / have only been OUT
OF the hospital for IS months. this Us
the FIRST time have had 90 present the
case in your power advise you TO
not let q pass by for fear tho ven
geance OF just God may meet some
one ask for 100000.
PROPERTY Is GONE.
If 1 am wanted 20 appear at your
assembly send your order and pass
ON tho road / can come without any
officer face 20 face, you can ques-
zion me ou this plea, ] have names
Tor witnesses. and my own statement
rs some evidence. L am 81 years old
Jun. 10. ] was wealthy when they took
me 90 The hospital, good homes, horses.
cattle. saw min. farming land, The
county took some 60 pay the hospital
fees, aud everything / had most but
seven acres Of land Was sold
PENSION AS ALTERNATIVE.
0 have mo- home 10 live in. neither
"a horse COR "a cow am 10 rs paid for
n 90 WAS one of you or your dear ones
you would act i demand my rights.
further make a propositlon--if the
State of Utah win pay me annually
s. 500 commencing Marth T. 1909. as
long AS 4 live on this earth 1 win
accept
when a soldier goes 10 war and has
DIS limbs broken or cut on he gets "a
pension. treat mo likewise.
Yours very respectfully
FREDERICK BLAKE.
4 refcr you t0 the following as Wit-
ucssus 0f inc statements herein made
Pred Jones, aupt of ward. Hugh
Money John Hothouse. Joue Love.
Harry Williams. William Williams. Mr
Simpson and kirkham. night watchers
More names cam Doe EUt m you wish
Il from tho hospital limo h0nk