Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-14

Parsons was a well known resident
of Los Angeles, living at 1920 Georgia
street. He was committed to the Pat
ton asylum November 21, 1908, and died
March Is at 5:45 o'clock in the morning.
Parsons death, according to the certifi-
cate given by the medical superintend-
ent of the asylum, was caused by gem
eral paresis and acute dilation of the
heart. incidentally DIR. Wilson men
toned to- the widow of the dead man
when she went to the asylum to claim
the body of her husband that he had
three broken ribs, received, according
to the statement made by DR.. Wilson,
in fight with patient, which oc-
CURED three days previous to his death.
Favorable Reports Given
Up to that time the reports of Par
sons physical condition made by the
asylum authorities to the wife were of
the most favorable kind and the first
intimation that she had of his serious
condition was on the evening of March
Is, when she received telegram from
DIR. E. Scott Blair, medical superintend-
ent of the asylum, reading: 'Mr. Par
sons seriously ILL., may not live long
The following morning Mrs. Parsons,
who lives at 439 Savoy street, went to
the asylum only to be met with the in
telligence from DR.. Wilson that her
husband had died that morning shortly
before o'clock.
AS an incident to the conversation
in which he broke the news of Par
sons death Dr. Wilson among other
things stated that Parsons had three
broken ribs, according to Mrs. Par
sons. and when the shocked and
grieved wife asked when and how he
had received such an injury, was in
formed that it was in a fight with
another patient in the yard of the in
stitution some two or three days prev
ious.
Edward l.. Parsons was a man of
high mental attainments and except
on one subject was pronounced and be-
lieved to be absolutely normal up to the
very minute of his death.
When informed of the injury to her
husband Mrs. Parsons mind reverted
to the time of two visits she had made
to him after his incarceration in the
asylum, when he had informed her of
shocking and brutal treatment he had
been subject to by the attendants of
the place and particularly at the hands
of a nurse he called George who
was one of his personal attendants.
The first complaint received from
Parsons by his wife was on December
S. about two weeks after he had been
brother of Parsons from his home in
Ohio was made the opportunity of
visit to the asylum, the concession be-
ing granted by the authorities in disre-
gard of a rule that patients should not
receive visitors within thirty days of
their Incarceration.
Wife Discovers Injuries
When Mrs. Parsons and her brother
in-laW arrived at the asylum Parsons
received them in his usual manner and
was to all appearances in perfectly
normal condition. He greeted his wife
affectionately and while surprised to
see his brother, whom he did not know
was in California, was overjoyed to see
him and together they talked over old
times in Ohio; of people, scenes and in
cidents back there. During the CONVEX
sation Mrs Parsons sat by her hus-
bands side and at one time she af-
fectionately threw her arm around his
waist At once the man drew away
with a sharp exclamation of pain and
to her surprised and anxious inquiry
replied that George had beat him up
pretty badly that morning and he be-
lieved he had broken his ribs
This Is a fine place." said Parsons
to his wife and brother. "The buildings
and grounds are splendid. The build
ings are as clean as 1t is possible for
them to be. l was never In cleaner |
or neater institution or building in my |
life. The grounds are beautiful, the |
food is ali that could be asked for. 1t |
is wholesome, of sufficient quantity and |
palatable. But this is an awful place to
put any person into. They treat you |
horribly here The irritate and excite |
you, often needlessly and without
cause, and then when you show that |
they have got on your nerves they