Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-24
THAw STARVING IN CELL, -.
so HIS MOTHER SAYS

! MATTEAWAN, N. Y, Aug. H.-Mrs.
Mary Copley Thaw, mother OF Harry h.
Thaw. today made public a Statement
crticising the treatment accorded to her
sen in the Matteawan State hospital for
! the criminal insane, since his return to
that institution by order of Justice NILS.
! Mrs. Thaw said not only that the COM
forts accorded her son when he was f1rst
sent to the asylum were not restored after
his recent return, but that he had been
lately denie dprivileges he enjoyed for
the Is months he was in the asylum. DR..
Lamb. the superintendent Of the hospital.
Mrs. Thaw said, when asked the reason
for the dlscontinuance of privileges to
Thaw. answered that what had been done
for him was not appreciated.
NOT ALLOWED DIET.
Mrs. Thaw said:
Even the privilege is denied me Of CIV
ing my son the whites of eggs and orange
juice prescribed for him by his own and
my physicians, and which heretofore l
have given him each afternoon when
made my visit.
For the first time In these IS months,
they have denied him the privilege OF
! playing the piano.
"He is still locked up in the bare cell,
which 1 described in court, at 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 6:l5 a. m. to 5:45 p. M,
because a lawyer came to see him at noon
dinner hour. Even the keepers wished to
/ get him something to eat, but Dr. Baker
gave special orders that they should give
| him nothing during this II IL hours OF
starvation. We inquired of DIR. Lamb the
reason for the deprlvatioRs. He answered
! that what they had done was not APP
preciated much when we went to- court.
/ To this Harry replied:
| DONE FOR REVENGE" ':'
DR.. Lamb, treated both you and DR..
Baker much better in court: than you de-
/ served, as you know, when testifying. Sc
this must be revenge for what my mother
said DR.. Lamb made no denial. We
asked DIR. Lamb more than once if he
had any further reason except revenge
| 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 hear
! ing. DR.. Lamb could give no reason for
| this infamous conduct" '.r' ..
| MATTEAWAN, New York, Aug. H.
/ Superintendent Lamb, of Matteawan asy'
| lum, today answered the statement o.
! Mrs. Mary Copely Thaw, alleging imam
Gus conduct" In the treatment of her son
Superintendent Lambs statement fol
lows:
when all arguments are made the
question remaining for final settlement Is
shall Harry X. Thaw submit to the same
treatment and accept the same privileges
as are accorded all other patients at the
Matteawan state hospital or shall hive
| all changed so as to suit his peculia,
! wishes? r- ..-. '..s-s-
AT no time during his residence In tho
hospital has he suffered any privatior
whatever. In fact, every time Mr.. Tina"
has left this institution to take up tenn
porary jail residences, and there, In .
measure, follow his own rules and inclin'
ations. 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 coulc
gain in any other state institution that
Know of. 1t Is to be regretted that dill
ferences have arisen but the medical
officers here can scarcely, concede to any
patient the sole right Of. prescribing toi
himself his own medicine, diet and rules
of conduct ..,,..,., -,
1T is for lack of reason and judgment
that Thaw is here 1t is for lack OF rea'
SON and Judgment that he makes no Ell
fort TO adjust himself toEconditions which
are by no means unfair or unjust