The Washington herald., 1909-06-30
INSANE TRUSTEES"
ROUT SLEUTH BAND
Desperate Battle Is Fought
Near AnacOStia Confines.
NEGROES ARE PUT TO FLIGHT
Have Been Earning ReTRrds OF -
Each for Capture OF COnvaIescing
Patients of ST. EIIzabeth's Hospital.
Encounter -Four Veterans OF Phil
ipPinesI Put Out of Com-sission.

,l-,9ert Duckett and MARY Mckenzie.
AHacostia negroes. who for months have
made an easy living capturing escaped
inmates Of the United states Hospital
for the Insane at ST. Elizabeth's. have. lost
their vocation, nerve. and confidence.
Neither are they longer a terror 10 the
unfortunate sailors. soldiers. and ma
rines who stroll from the care and com
fort OF Uncle Sans institution.
Confined at ST. Eliza beth's hospital are
several hundred former members Of the
United States army. navy. and Marine
Corps who saw service IN the Philip-
pines. and from one cause or another are
victims Of disordered minds Of more or
less severity. They are cared for by the
government given the best expert treat
ment by alienists, and in many cases re-
cover.
The Law allows the hospital authorities
70 pay S for the capture OF an escaped
Inmate Of the hospital Frequently. these
unfortunate men. while cOnvaIescinR. or
after their cases have improved. are given
the liberty OF the spacious grounds for
daily exercise. and are no Ionger. con-
fined in the insane wards These men are
known as TRUSTEES" They roam at will
over the grounds, but are not permitted
70 leave the limits Of the asylum without
permits.
Change of Environment.
Sometimes the TRUSTEES" leave the asy-
lun grounds. and wander into the in
MIGRATING atmosphere Of Anacostia for
a few hours stroll and change of en-
Yironment, in good weather trying their
luck as nimrOds in the waters OF the
Eastern Branch Of the Potomac. They are
easily distinguished by their uniforms.
and are easy marks for the police or
others who may be enterprising. from
financial viewpoint, 70 capture them and
claim the s. reward
Duckett and Mckenzie have for months |
been energetic in capturing the escaped
TRUSTEES" The field OF their operation
has been near the asylum grounds. out
side the limits Of Anacostia. where the
police pick Up stragglers from the asylum. >
It has been their practice 70 lay in wait I
near the gates Of the asylum and when /
an unfortunate man left the grounds
n capture him and take him back 70 the
hospital authorities.
a few days ago James Lynn. a Span
.sh war veteran suffering mental trouble.
but in a convalescing stage, was headed
for Anacostia. Duckett and Mckenzie
overpowered Lynn. and were on their
way back 70 the hospital with their pris-
oner when they were surprised in the
road by four veterans from the asylum
who also were out Of bounds making
their way to Anacostia.
With a shout that chilled the blood Of
he negroes, the veterans charged and a
desperate struggle was soon in progress.
lynn jumped into the fray and in few
minutes Duckett and Mckenzie were put
'ut Of commission
Policeman on the Scene.
While the one-sided fight was on.
dounted officer Farmer was attracted by
he yells Of the negroes as they we're
licked and cuffed by the infuriated sol
iers. Farmer sent in a hurry call the pa-
rol wagon. The policeman's appearance
ut an end to the trouble, and the entire
arty was arrested, but as the negroes
iade no complaint against their assau-
nts the TRUSTEES" were returned to the I
ospital and the negroes discharged. e
Lieut. Anderson. in charge of the Ana 7
ostia police station, said yesterday that O
us practice OF capturing asylum inmates
vocation regularly followed by some d
the citizens Of his bailiwick. that the ii
lore enterprising have been earning as
luch as SIS a week in rewards.
DR. William Allen White. superintendent
the asylum. said the army and navy Il
ten attracted men nor strong mentally.
no would become queer under the cli- Q
ATTIC conditions Of the Philippines. ne
after what they ate or drank. He added Il
lat alcoholic drinks in warm climates
eQuently affected the minds Of the users. I,