Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-03-22
A PRIVATE
INSANE ASYLUM.

SITUATED nine miles from the city. had /
been in existence for ten years when !
the first breath Of suspicion was raised |
against IL The editor Of the Daily Ar |
gus was q personal friend Of the doc,
tor. He regarded It as one Of the |
model institutions Of the country and |
had time and again commended Il IN |
the most favorable terms.
One day a young woman escaped |
and told such tales as LED to an inYes-
tigation.
The trick OF getting q reporter into q
prison or an asylum for . few weeks
to report on the condition Of AFFAIRS
was a new thing then. though old
enough now. On the city star OF the
Argus was a man named Green. He
suggested the plot that was carried
out. He was to be sent TO DR.. Treats
asylum for treatment. The editor took
up the idea not because he doubted
the doctor. but from a newspaper
standpoint Green would flnd nothing
to cFiticise during his stay. but bis ar
ticles on life In an insane asylum
would make good reading 1t would be
a stroke of newspaper enterprise to
show that the Argus was wide awake
The details Of the plot were worked
out, and then Green suddenly dIsap-
peared. II was learned from the editor
afterward that his friends had him
incarcerated in the asylum as ''trou-
blesome person" In plain English
that meant that be stood between
somebody and property. Two doctors
were found TO certify to the fact that
he was ''harmlessly insane" That
meant he was In the way. but not ex-
actiy given to chopping up people with
an az. His examination by these doc
tors lasted less than half an hour.
The editor continued to visit the
doctors retreat and to assure him
that he believed in his integrity. but
each time he went out there he man
aged to secure a brief interview with
Green. In fact he was handed a writ
ten report Of what had been seen and
heard Why none Of these reports
twelve IN aIl--were never published
win be explained later. Green had not
gone 10 the asylum 10 dlssemble. He
announced on his arrival that he was
perfectly sane. and he continued TO
talk and act like any sane man.
For the FIRST three days he was well
treated Then be was called into the
doctors ONCE and told that II he con-
tinued to play the hypocrite be woulc
bring down punishment on himself.
The doctor meant by that that II
Green still continued to act like sane
man he might expect trouble He re-
fused to make any change and was
placed In a dark cell for three days
As be was still rational when be came
out, one Of the keepers knocked him
down with a club
That was the beginning OF the mans
persecution. He could have been re-
leased at any time by tipping the wink
to the editor. but he had determined
to make his Investigation a thorough
one. One Of the punishments was be-
ing tied down on a cot, face upward.
and a dish OF water suspended from
the ceiling in such Q manner that a
single drop struck his face every sec
ond. At the end Of an hour each drop
seemed to have the force Of a sledge
hammer. Another was TO tickle the
soles OF his feet until be went into
| mysteries. There was a ferocious
great hound at the asylum. the proper
" Of one OF the attendants. Green and
other patients would be tied In chair
and the dog tied to a ring in the wall
and left together for half an hour. The
rope on the dog would be tied 30 that
he could get his teeth within an inch
OF his victims legs. On several occa.
sions the rope stretched and enabled
him to infIct terrible bites. Green con-
eealed pencil and paper and managed
TO write Of these things and pass them
| TO the editor. After a month had
| passed he had made q good case
against the doctor and was told to
chop 1t OF there. This he refused to
do. He wanted TO get the whole Of 1t
down to the last detail.
When be refused to play insane to
please the doctor. who must have
known that he was a perfectly sane
man, Green was starved for two days
at q time, and the punishments num-
bered a scoce. One Of the worst was
heading him up In a barrel and rolling
him around the back yard for half an
hour at q time The food he describ-
ed as not at for dogs. though the Ar
| gus, to oblige the doctor. had publish
ed a bill Of fare at for wealthy people
10 sit down to. Sane or insane. every
patient had a program to 90 through
with when visitors were being shown
through the place. They must speak
i Of the doctor as God and bless him for
his goodness. II asked what they had
to eat they must mention q list Of
twelve articles. To fan In these
things meant q brutal beating The
editor could see ct each weekly visit
how Green was failing. and at last q
certain day was set for the expose
and his release. Before that date
came word was received that be had
made bis escape Just after the word
came be entered the once and walked