New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-08
'DR. R B. LAMB RESIGNS
Voluntarily Gives Up Superln-
tendency of MatteaWan Hospital.
MANY CHARGES REFUTED
Clean Bill Of Health Recently
Given by Osborn and Van Ken
men. Dixs Commissioners.


nen, Dix's Commissioners.
Albany, July DIR Robert B. Lamb
medical superintendent OF the Matteawan
State Hospital, to-day rendered his resig
nation 10 the Superintendent OF state
Prisons. Joseph r Scott, 70 take imrne-
date effect
DR. Lamb resigned voluntarily. During
the last year the institution which ne mad
in charge has been under FIRE but his
administration received practically clean
bill of health after an investigation con-
Quoted by Commissioners Osborn and Van
Kennen. who were appointed by Governor
Dix 10 probe the affairs Of the various in
stitutions under the jurisdiction Of the
State Prison Department.
DR.. Lamb entered the states service IN
1891, when he was appointed 10 a position
az the state asylum for insane criminals
az Auburn Prison He became superln-
tendent OF Dannemora State Hospital for
the Criminal Insane in 1870. and four years
later was appointed superintendent OF Mat
teawan on the death Of Dr Allison.
promotion civil service examination
cancy. Only assistant superintendent OF
state hospitals are eligible TO try for the
position. which pays $500 a year and
maintenance
Expert examiners from the State Con-
troller's Office are at present engaged in
investigating the financial affairs OF the
Dannemora State Hospital
Matteawan. y. Y. July DIR Robert B.
Lamb said tonight. when asked for the
reason OF his resignation as superintendent
of the Matteawan State Hospital.
wanted a vacation and this was the
only way I could see OF getting f. The
position is very cOntining, and one does not
get a minute 10 himself. [ needed a rest
badly. and this had much 70 DO with my
action. The alleged charges against me-
and the administration Of the hospital had
nothing whatever 70 do with NY action
Another fact which has some bearing on
my resignation is the death OF my father
which has changed my family relations
somewhat.
There has not been any friction between
Colonel Scott and myself. l did not know
there was an investigation Instituted by
him. Colonel Scott mas been here 10 IN
spect the hospital, but 1 did not know OF
anything further
Dr. Lambs trouble az Matteawan began
virtually with the release last November
OF Norman A Lees. OF No. Isl Douglass
street Brooklyn, who had been committed
TO the asylum the preceding April. Mr..
Lees Immediately took on himself the
championship Of his former fellow inmates
and made many charges OF cruelty and in
competency oil the part Of the manage
ment.
In this campaign il was believed oy many
thar he had the backing OF Harry K
Thaw, who is also an inmate OF Mattea-
wan. This Lees denied. Certain II Is. how
ever, that several inmates in whose behalf
he labored were freed from the asylum, and
in the case II at least one Thaw took a
personal interest, as declared by Mrs. Mary
Copley Thaw. the prisoners mother, in a
signed statement. n became widely be
Ieved that an attempt was being made by
the Thaw interests 70 discredit the insu-
tuition.
TIE first definite attack was made imne-
diately following the death OF John Nugent,
on Februarv g. II was charged that Nugent
was killed by rough treatment, and Daniel
A. Reilly. an attendant, was charged with
rnanslaughter in connection with the case
Expert testimony, however. showed that
the inmate had died from heart disease
The chief witness also failed 20 appear and
the case collapsed During the trial Reilly :
counsel offered 70 prove that Thaw was
back OF the prosecution. Lees refused 70
tell where he got the money he used in
behalf OF those for whose release NJ
worked
on April Is Dr. Lamb had narrow es-
cage from death ar the hands 81 muir
derous "trusty," but escaped with slight
injuries.
So much scandal had arisen that Will
lam Church Osborn and George z Van
Kennen. an investigating commission for
state penal ana insane institutions, took N
the matter. Their experts, Drs. Carlos
Macdonald and Austin Flint, examined AL
except % Of the 7e3 inmates, and reported
that in no instance had any one been IN
Justly held and that charges Of improper
treatment were groundless In the course
or the investigation plot 70 kill Dr. Lamb
was revealed. Among the thirty-rwo who
refused 70 be examined vas Harry <
Thaw The experts. however. indirectly
satisfied themselves as 70 the condition Of
this minor group.
This report, made in Nav, failed. how
ever. 20 put an end 70 the trouble. Selvyr,
De Angels patient. charged that Dr..
Lamb had signed the name Of Suprerns
Court Justice Andrews 70 a petition tor a
writ % habeas corpus prepared by De
Angels The latter said Or. Lamb had
written Andrews. s. c. j." across the
petition, the form used by justices, end
sent II back, giving the patient 70 under
stsn nd the petition had been granted by the
court Justice Tompkins called on DR..
Lamb 70 explain. He said the petition was
sent 20 him and nor 20 the court, and had
asked for 4 copy OF The commitment papers.
DR.. Lamb declared that what he wrote on
The peurion was Denied T. z. L" and I'M
der e the letters 6. c. J. kind OF
secret code used by hospital heads. JUS
tics Tompkins accepted the explanation,
and that charge was dropped
On June q. however, il was learned that