The Topeka state journal., 1911-03-20

the treatment and food given him. In
a sworn statement Mclaughlin said
that Dr. Biddle had ordered that any
patients who picked grapes would be
punished. Continuing, the affidavit
said: HE CDR. Biddle) ordered Dick
Hoshard. a patient, to make him a
large quantity of wine for his own use.
furnishing him a room with lock and
key in which to make this wine Bid
die furnished the patient sugar, bot
ties, jugs, ETC., in which to place the
wine when fermented. Hoshard was
to have the privileges of making all
the wine he wanted as remuneration.
Hoshard sold this wine a rs cents
per quart to several employees and to
others at 50 per gallon
Regarding the treatment of Peter
Smith, the Topeka banker, McLaugh-
lin said:
1T was the custom during one sum
mer for the attendant to lead Mr.
around his neck, sometimes around his
body som etimes around his wrists.
The attendants usually kept handcuffs
on Smith and he left him tied TO trees
time, when the attendant was playing
cards in the engine room or would go
to town for liquor
Of DR.. Biddle, Mclaughlin in his
affidavit said:
"Dr. Biddle is very high tempered,
profane and abusive. He discharges
employees on the slightest pretext,
without any investigation whatever"
He testified that he had seen several
attendants strike patients, once when
an attendant named Moore struck a
the supervisor of Moore's treatment,
but the supervisor said Mclaughlin
did not know what he was talking
about, as strong-arm methods were
necessary to keep patients under con-
troll.
"One day. said Mclaughlin, Or.
Biddle came into one of the wards
and patient asked why he had re-
ceived no mail The doctor said he
did not know anything about it The
patient asked again. Dr. Biddle
turned on him and jabbed the patient
in the stomach several times with an
un brella and told the patient to get
away from him. The patient doubled
up and ran away, holding his
stomach
The Case of John Green.
H. ]. Roberts was the only witness
examined at this mornings session of
the investigation of charges of cruelty
at the Topeka insane hospital. In a
statement filed with the board Rob-
ertS had said that John Green, d pa
tient, had been found paralyzed one
morning and that the attendants and
medicine until he died, seven or eight
days later. He said reports were made
to the ward physician every morning
but nothing was done. Roberts re-
iterated this statement on the stand
under oath. Roberts had been dis
charged from the institution because
he was late in getting to the institu-
ton on three different occasions. His
pay had been docked some and he had
visited the board of control office three
times to complain about not receiving
his full paw but on none of these visits
had he ever mentioned the Green case
to the members of the board. He said
he did not want to start a row him
self but was willing to help when some
one else made the charges.
On questions by T. F. Doran. who
represents DR.. Biddle, Roberts said an
effort had been made three times to
give Green food but he could not get
Green's mouth open.
do you think it would have been
possible to have given Green food 2"
asked Doran.
Yes
"How?"
by running a tube down his
throat"
"Why wasn't this done?"
1T was against the rules of the in
stitution.
WAS DR.. Biddle around the ward
While Green was sick?"
mo"
Did he ever have any knowledge
of Green's condition?''
81 don't know. He had the daily
reports but ] don't know whether or
not he read the reports