The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-14
ADDS TO CHARGES
Another Installment Aimed at
Topeka Asylum
Filed Today With State Board
of Control.
COVER A WIDE RANGE.
Aimed Principally at Maltreat-
ment of Inmates.
Sncrntarv Rowman Saws Char ges
COVER A WIDE RANGE.
Secretary Bowman Says Char ges
Will Be Proved.

Additional charges were today filed
with the board of control against DR..
T. 7Biddle, superintendent of the To-
peka state hospital. These charges
will result in an investigation OF the
asylum at the hands of the board. The
new charges are much stronger and
far more dangerous than those pre-
scented to the board several weeks ago.
The charges are being prosecuted
by w. F. Mclaughlin of 700 East Sew
enth street, a former employee at the
hospital Many of the charges are
made by persons who are now or who
have been employed at the institution.
Mclaughlin this morning alleged that
the board would not grant a hearing
in the case, although H. C. Bowman,
chairman of the board recently stated
to the State Journal that he would
promptly investigate any and all
charges against any institution under
the supervision of the board. Nc
Laughlin went before Bowman with
his charges today. He was accom-
panied by a State journal representa-
duced by Mclaughlin, the chairman
of the board said he would go to the
bottom of the matter.
1t is claimed in the new charges
that patients were beaten and mis-
treated and that several of them came
to their death through the conduct of
employees who were under DR.. Bid
dies supervision. It is also claimed
that Biddle ordered employees to beat
and club inmates who did not obey
rules. Young women who were en-
ployed at the asylum, declare that
Biddle's actions toward them were in
sulting.
Tn a Ioftar praco0fo5 ~ +bo Eoard
H j. Roberts of the Shawnee grocery
company said:
ST wish to make the statement that
John Green. patient in ward E, 2,
lay i'll in bed for eight days and died;
and during this period he was given
no food or medicine. His condition
was reported every morning and Moth
ing was done.
1.-THE body of Green was taken to the
dissecting room, his brain taken out
and used in a demonstration by DR..
T. c. BiddIe before a class in the chapel
Green's relatives. Biddle wanted the
brain to demonstrate the condition of
a congested brain. Attendants Roberts
and Johnson could not be convinced as
they well knew the patient came to
his death by starvation
NJ. Jacobus, of Richland. furnished a
letter stating that he has seen Mr..
Moore stamp, beat and kick Louis
Vaughn, a colored patient in his ward;
and that he had seen Vaughn chol1ed
with a towel until he dropped to the
floor. Jacobus says Vaughn was hand
cuffed at the time.
Numerous statements are made con-
corning the inhuman treatment of Pc
ter Smith, a former Topeka banker,
who is now an inmate of the asylum.
1t is claimed that Smith has been seen
handcuffed, led with a rope and tied
to tree for hours. Charges are made
that Smiths attendant was frequently
under the influence of liquor and that
while in this condition he would beat
the patient. w. E. Hubbard, of 1908
Kansas avenue, declares that on one
occasion he saw the attendant tie a
rope around Smiths neck, throw the
rope over door and draw Smiths
head to the tor of the door.
Other witnesses furnished infor1na-
ton to the effect that they have seen
an attendant spit tobacco juice IN the
eyes of patients, Just to hear them
yell,'' F. J. Grubbs, of I'll West Second
avenue. said that on one occasion he
saw an attendant stamp and kick a
patient who had stepped outside the
line of march. Grubbs says the patient
died the following night. The inmates
name was Bert McKibbin.
"1hese are most serious charges .
said Mr.. Bowman, as he read the let
tiers, land they will certainly be in
Vestigated most carefully. Each
charge will be taken up separately and
a searching investigation made in each
case. Then a final finding will be made
in which the board will set out sep
arately the result of each charge
McIaughlin's Statement.
Mr.. Mclaughlin today gave out the
following statement:
1.-THE care of the insane at the To-
peka state hospital is SO criminal, bar
barrie, so distant and far from the
care given at our ordinary hospitals,
that the public will scarcely believe
our statements, yet our only hope of
an early investigation is with the
public.
1.-THE governor, as well as the board
of control has had an opportunity of
investigating the charges we have
made. Public opinion is powerful
force in any community and can and
must provide a more humane treat
ment for the care of the insane at our
Topeka hospital.
I'VE claim that DR.. BiddIe is keep
ing people at the asylum that are
cured and well enough to leave the in
stitution, and have been for years. One
instance in our charges is the case of
Alva Beeson from RaWlins county,
whom we claim was cruelty beaten
and is perfectly rational. He was kept