The Topeka state journal., 1911-03-18
Investigation Of Topeka Insane
Hospital Begins.
Case of Bert McKibben Is the
First Taken Up.
DIED In THE ASYLUM
F. j. Grubbs Charges That Man
Had Been Beaten.
One Patient Led Around by a
Rope Says l.. f. Jones.

The investigation into the charges of
cruelty to patients at the Topeka in
sane hospital was begun by the state
board of control this morning. Three
witnesses were examined during the
morning. only one of which gave any
/ testimony that would tend to substan-
tiate the charges that DR.. Biddle had
countenanced cruelty to the patients
at the big institution. Other witnesses
will be examined this afternoon and
during the next week. The investiga-
ton probably will continue for several
weeks. The board has much other
work to do and the investigation will
be conducted as rapidly as possible but
the other important matters before the
board will have to be considered and
disposed of as they come up.
L. F. Jones, for II months a steam
filter at the hospital, was on the stand
the greater part of the morning. He
told about seeing attendants strike
several patients and treat one eSpec-
tally cruelty. The only flaw that could
that he could not tell the names of the
attendants who had mistreated the
patients. He did not know the attend
ants by name.
The first witnesses called were rela-
tiveS of Bert McKibben. F. J. Grubbs
one of the discharged employees who
had brought charges against DR.. Bid
die had filed an affidavit that he saw
McKibben kicked by an attendant and
the next morning McKibben was dead.
McKibben was a Shawnee county pat
lent who had acute mania. He died
very suddenly last June but no effort
was made to have an investigation
into his treatment by the relatives un-
til after Grubbs had made his COM
plants and had told of the kicking of
McKibben. Then the relatives began
investigating and they were asked to
tell what they knew or had heard of
mistreatment of McKibben to the
board. Grubbs will be called to the
stand later.
H. c. Bowman. chairman. E. B.
Schermerhorn and Sherman Elliott, the
three members of the board were pres
ent when the investigation began to-
! day. Mr.. Bowman conducted the ex-
animation but the other members oc-
casionally interjected questions or ex-
plantations. The hearing is very in
formal.
Walter A Rogers, go years old, was
the first witness called. He came from
Pueblo, Col, on two occasions to see
Bert Mckibben, a brother-in-law, a
patient at the Topeka hospital. On
each visit a doctor refused him admiS-
sion. Superintendent Biddle also con-
Cured in this refusal on account of the
excitement which the visit would pro-
duce might make the patient worse.
The doctors told Rogers that McKib-
ben was doing well but they must stop
injure him.
He testified that McKibben's sister
had been refused admission several
times and had left notice to the hospi-
tai authorities to notify her if there
should be a change for the worse
It developed that Mrs. McKibben
had obtained divorce from McKib-
ben while he was in the hospital.
Rogers could not tell how Mrs. Nc
Kibben obtained service on an insane
patient.
W. c. Summers also went to the
hospital to see Bert McKibben, but he
was refused admission on account of
the possible injury to McKibben's
mental condition. He is a distant rel
ative and had left notice to be called
by telephone in case the patient be-
came worse. No notice was given to
him until after McKibben's death sew
eral months ago.
'I asked if the death was not very
sudden.
1.-THE doctor put me off by saying
som etimes- died very suddenly. He
said that Bert suddenly began vomit
ing during the night and died early
that morning"
The records show that McKibben
had acute mania.
An attendant at the hospital had
told Summers that McKibben had been
kept in a bath tub six hours at a
stretch in order to quiet him. This,
Summers thought, was nothing less
than torture.
Neither Summers nor Rogers knew
anything definite about the alleged
cruelty to McKibben.
Patient Led With Rope.
L. r. Jones, a former employee of
the hospital testified that while he
was working around the engine room
he had seen Peter Smith, former To-
xxif6 n G
neck, being led around the grounds of
the institution. An attendants, who led
Smith with the rope, had also struck
the patient with his fists, according to
the Jones statement. filed with the
board.
"You saw this?''
"Yes, sir"
"Did you know it was with DR.. Bid
dies consent?"
"Well, he stated in the paper that he
had given permission to lead Smith
with a rope attached to his belt.
"a patient named Olson, who
worked in the engine room som etimes
refused to work and was locked up.
One day Olson told me that once when
they had him locked up attendants had
beaten him with a rubber hose. He
showed me the black and blue marks
around his legs that were made in
that beating.
Another case. saw three attend
ants jump on patient don't
know what the patient had done. but
he was knocked down or fell down
and I saw one attendant kick him in
the neck and another kick him in the
stomach and they beat him with their
fists
ST was told by employees out there
that if a person told DR. Bidd1e that
attendants had treated patients un-
kindly that the informant would be
discharged
He did not know of anyone who
had been discharged for giving in
formation about mistreatment.
Another time I saw some attend
ants bringing in several latients. One
of the patients, named Vaughn. was
struck in the face and blood was
brought from his mouth He was