Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-23
STATE BOARD OF CONTROL IN.
vEs7IeATEs CONDITIONS At
INDEPENDENCE HOSPITAL.
DISCHARGED EMPLoYE
AND EVIDENCE pIscREoiTEp
Inquiry Into Death Of Patient Shows
Demise Was Due to Natural Causes
Board Declares Attendants Who
Are Guilty of Acts Of Cruelty Are
Summary Dismissed.
u = r-es-Renuh,:cor.

srecial e Times Republican.
Des Moines. Feb. 2a-Editor Mar
shutdown Times Republican. Mar
shalltown. Iowa.-Dear Strive notice
in your issue OF Feb. % some reference
to the charges of Donald j. Gingles in
regard 10 cruel and inhuman treatment
and even murder of patients in the In
dependence state hospital. In reply
thereto We would like to submit the
following with the request that you
publish the same. We ask this in or
der that those who have friends in the
Institution may be relieved Of unnec-
essary and urIouuded anxiety on their
account.
1t is true that Fred Kruse died very
suddenly on Jan. II, 1912. In this &C
count the county attorney and the
coroner of Buchanan county and the
relatives of the dead man We're at once
Informed of the sudden death. A care
full examination was made of the body
and no mark of violence was found.
A post-mortem examination was made
but nothing was disclosed TO show that
the man came 10 his death by violent
means.
At the inquest Reardon stated that
the man had been killed by three at
tendants. but on cross-examination ms
testimony was contradictory. The
testimony of each Of the three other
men was consistent, each going 10
show that there had been no trouble
whatever with Kruse and that ms
death was purely ntaural. The find
ings of the coroner Were to thal Ell
feet.
The governor has been furnished
with a copy Of the evidence. ne
board OF control has investigated the
charges of Reardon and are forced 10
the conclusion that the man $ story -
rot founded on fact and is apsolpte!E
without foundation. Reardon mao peell
unpopular with the other enIptoEes anu
he evidently takes the present course
to get even with them.
Donald J Gingles had not heen
satisfactory employe and had lett the
institution some months ago Wheh
some of the other attendants found
farlt with his work and so reported TO
the SUPERINTENDENT. Some time after
the alleged cruelty he asked for his
position again and was refused,
We have investigated the affairs OF
the attendant who Reardon says sud
denly left his place and we find other
reasons for his going.
In a hospital where almost 1,20o IN
sane persons are kept there is con-
stantlv danger that some one, either
patient or enploye. will lose control
Of his temper and hurt some one else.
The patients are constantly watched TO
prevent any violence toward one an
other If at any time any evidence is
discovered that would arouse rea-
sonable suspicion that any attendant
has abused a patient or has even
spoken to a patient in an Improper
manner the attendant is promptly dis
charged. Positive proof of lnalfeasance
is not required but the emoloye is dis
charged unless he can dispel every
reasonable suspicion.
We wish to state that we court the
fullest Investigation of this charge and
Of all other charges of abuse of the in
sane in the Independence state hospi-
tai.
Very trulys yours.
BOARD OF CONTROL OF STATE
INSTITUTIONS.
By NJ. BANNISTER.