New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-30
Aids Forcible Feeding,
but Refuses to Help
Herself
SISTER CHARGES
MENTAL COERCION
Officials Deny 1t, Saying
Prisoners Will Power
Continues Firm

Mental condition, very good" read
the bulletin on Mrs. Ethel Byrne's con-
dition issued last night by Commission
er of Corrections Burdette G. Lewis.
This was the first time the bulletins
have referred to the patients mental
condition. Earlier in the day Mrs. Mar
garet Sanger, Mrs. Byrne's sister, had
made the charge that mental sugges-
tion was being used to break down Mrs
Byrne's will.
Mrs. Byrne, technically, still is on
hunger strike. Food is administered
through a tube, but, according to MI
Lewis, she offers no opposition. Thus
she is true to the cause by insisting on
"forcible feeding"
"When the feeding tube was offered
TO Mrs. Byrne," said Commissioner
Lewis. "she voluntarily took it. The
physicians asked her: why don't you
drink this from glass instead OF
obliqing us to pour il through tuoeT
Il would not be true to the cause sne
replied.
Sincere in Strike
"Then you really believe Mrs byrhe
is conscientious in her hunger strike
the Commissioner was asked.
eyes. indeed | do" he answered
"She appears to be very conscientious
woman-a very fine woman. From now
on she will be fed twice day instead
of waiting until she has reached
point of exhaustion and II is necessary
to FEED her. Mrs. Byrne appeared to be
in good spirits, and ! am told by those
who attend her that she arose from her
bed several times to take walk about
the room or tc open or close a win
dow"
The following statement was issued
by Commissioner Lewis concerning
conversation yesterday between Parole
Commissioner Katharine B. Davis and
Mrs. Byrne:
"Parole Commissioner Katharine b.
Davis is sitting in the workhouse to-
day hearing cases of women inmates.
While there she had an interview with
Mrs. Byrne and found her very bright
and in splendid condition. The conver-
sation follows:
"Mrs. Bvrne, why do you continue
your present attitude? We are inter-
ested merely in securing proper treat
ment for you and in releasing you at
the expiration OF your sentence in good
condition. We cannot be concerned here
with your ideas. Why do you feel
like injuring yourself for causeF
No Intertion TO Injure Self
"T do not intend TO injure myself
for any cause. ] am not attempting to
do So Mrs. Byrne replied.
"'Then why are you taking this
attitude? p Miss Davis then asked.
"T want TO protest against my i'm
prisonment when others were merely
fined I do not believe in PRISONS was
the answer"
The bulletin on Mrs. Byrne's general
condition follows:
Temperature, 97.A.
Pulse, i08.
Respiration. l19.
Blood pressure, ~.
Voluntarily fed one pint OF matted
milk at $3.50 a. m. Has also been given
one pint of milk. two eggs, half an
ounce of brandy and one cup OF coffee.
"The physicians tell me that the high
pulse in her case has no significance"
said Commissioner Lewis. "She is an
excitable woman, and the rapidity of
her pulse is traced to her nervous tenn
permanent SO long as her temperature
and respiration remain normal there is
no danger"
Tf Mrs. Byrne showed signs of col
lapse would you release her." the Com
missioner was asked. 81 would not"
he answered, "for the simple reason
that have no power to release any
prisoner, except by court order. How
ever, there appears to be no danger of
her collapsing."
MaEa. Charnea