The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-03-14
WORST OF MANY
ASYLUMS-

For more than q year the Idaho
Republican has said that a change of
directors was needed at the Black
foot asylum, and that nothing worth
while was to be expected in the way
Of improvement in handling the in
stitution until a different board. was
appointed. We asked for the resig-
nation of the board year ago, and
gave our reasons for it.
Those reasons were lack of in
terest on their part, lack of sincerity
In administering for .the benefit of
the patients, lack of an aggressive
policy and determination to provide
humane treatment as against the
rough and cruel handling of patients.
An Investigation by a legislative CON-
mittee and detective agency,
brought for the official reports con-
frming the statements made by this
paper. Some investigations made
within the past month by the editor
of The Idaho Republican brought
forth proof OF cruel treatment and
criminal action on the part of atten-
dants, and on one occasion, a full
confession Of two guilty parties, who
had choked chinaman with g.
twisted towel till he went down like a
cayuse choked with lasso..
Evidence of various chokings and
cruel beatings of inmates some of
them sick and one in a dying condi-
ton, was brought out, and proven to
the medical superintendent within
the past few weeks, and even when
the attendants were cornered in their
crimes and confessed their guilt, DR.,
Jackson did not discharge them, but
kept them on the job and the patients
at their mercy.
Employees Not
Protected |
People who reported these cruel
ties to DR.. Jackson found it necessary
to protect themselves in physical en-
counters when assaulted by the
guilty ones attempting to settle the
score. Only few days ago an en-
ployee was assaulted twice and then
escaped being Drained with
a chair by an attendant who declared
that he was seeking revenge because
that person had testified in court,
concerning what he had seen while
1t work. This was reported to DR..
Jackson in addition to all the other
0utrages, and he still kept the guilty
,nes on the job to the last hour Of
lis administration. This series of ..
,utrages exposed in court and in
,ther ways and not disputed at the
line, were condoned and protected s
" the medical superintendent and l
he old board, thus proving COM I
'ietely what this paper proved to the !,
abstraction of most of the public
year ago, that cruelties were al
owed and condOned by the directors.
)r. Jackson was in charge exactly q
welve month before we knew posi- {
lively that he had knowledge of these
onditions and that he protected such
ttendants by keeping them en-
loyed. On the day that we unraveled
he circumstances of the choking of "
he Chinaman and supplied so much r
roof that the guilty men confessed, 6
g said he would discharge them at Ii
nee; that such men could not stay
ALL The writer followed the mat G.
Or closely, and became convinced a
nat the guilty attendants had
omething on the superintend' and
1at he was bound by that circum-
lance to keep them till they were :,
God and ready to quit. a
ooled Us IL
While b
al
II DR.. jackson had resigned and a
1T the first of February, this paper
ould have been conscientious in
wing him clear bill of health so
II as humane treatment and honesty
ere concerned, but in the light Of at
'cent events we can only say what a
Q said of him at first sight that is tie
nice old gentlaman not On m hlo Of G,