The Washington times., 1920-09-08
CHARGE BR|BE
ATU.S.ASYLUM
Violent ST. EIizaheth's Patient
Said to Have Fled on $500
Payment.
THOROUGH PROBE PROMISED
DR.. Noyes Declares Records
Show That Attendant Was
0verpowered.


CHARGES that a former violent
patinet of the Government Hospital
for the Insane was permitted TO es-
cape by bribing an attendant with
worthless $500 check will, be thor
oughly probed, DR.. Arthur d. Noyes'
acting head of the hospital an
nounced today.
Information of the alleged bribery
has reached officials of the hospital
and members of the Public Safety
Group of the City Club OF Wash,
ington, which has had the hospital
under fire for several days.
DIR. MOVES IN DOUBT.
DR.. Noyes declared this morning
that he did not believe the accusa-
tion was true, explaining that the
records of the hospital showed that
the patient in question, with another
inmate of the hospital overpowered
an attendant, stole his Keys ana
locked him In room. Then they
made their escape, but the man VINO
is said to have presented the $ooo
check did not return and the other
patient was captured on the hospi-
tai grounds.
DR.. Noyes also denied that he had
ever heard that any of the, attendants
has accepted bribes for permitting
patients of the asylum to escape.
The patient who is alleged to have
presented the $500 check is a former
wideiy-known Washingtonian, and
still Is said to be at a New Jersey
resort He escaped three times pre-
viously, but was recaptured. After
his third escape, he was locked in
room. On one occasion, he is al
legged to have told a former business
associate, who had visited him at the
hospital that IL he had $500 he could
bribe an attendant and get out. He
was told to remain at the hospital
and receive the treatment which was
curing him of his mental disease. The
patient is said to have also made the
same request to two other Washing
tonians.
After the three refusals of $500,
the patient is said to have Wsitten a
check for $500. rendered It to the at
tendant, who cashed it, only to have
1t returned as worthless.
PLAN INDIVIDUAL, TESLA.
While DR.. Noyes is Investigating
this charge of bribery, he announced
this morning that he and his asso-
ciates at the hospital intended to
make individual tests Of the mental
ity of every patient who has been
granted privileges.
This will be DONE" said DIR. Noyes,
ito reconsider the responsibility of
every patient and to learn IL any
should be held in strict restraint"
The investigation of the Public
Safely Group of the City Club was
l;Af kat ha
hospital authorities were inefficient,
it was stated this morning by Will
liam p. Rayner, chairman of the
group.
I'VE are in sympathy with the hos
9ital authorities, although we are de-
termined that the residents of Wash
ington and Anacostia be protected
against persons suffering from in
sanity, who, at any time, may
threaten the lives of our people. 1t
is not proper for insane people to
be roaming about the streets of
Washington. Congress will be asked
to appropriate sufficient funds for
adequate protection. We are gather
ing evidence OF apparent looseness
and laxity in the system at the hos
pital, and our aim will be to keep
under proper guard every patient at
the hospital"
DR.. Noyes said that during the pres
ent year the authorities had been
able to get a better tyne of attend
ants than was possible during the
war lie said conditions are improv-
ing and that he thought any inyesti-
cation would show that the hospital
was being conducted as well, IL not
better. than any institution for the
insane in the United states.
HEAD "NOT WORRYING
we are not worrying in the slight
est said the alienist, who has had
broad experience in the treatment of
nervous and mental diseases.
There are approximately 3.700 ia-
mates in the hospital" the physician
said, while we have GIL attendants.
The inefficient attendants are being
weeded out, and in. due time we will
have corps of efficient men han
ding the patients"
DR.. Noyes denied that It was neces-
sary for Coroner J. Ramsay hewitt to
postpone an inquest into the death of
Patrick Messett who was slain with
q rock on Saturday by Vincent w.
Hopkins, because the attendants
needed to testify were not present
every attendant summoned and
many who were not went to the in
quest" said DR.. Noyos.
DR.. Noyes also denied the report
that patients OF tho hospital have
been permitted TO attend thoater
parties in Washington with attend
ants and nurses. DIR. Noyes admitted
that some or the patients suffering
from mild forms OF insanity, of he
type not considered violent. oftel
are permitted to accompany relatives
and an attendant away from tEe hos
pital grounds. but this is a rarity"
said the alienist.
w Pierce Rayncr, chairman of the
Public safety Group OF the city Club,
was I'm conference last. night with
Claude w owen, chairman Of tho
Police Protection Committee, OF the
City Club Mr.. owen announced that
his committee would look into every
phase Of the hospital situation and
would report It's findings to the
group.
KNAPP TO HAITI.
Rear Admiral Harry x Knapp has