Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-11
HOSPITAL OFFICIALS
LAX, PR0BERS SAY
City Club. investigation
Shows Ayenues,of Escape
Poorly Guarded.

Statements that the authorities Of st.
Elisabeth's Hospital have shown evi-
dent laxity in failure properly to check
up on guards who. either ''wilfully or
through negligence allowed inmates to
escape. will be made In the report of
the special committee Of the City Club
investigating the alarmingly large num-
Der Of escapes recently at the govern
ment hospital.
Information to this effect was given
the Star today by Claude W. Owen,
chairman of the investigating commit
tee.
Left Gate Unguarded. i
In his report to the City Club Mr..
Owen will further state that there was
apparent laxity on the part of officials
in not taking steps to guard an un-
grounds. and in leaving unfenced and
unguarded an area Of seven-eighths Of
a mile through which about one-half
OF the escapes occurred.
The investigators yesterday after
noon visited st. Elizabeth's Hospital
and threshed out the entire situation
with DR.. Arthur Noyes. acting super
intendent, and NJ. J. Sanger, assistant
administrative officer.
Mr.. Owen told the officials that tho
City Club is not interested in inves-
tigating the treatment of inmates
He said it is interested only in safe
guarding lives and property from
escaped lunatics.
Salaries Doubled.
The investigators cannot under
stand why there should be such a
large number of escapes when the
institution has the best guards avail
able. In 1919. it was stated. the hos
pitafs appropriation was increased
from $4,000 to s1.000,o00. This en-
proximately salaries of attendants,
and obtain guards of a high-grade
character.
It was pointed out that there is one
guard for every six inmates at st.
Elizabeth's. The nearest approach in
any other institution to this ratio is
one guard for every eight patients.
DIR. Noyes said he thought the stir
created by the publicity given the
numerous escapes was laughable,'"
Mr.. Owen told Star reporter. II
told him it was no laughing matter
to have the lives and property of
Washingtonians in danger from luna
tics running around.
'Dr. Noyes further stated that there
was nothing unusual in the number
Of escapes. that they occurred in
punches. periodically"
1AA' o"OA o0Au dUOul OHe-HdlI OI tne
escapes occurred as result of fail
ure to guard the unfenced area on
the west side Of the institution.
Has there been any request for an
appropriation to fence in this area
and provide guards?" Mr.. Owen was
asked.
THE authorities evidently didn't
think that procedure necessary" was
the reply.
Asked for Gatehouse.
Il understand they did ask for an
appropriation to build gatehouse at
the unlocked gate on the east side
of the institution" Mr.. Owen said.
appeared to be no excuse for leaving
this gate unlocked and unguarded
while inmates walked out unmolested.
This gate. DR.. Noyes said, has been
locked since the tragedy last Satur-
day night, when one inmate was mur-
dered by a fellow patient"
Mr.. Owen said there should be some
means Of preventing a prisoner from
deceiving the guards at the gate and
escaping under the pretext of being
a visitor. This. Mr.. Owen said, prob
ably could be overcome by a system
of passes issued to visitors.
Figures show there have been 159
escapes from the asylum since jan
uary l, Mr. Owen said. The authorities
divide the escapes into three classes:
First. those who escape through a
town parole; second, those who es-
cane from a ground parole, and. third.
those who escape having no parole at
ALL The third class includes all ex-
cept those criminally and dangerous
ly insane