The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-05
JUDGE SAVES
BLIND PAUPER
FROM ASYLUM
Poor Farm Move to Get Rid
of Inmate, Adjudged
Sane, FoiIed.
ROOM BRANDED FILTHY
Physician Says Aged Man
Was Kept in Foul Cell
at Infirmary.

Efforts of attendants at the Mar
ion county poor farm to have a
75-year-old blind pauper adjudged
insane, to rid the farm of an in
mate, we're frustrated late Tuesday
by Superior Judge John w. Kern.
And in the Illustration two ply
sicians, who examined the aged
pauper, declared the cell in which
he was kept at the farm was dis
gustingly filthy" and "foul-smelling. +"
The pauper is George Robin
son, rs.
Howard Wiseman, attendant at
the poor farm, signed papers de-
claring Robinson of unsound mind.
Insane, Said Doctor
Or. r. r. Coble, physician at
tending inmates at the county
farm, declared Robinson insane.
Both Dr. Coble and Wiseman as
serted that the aged pauper had to
be incarcerated to keep him from
wandering off from the inflrmary."
HE imagines he is being pers-
ecuted and IS doomed for the cleo
trio chair" DR.. Coble said, in a
statement declaring the old man
insane.
Judge Kern named Doctors Or
vail Smiley and Emil c. Winter as
friends of the court to examine
Robinson and adiudge whether he
was sane.
Held in Foul Cell
Tuesday, the physicians reported
to the Judge, in their report, both
written and verbal, they declared
not only that Robinson was sane,
but that he was being held in cell
so "foul-smelling that it was not
conducive to keeping any mans
mind at even keel.
Even following the hearing and
Robinsons return to the poor farm,
one of the physicians commented, Il
almost felt like saying that the old
fellow was insane just to get him a
cleaner place to stay than where he
Is held now"
No officials of the poor farm or
representatives of the county COM
nlissioners were present at the
sanity hearing. The transfer request
was made solely on the word of an
attendant and the attending ply
sician. A Stepson is Robinson'S only
relative.
Doctors Give Views
The statements of the doctors who
examined Robinson and their criti-
cisrn of the care he was receiving in
the poor farm follow:
DR.. Smiley am Of the opinion
that he is not mentally i'll and is
not proper person for detention,
care and treatment in state hos
pital. I was unable to detect any
thing about this man to lead me
to believe that he was insane. He
is coherent, well-oriented, mem
DRY, both past and recent. good.
He is blind and tries very hard to
be as clean as possible.
He is confined in a small, hot.
foul-smeling room. disgustingly
filthy. He is restless and ANNOYED
but with evident reason from his
surroundings. Have also other
information that he gave no
trouble and that his department
and manner was good, that he
showed no evidence of being in
sane.
DR.. Winter-He is not menA
tally i'll, and should not be taken
to the insane hospital. He has
good memory, both recent and
past. He is coordinate. He is
able to care for himself in view
of the fact that he is blind. It is
true that he is nervous, but this
is not abnormal, considering his
blindness.
He was clean in his habits at
time of visit. He did not make
reference to his persecution, or
manifest any decisions or halluci-
nations.
Or. Coble (Poor Farm Physi-
cian)-He inagines he is being
prosecuted and is doomed for the
electric chair. He is very dirty in
his personal care. Has to be con-
fined, otherwise he would run
away from the infirmary. I am
of the opinion that he is a proper
person for admission to the state
hospital for the insane.