Year: 1874

After his return he says he was sub.
iected TO the most brutal treatment and
every effort was made by his attendants
to make him what his certificates pro-
nounced him-an insane man


On the 10th of May he again effected
an escape, but was not fortunate in
getting away, being recaptured the next
day and taken back to the asylum, where
he was doubly guarded and more closely
watched. He was all the time biding
his time to escape, as there was no hope
of assistance reaching him from the out
side world. He had written to his
friends, but no response came, and, we'll
nigh hopeless and Respondent, he saw no
way left but to resort to strategy. The
opportunity came on the 10Th of last
month. He says that then, having suf-
fered as much as il seemed possible for
any sane man to endure, he determined
to escape once more from the horrible
pandemonium. He had secreted upon
his person key. This key he used in
one of the hall doors during brief alb
sence of one of the keepers The door
opened, Mr.. Weed emerged into the
yard, squeezed through the fence, and
made his way through an adjacent
swamp to the railroad. He went to High
ney, passed that place and came to Deep
River. AS he was going to drug store
In that place he saw one of the asylum
Keepers in the street, but the fellow did
not observe him, and he turned to one
side and passed on. He kept on until he
reached Saybrook bridge, at the mouth
of the Connecticut River. There he met
a man to whom he told the story of his
sufterings, and who proved friendly to
him and afforded him much assistance.
This man furnished him money and
with 1t he made his way to New London,
going from there to New York through
the assistance of another person with
whom he became acquainted. From
New York Mr.. Weed came to Chicago


MIR. Weed says he was treated worse
than any criminal could be in State
prison. There are, he says, regular days
at the asylum when visitors are admitted,
and then the building is in the neatest
possible trim, and everybody who goes
through it is favorably impressed with
the order and the management. There
is another part of the institution which
is effectually sealed from the eyes of the
world. Taking his account as true, there
exists a condition of things in this Con-
necticut lunatic asylum disgraceful 10
the State and to humanity. He says he
was not well fed, and that hog would
not eat what was set before him. All
efforts to obtain interviews with out
side friends were frustrated, neither
would the attendants permit him to take
any steps to provide for his wife or chill
dren. In letter to a friend, speaking of
the treatment received at the hands of the
keepers, he said: al say hell has but few
such fends in it, but / hope there is
room for them yet down there, if there is
such place." After his second incar-
ceration he was Gagged with lot of raw
ing lunatics and was kept dirty and
ragged.


One of the attendants at the asylum,
in letter to Mr.. Weeds wife, said he
never met with saner man and could
not understand why he was kept there.


Mr.. Weed says that the system of gov
ernment is very loose; that the most
shockingly disgusting and indecent liter
ature is circulated and the inmates treat
ed to exhibitions which would 4butrage
all sensibilities. Such literature can only
be perused with a most brutalizing eff.
feet


If the crimes Mr.. Weed relates he
true, and he says they are true and that
the half has not been told, the highest
attribute of mercy that could be exer-
cised toward the unfortunate insane of
Connecticut would be to shoot them and
give them at once Christian burial
Chicago Times, Noo. 10.