Year: 1875

INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED CRUELTY AN IN


SIDE VIEW OF HALL NO. or BEDIA8I-


ToBTUREs OF THE DEMENTED.


Yesterday forenoon a meeting Of the Kings County
Board Of Charities was held at the LGnatic Asylum,
Flabush, for the purpose OF investigating the charges
Of maltreamen Of patients which brought TO pub
lie notice by Mr.. Nelson Magoe lately discharged in
mate Of the madhouse named President Norris occu-
ped the chair, and there were also present Comms-
sioners Rober, Cunningham and Midas. Mr. Magee,
the complainant being sworn testified that he is in the
general commission business in New York; that while
in the Lunatc Asylum he treated with that de-
gree of kindness by the doctors that should be
extended toward patient he was readmt-
ted 10 the institution on June 27, having
ridden through Prospect Park and overworked
himself so that he taken to the asylum by his
relatives; he was assigned to Hall No S; the names Of
the nurses were George Boohmeyer and Henry Eagle
hofer for several days ne was kindly treated by the
nnrses; Certain night, however, feeling lhirsty
called Of the nursesto get him Some Water
he knocked with his hand and then with pail, but
no one came TO his assistance in the morning fellow
patient, named Hunt, said he too had been knocking
during the night for the to get him some water
but attention paid the summons; after that
the patient waited upon himself through the night: the
rooms in the front nall better than those in the
rear; all was quiet there in the back hal
draughts frequently given him to pro-
mote sleep; in the back room noise
made by the ,raving Of the patients was the cause
o his not sccpng witness said he always obeyed the
orders Of the nurses suitable days the patients were
taken &c the yard he had patients refused water
when they asked for II the treatment Of patients on the
exercise grounds fair there being no restraints the
first day he entered the asylum the George cut
tho hair OF the complainant pretty close and shaved
him; witness SAID he demonstrated saying George
no more crazy than you are; wish you would helm
me 20 get away from here' 10 this the nurse reped
sect out, you damned crazy foOl' witness said IL am
not crazy, but am chiel amang ye taking notes -
this led the nurse TO treating patients better and the
next morning George said, You crazy than


am in the presence Of the doctors the manner of the
Keepers generally kind toward the patients: thew
were most obsequous in the presence Of some of the
patients friends; on his second stay Henry asked him
why he paid board there three cents differ
encc between the board OF the pay the charity pa
tients; the nurse told him TO tell his wife when she
called again not 70 pay any board but requested
him not 10 tell the doctors what he he nurse bad said


George Aylne, patient said his folks willing 10
pay MS board but witness told him that be had better
make a present TO the nurses, witness return
secondtme to the asylum there no limit to their
violence and brutal conduct 70 the patients; he could
name eight of abuse but was not able
20 give the dates: had heard Of other.
cases; saw Henry Schmidt Jewish hoy.
whose head had been turned from reading dime
novels but who was not violent; this boy was put IN
suiuacket the hrst night; George Boehmoycr. Lie