SENSATIONAL STORY FROM OHIO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 26 April 1907, Page 4

SENSATIONAL STORY FROM OHIO.

iLL-TKKA'DIrJNI OK I>UIXK A sensational case of habilual cruelty to.lnatics is announced in a message received in New York from Cleveland, Ohio. Reports of iiHrcatmcnt of the Inmates of the .Statu Asylum at Xewburg being current, the Cleveland Pressdetailed a reporter, Mr dapp, to investigate the allegations. Mr .lapp obtained a post as warder in the asylum, and his articles on what he experienced, so excited the people of Ohio that Covernor Harris ordered the asylum trustees to investigate the charges. Mr Japp was carted, and gave chapter and verse for all his statements, and his evidence was unshaken by the questions of the attendants he accused. The enquiry cloSed, hut the report of the trustee's will not be known for a month. Those who are acquainted with the facts of the inquiry declare that the result will be that the superintendent and staff will ilie convicted of persistent brutality, and a complete reorganisation will be carried out. The charges made by Mr Japp cover a week of observation" and the incidents he complains of are given with names, dates and circumstances, the whole forming a terrible indictment. Several eases are given of lunatics being placed in strait jackets, kicked in the stomach and pounded over the head with hroom handles for simple offences like talking to themselves or turning over papers when the chief attendant desired quiet. In some cases unfortunate lunatics were stood on their heads for length!}- periods in the dormitory occupied by parents in the last stages of lie. The (reporter attendant saw a Wirdor attendant smack the faces of two men who were so weak that they were believed to be dying. A big patient, formally a publican, was noisy and annoyed the chief attendant Garrett. Four men, including Garrett, then jumped on him, pinioned him, and while three held him, Garrett twisted a towel round his throat unui he. was almost unconscious. Then the hose was turned on the victim till he came round again. He was then thrown into bed and given a sleeping draught of triple strength without the consent of any medieai man. The warders began to lie suspicions of the reporter after a week, but he gained the outside of the asylum, and made his revelations through the columns of the press.