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Modern Persecution, or Married Woman's Liabilities
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2504 | He was at this time so emaciated that, according to witness, nothing but skin and bone were left. Seeing that he was suffering from lack of sufficient nourishment, the doctor ordered him some invigorating food. The next morning Samuels was in a still feebler condition, and complained that McDonald had again maltreated him, kicking him in the stomach with his knee on this occasion. He wished to write to his brother concerning his treatment, but witness assured him he would present the case to the proper authorities. He accordingly wrote a letter to the President of the Commissioners of Charities and Correction. | |
2505 | Witness here cited several instances of brutality which had occurred in the asylum within the past six weeks, one of which had resulted in the death of one Herman Eilers. On the night of Monday, October 28, Samuels died, and, in his opinion, his death was attributable solely to the cruelty of McDonald. After the examination of other witnesses the case was adjourned. | |
2506 | On Saturday the body of Samuels was taken to Bellevue Hospital, and yesterday the members of Olympic Lodge assembled at 193 Bowery to pay the last tribute of respect to their deceased brother. | |
2507 | Despite the inclemency of the weather nearly every lodge in the city was represented. Brother Lipenan delivered an eloquent address, and resolutions were adopted concerning the inhuman treatment to which Brother Samuels had been subjected. A long procession marched to Washington Cemetery in Brooklyn." | |
2508 | Death of James Parks, Victim of Taunton Asylum, Massachusetts. | |
2509 | "A coroner's jury has this week investigated the last days and death of James Parks, who died at the Taunton Lunatic Asylum on March 3d. | |
2510 | He was a truckman in Cambridge, and during Thursday, February 26th, was observed to act strangely about his work. In the evening he went to an Irish wake in Charlestown and acted on his return homeward with a boisterous turbulence, apparently resulting from intoxication, sometimes on horseback and sometimes off. | |
2511 | Two policeman, after a severe struggle in which they several times struck him with a billy on the head, arrested him and took him to a station house. | |
2512 | In the morning he was adjudged insane, and after several days of detention in the station house, was sent to the Taunton hospital. Here he became very violent, and one of the attendants, in defending himself against Park's maniacal fury, threw him down and kneeled on his chest in order to keep him under. Thereafter Parks lost his vigorous strength, and the next day died. | |
2513 | Post-mortem examination showed some heavy scalp wounds, bruises in various parts of his body, and fourteen broken ribs, a fracture of the breast bone, and the right lung perforated in several places. The doctors of the asylum endeavored to lay the blame of death upon the previous struggle, and for that purpose tried to prove that maniacal excitement could mask severe physical injuries. | |
2514 | The weight of testimony was inexorable against their hypothesis, and the verdict attributed his death to the fierce fight in the hospital. | |
2515 | No blame was cast upon the men who thus became his unintentional murderers! But it is evident that constant familiarity with such cases leads to a criminally reckless handling of human life; and it is unlikely that three stalwart men should have been unable in any other way to master this one man without recourse to crushing breath and blood from his body." | |
2516 | Mr. Bischoffsberger, Victim of Trenton Asylum, New Jersey. | |
2517 | "In Newark, a Mrs. Bischoffsherger, wife of a well-to-do grocer, and her brother-in-law, Simon Stentz, were taken into custody upon a charge of unlawfully depriving Mr. Bischoffsberger of his liberty and attempting to defraud him of his property. | |
2518 | Mr. Bischoffsberger's friends claim that his wife, in order to get possession of the property, induced a physician to give a certificate that he was insane. In this project, as alleged, the wife was assisted by Stentz. Upon the above mentioned certificate, it is further alleged, Mr. Bischoffsberger was hurried to the Lunatic Asylum at Trenton, where no careful examination of his case was made. Mr. Bischoffsberger protested that he was perfectly sane, and that his incarceration was the result of a base conspiracy. | |
2519 | The wife paid six months board in advance for the "patient." Once rid of the old man, the wife commenced measures to get possession of the property, which is valued at forty thousand dollars. In the meantime some of Mr. Bischoffsberger's friends became suspicious of the stories that had been given out relative to his whereabouts and instituted a search. They were aided by the Doctor above alluded to, who had fallen out with Mrs. Bischoffsberger, because she would not him his promised fee. | |
2520 | Having discovered the old man's whereabouts, steps were at once taken to secure his release. | |
2521 | The Superintendent of the asylum suddenly discovered that Mr. Bischoffsberger was not insane, and wrote to his wife informing her of the fact, and ordering her to come and take her husband away. Mrs. Bischoffsberger, who had not yet succeeded in her schemes of getting possession of the property, refused to do this, and sent money to the asylum authorities for three months' more board. Mr. Bischoffsberger's friends still persevered, and at length succeeded in securing his liberation. |