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Modern Persecution, or Married Woman's Liabilities

From: Modern Persecution
Creator: Elizabeth P. W. Packard (author)
Date: 1873
Source: Available at selected libraries
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Page 84:

1769  

Testimony of John Henry, Steward of the Asylum.

1770  

Witness John Henry, who has resided in Jacksonville about forty years, and was a member of the State Senate when the act of incorporation was passed, in 1847, and afterwards steward of the hospital, about one year, from 1848 to 1849.

1771  

His situation made him acquainted with the general treatment of patients; and knew of cases of cruelty and inhuman treatment to them.

1772  

One case was an Englishman, whose name he does not remember. Said he had, on one occasion, returned from down town, and was standing outside of the building, and heard a distressing voice in the second ward, and went into the building and found the patient in the hands of two men holding him on his back, and the third man standing on the bathing-tub and pouring water in his face and nose from a pail. The patient was struggling and strangling for breath.

1773  

The witness rescued the patient, and drove the attendants from the room, and reported the case to Dr. McFarland.

1774  

He subsequently called the Doctor's attention to the case, with the view of having it investigated, and had a Mr. Crandley do the same.

1775  

Being satisfied that the case was not investigated, he reported it to Mr. Stephenson, the President of the Board, and told him if such things occurred again he would make complaint to the grand jury.

1776  

He says he frequently heard of other cases of cruelty, from persons employed about the building.

1777  

Witness thinks Dr. McFarland is destitute of common sympathy to the patients, and did not listen to their complaints with kindness; nor give that personal attention to the conduct of the attendants which was necessary to a personal knowledge of their treatment; and appeared indifferent when complaints of cruelty were made to him.

1778  

The Committee say: -- "These eight witnesses, in their testimony specially above referred to, have described particular and atrocious abuses, by attendants, to over twenty different patients, whose names are given; and the most of the cases are mentioned by them with circumstantial minuteness. The names of eighteen different attendants are mentioned by them as being engaged in these cruelties. The most of them are of comparatively recent date; and they are within the recollection of witnesses now living and accessible."

1779  

CHAPTER XXXIII.
Dr. McFarland's Self-Accusation.

1780  

Guilt is its own accuser -- So with Dr. McFarland. When he found the "Personal Liberty Bill" had actually passed into a law, and the "Investigating Committee" were also appointed, it seemed to him as if his day of judgment had come, such fear and terror possessed him.

1781  

I have been told by a relative of his sister, who lives in Zanesville, Ohio, and she received this information from his sister's own lips that when her brother found the investigation was decided upon by the legislature, and the Committee appointed for this purpose, that he left his family without their knowledge, and without even knowing himself where he should go, with only a small satchel of clothing with him.

1782  

He arrived at her house in the evening and, meeting him at her door, in response to his knock, was accosted with this strange inquiry:

1783  

"Can you lodge a poor fellow here to-night?"

1784  

"Why, Brother Andrew, how do you do? To be sure we can. What do you mean? Come in."

1785  

He entered, and in reply to her inquiry said:

1786  

"Sister, I am ruined! I am a ruined man!"

1787  

"Brother, what ails you? What is the matter?" asked his astonished sister.

1788  

"That woman has ruined me! She has got a Committee of the legislature appointed to investigate the asylum. And I am ruined!"

1789  

"What lady has ruined you?"

1790  

"Mrs. Packard -- I kept her in the asylum at her husband's request, and now she has exposed me, and I am ruined."

1791  

"Brother, no woman can ruin you. You need not fear her influence. Your character is too well established to be ruined by slander."

1792  

"But, Sister, the Committee are appointed -- and they are to investigate. And I am ruined! I do not know what to do. I left my family in Jacksonville, without telling them where I was going -- I did not know myself."

1793  

This panic-stricken sinner's fears could not be allayed by all the reason and argument and entreaties his friends could urge in his behalf. His monotonous response would invariably be:

1794  

"I am ruined! Mrs. Packard has ruined me!"

1795  

His friends thought he was insane, that trouble had dethroned his reason and driven him mad, as insanity was hereditary in his family.

1796  

They accordingly telegraphed to his wife that they so regarded him -- that they would detain him until he became more calm, and would not let him wander farther, unattended. She need not fear, as they should not let him leave their house until he had got over his intense excitement.

1797  

At night they visited his room, and instead of finding him in bed, he was walking his room ringing his hands in agony, exclaiming:

1798  

"I am ruined! I am ruined! Mrs. Packard has ruined me!"

1799  

Now, is it not true, as the Committee express it:

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