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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 87:

1853  

Thus by a resort to deceit, and artfully wicked chicanery, these trustees -- men whom the Governor and the people had trusted as the guardians of their institution -- dared to set at naught their honor and honesty and recklessly disregard the known wishes of the Governor -- the Committee -- the Legislature -- and the people of Illinois -- who had every reason to believe they would do their duty, and carry out the wishes of their constituents by removing this, their unprincipled public servant, in the manner prescribed by law.

1854  

This persistent determination on the part of the Trustees to sustain the Doctor in defiance of public sentiment, of truth, honor or justice, demonstrated the fact that policy not principle influenced their action in this matter; thus proving without a question, that they deserve the same condemnation the Superintendent receives from the verdict of the people.

1855  

The names of these Trustees are:

1856  

E. G. MINER, President.
FERNANDO JONES,
JOSEPH T, ECCLES,
FRANCIS A. HOFFMAN,
RICHARD C. DUNN,
ISAAC L. MORRISON.

1857  

It had been only about two weeks since this board had been re-appointed, and now, after breaking their solemn promise to the Governor to do the special work for which he had re-elected them, they resigned, leaving it incumbent on Governor Palmer to appoint a new board, which he did.

1858  

This board did not deem it their duty to undo the work of their predecessors, but only to take the institution as they found it, and discharge its appropriate duties.

1859  

Thus was Dr. McFarland's exit deferred.

1860  

As the Legislature would not meet again for two years he would have, in the mean time, an opportunity to show to the world that he was not discharged as the result of the investigation, but as he remained in his office the natural inference would be that his character was vindicated!

1861  

But it was not.

1862  

The unmistakable voice of the people uttered its condemnation too distinctly to venture another expression of its wishes through the coming Legislature.

1863  

To avoid this, he therefore resigned before the meeting of the next Legislature, and his resignation was accepted and another appointed and installed in his place.

1864  

Dr. McFarland still resides in Jacksonville, in a house which he has built upon his large farm, which lie has so long cultivated by the unpaid labor of Illinois State prisoners, who have been falsely represented as Dr. McFarland's patients, when in reality they were his slaves.

1865  

From the avails of this labor, thus purloined, he has received a remunerative income, by which, added to the other robberies he has made upon the State's appropriated funds for their Asylum, he has become quite wealthy.

1866  

One of this Investigating Committee remarked to me in view of the deceit and chicanery developed by the investigation:

1867  

"I never saw such an exhibition of artifice, deceit and double dealing and robbery and purloining of public treasure in any department of society as was developed by the practices of this corrupt Superintendent."

1868  

Rumor says, that Dr. McFarland is intending to convert his house to a private asylum, hoping the public will still patronize him as an expert in the cure of insanity!

1869  

But if the number he has cured by his treatment were balanced by the number he has killed and made hopelessly inane, it is my opinion the scales would indicate a decided balance in favor of those he has murdered and made insane maniacs, over the number he has cured.

1870  

And besides those he claims as his cured patients, are in a majority of cases those who were cured in spite of his treatment rather than in consequence of it. Like the infants thrown into the Ganges, those who are devoured and drowned are the rule, while those who escape this fate are the exceptions.

1871  

As far as treatment is concerned, the most indifferent nurse could do more towards curing an insane person than I ever knew Dr. McFarland to do, either directly or indirectly. For what one physician said of his treatment at Utica Asylum, New York, might with truth be said of many of the patients in Jacksonville Asylum while I was there, namely:

1872  

He said in consequence of loss of property and failure in business he became melancholy and partially insane and his friends advised that he go to the asylum at Utica, N. Y., for treatment. He went, and while riding over the country which intervened between his home and the asylum, a distance of several days' ride in a private vehicle, his mind became so diverted by the scenery of the country through which he passed, and the varied and new surroundings of asylum life, that before he had been in the asylum twenty-four hours he became entirely sane.

1873  

Now comes in the "treatment" he received. For three years after his reception for "treatment," the doctor never even so much as spoke to him, much less treated him medically!

1874  

He was kept a close prisoner five years, when he succeeded in making his escape, and has since been a successful practitioner of medicine. He asserts that he was just as sane all these five years as he is at present, and would have been there still had he been dependent upon the Superintendent for his discharge.

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