Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1887 — FRUITS OF HARRISONISM. [ARTICLE]

FRUITS OF HARRISONISM.

An Insane Man Scalded to Death In Hi* Hath a t the Asylum, Two Weeks Ago— Oilier Matters. Indianapolis Journal, Oct. 1. On yesterday there came to light a pari Oi the particulars of one of the most.horrible tragedies ever known in the annals of the public infiltrations of Indiana. Whether it was the result of ciimiaal tu’utality or only of criminal negligence yet remains to be ascertained, but the efforts that have been made Ik) conceal it indicate that there is something back of it which may well cause every person in the State to shudder. As is generally known, there lmve from 'time - o time b. m; circulated stories of cruo'itieK at the Insane Hospital which j were so shocking \hat many hi abandon -all faith in a com- 1 mon humanity, have been inclined to di-credit Ihem; but lieretolore there has been no case apparently well- authenti citi d that has resulted in the death of the unhappy victim. Several days ago there was a rumor afloat that au inmate of the insane asylum had been scalded to death in a bath tub, but as no definite information could be obtained concerning it the matter was allowed to drop, and it bad almost been forgotten. Yesterday morning, however, Coroner Wagner received an anonymous note, stating positively that an initiate of the asylum had died from the effects of a scald received in the bath lub. It was also stated that the attendants at the asylum had been 'Sworn to secresy in regard to the matter, and that threats had heen made to discharge any employe who permitted a woriTconcerning th e affair to pass beyond the walls of the institution. Dr. Wagner, upon the recept of the ture, deemed it bis duty to make an investigation as to the truth of the report, and yesterday afternoon visited the hospital. He ascertained that an inmate named Albert MeConagy, from Huntington, had died under suspicious; circumstances on the 22d instant.. lie was admiited to the asylum on the stli of last. May. The scald from which hjs death alleged to have resulted' occurred on the 14th of this month. The circumstances surrounding the death seemed to be so auspicious that Dr. instituted an ivestigation. The attendant who had charge of the ward in which MeConagy was confined, was the first witness. He said that on the day the patient was scalded he placed him in the bath tub and turned on the cold water. He bad his* attention .directed* from the patient a moment, and when he returned t o the tub the hot water had been turned on and the inmate was allowing the water to flow against his stomach. He immediately turned off the water and did not think the patient was badly scalded. Dr. Thomas, superintendent of the males, department of thelnstitution.was also examined by the coroner. He testified that Mr. MeConagy was affected with the progressive paralysis, and he thought was incapable of turning on the water himself. With regard to the cause of the man’s death, he said he did | not think it came from the scald, but was the result as exhaustion. The coroner-will oonfitiue the investi- • gatirm this morning, by examining all the hospital authorities and employes who know anything about the death. The feature of the affair that bears most strongly against the management, as thus far developed, in the extraordinary quiet which has been maintained in regard to it. No shipping permit was issued and no record of the death left at the city health office. It is beyond comprehension why this should have been omitted if there were notthing back which it was considered necessary to conceal, and the mysterious nature of the communication,which evidently came from some one in the institution, makes it still more probable that there is an awful responsibility 'for the death resting ou the hospital management. * D>p >»ing of Oie Dsmocra.ic laim. Washington Special iu Pioneer Pram. A close examination of the report of the General Land Office for the fiscal year last past, and the one preceding fails to show that the public domain has been increased for the actual settler by the return of a thousand acres .land that was not in -the direct line of the policy adopted by Secretary Teller and his predecessors before they left office. The reports of Commissioner Sparks have been overflowing with promises and claims of wbat the General Land Office proposed to do, but although the administration has been in power ove three years, there is not a cattl# company or a railroad corporation that possesses a foot less public land than it , did in ISSt, and a great many new companies have been organized and put in

successful operation. On the other hand, the General Land Office has disturbed all financial security, played into the hands of speculators and deprived over 5,000 actual settlers of their farms in Dakota, Montana, Kansas, Nebraska, and further Northwest on the merest technicalities.” The Senate and Turpie’s Seat; W. A. Mcßride, is Cincinnati Enquirer. From this point of observation the out look in Indiana is not as bright as the superservioeable friends of the administration make it appear. I know not what mav be his method of reaching re-

suits, but ex-Congressman Ward tells me that the Democrats are all* torn up, and that President Cleveland's administration is the sause of it. As there is no election this fall in the State, time will develop who has the better judgment. As to Judge Turpie’s claim to a seat in the Senate, there is no doubt, his right willibe challenged. All very well is it for Mr. Yoorhees to proclaim that if Turpie is rejected he will object to the swearing in of every Republican Sena-tor-elect. This much is his right, but he ought to know that the elections committee, which will be in the hands of the Bepublicans, could, ou the very next day, report in favor of seating all j B«ve Turpie, and that they have the j necessary vote to seat them and leave ! Turpie out. I have ever found, as an I observer, that when the Republicans have tlje resources and power they use them. When one starts into butt the locomotive off the bridge it is well to ascertain if one has the necessary battering apparatus. Else the parable of the bull in respect thereto will apply. • Democratic Defalcations In Ohio. Toledo Blade: Auglaize County— Democratic majority, 1884, 1,856; Democratic defalcation. 1887,1*1,645. Darke County—Democratic majority I**4, 1,0*2; Democratic defalcation, I*B7, $48,000. Ottawa County—Democratic majority 1884, 1,167; Democratic defalcation,lßß7, $12,000.