Gloucester County Democrat

MORRIS PLAINS ASYLUM SCANDAL

About two months ago there came from Morris Plains a story that ex-Mayor Jacob H. Beatty, of Hackettstown, had been brutally beaten in the State Hospital for the Insane at that place. The authorities of the asylum were incensed, and the Board of Freeholders, of Warren County, appointed a committee to investigate the story.

The result of the investigation was a report that Mr. Beatty had not been subjected to cruelty, and that the injuries from which he was suffering were the result of a fall.

Mr. Beatty died last Friday, and since then Dr. Alvah C. Van Syckle, Mayor of Hackettstown, and a committee of citizens have been securing evidence that patients in the Morris Plains asylum have been subjected to the brutality of attendants.

Mr. Beatty's body was taken to Hackettstown for burial. The post-mortem examination was made by Dr. L. C. Osmun, assisted by Drs. C. H. Cline and Robert Woodruff. Dr. Van Syckle, the Mayor, was also present.

The doctors found that the third and fourth ribs of the left side, and the fourth fifth and sixth ribs on the right side were fractured. The broken ribs had also punctured the pleura.

"The conditions the doctors found " said Mayor Van Syckle, "confirm the testimony of one of the former attendants, who has declared under oath that he saw James Mitchell, one of the attendants, knock Mr. Beatty down and kick him viciously in the side."

The story of Mr. Beatty's misfortune and subsequent events will bear repetition. He had been five times Mayor of Hackettstown. Worry over business troubles drove him insane. He became violent, and January 7 was taken to the asylum at Morris Plains. He had several paroxysms on the way, but he was subdued without much trouble. It is certain that he was not injured when he arrived at the asylum.

Mrs. Minnie Stephenson, a daughter, called at the asylum next day, and Dr. Horsford told her that her father had two fractured ribs. Mayor Van Syckle, Councilman Kinsey and Freeholder Shields went to the asylum next day. Mr. Beatty pointed out an attendant, James Mitchell, as the one who had beaten him. When the Mayor got a warrant for Mitchell he found that the man had fled.

James S. Clark a former attendant, said he saw Mitchell knock Beatty down and kick him.

The matter will likely be called to the attention of the Legislature, since the people of Hackettstown are thoroughly aroused, and will not rest until there has been a searching examination.