#hamilton asylum

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“Charged Insane Were Ill-Treated,” The Kingston Daily Standard. August 19, 1919. ---- Charges Made Against Hamilton Asylum Are To Be Investigated --- Hamilton, Aug. 19. - That he would recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate charges brought by war veterans and others in connection with treatment of patients in the Asylum for the Insane, was stated by Inspector Dunlop of the Department of Public Charities and Asylums, last evening, following a preliminary investigation conducted by himself. Representatives of the G.W.V.A. branches, doctors, lawyers, and reporters attended the session this evening when some serious charges were levelled by war veterans, and other charges by letter were read. Letters were sent in by relatives of former patients, claiming that the latter had been abused.

The charge included cruelty to patients, unsanitary conditions, poor food, unnecessary solitary confinement, withholding of mail, and not informing relatives of confinement.

Pte. John Anderson, a former patient, declared that he had seen another patient by the name of John Forbes clubbed with a broomstick until he was black and blue. He declared that Forbes had died within a week, and he alleged that death was due to the beating.

Pte. Anderson stated that he had seen a patient clubbed and had picked up some of the man’s teeth afterward. He also declared that Douglas Anderson, another patient, had been beaten and badly cut as a result. Other patients had been repeatedly kicked in hall ‘C.’ was another allegation of Anderson’s. Broomsticks had always been the favorite weapon of attack.

‘Once when I refused to give an attendant a pack of cards he threw me down and kicked me. We had not towels, and after bathing to dry ourselves with dirty sheets taken from the beds,’ he declared emphatically.

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"Will Investigate Patient's Escape," Hamilton Spectator. May 21, 1943. Page 7. --- Provincial Deputy Minister De clares Mental Institutions Under Grave Handicap ---- An investigation into the escape of a homicidal patient from the Ontario Hospital here last week is being conducted by Dr. B. T. McGhie, Deputy Minister of Health and Hospitals for the province. Dr. McGhie stated all angles pertaining to the escape and the condition of the patient would be reviewed. The man, it was recalled, about three months ago killed a harmless old man in St. Catharines by beating him over the head with a stone. The patient at that time was in an observation room awaiting removal to the hospital here when he suddenly escaped from his guards and attacked the elderly pedestrian.

"If this man's present condition warrants his removal to the larger hospital at Penetanguishene then it will certainly be done," said Dr. McGhie. He stated that until he was more familiar with the case he could not say what action would be taken.

Dr. McGhie admitted that the hospital at Hamilton was overcrowded. "All mental hospitals throughout the Dominion are overcrowded from 10 to 35 per cent.," said the deputy minister. He explained that at present there were 1,536 patients in the Hamilton institution. "It is a serious problem, but with the war on it is impossible to erect any more buildings which are badly needed," said Dr. McGhie. He stated that figures released by federal authorities showed that at the present time 17,000 more beds were required in Canada for the mentally ill.

Dr. J. S. Stewart, superintendent at the hospital here, stated that the escape of the St. Catharines man was partly due to the fact that when the guard was chasing him he twisted his ankle and was soon outdistanced by the fleeing patient.

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“Fire In Asylum At Hamilton,” Toronto World. August 1, 1911. Page 01. ---- Practically All Male Wing Destroyed - Inmates Safe - Origin of Blaze is Unknown. --- HAMILTON, Aug. 1. - The Hamilton Asylum is in the grasp of the fire fiend. The origin of the fire is as yet unknown. The male wing is practically destroyed but all the inmates have been removed without loss of life and are being removed to Toronto.

The fire is still raging and the entire building may be destroyed.

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“Chartrand Returning To The Penitentiary,” British Daily Whig (Kingston). February 14, 1918. Page 08. ---- Lifer Has a Mania For Escaping - Outwitted at Parry Sound ---- A Parry Sound despatch says:

Joseph Courtrand, alias Duval, under life sentence, who escaped from the provincial penitentiary at Portsmouth, also from the asylum for the criminally insane at Hamilton, was outwitted at the district jail here, where he attempted to clear out with the aid of a table knife and a piece of wire. The prisoner is now on his way back to the penitentiary in charge of a strong guard. He had been arrested here after breaking jail at Chatham, where he was held for passing bogus bills. The Dominion police traced him here and he finally confessed that he was the escaped lifer.

The above prisoner’s name is Chatrand. He had a mania for escaping. Several times he was caught in the act at the Portsmouth institution. He was originally sentenced at Sault Ste. Marie for murder, but was adjudged insane.

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“For Fifty Cents Guard Got Duplicate Key For Moir,” Toronto Star. August 31, 1910. Page 01. ---- McCullough Swears His Fellow-Guard, Trapnell, Paid Him to Give Keys to Murderer - Shame for Young Man to Be Locked Up - Detective in Next Cell Listened to Conversation ---- Special to The Star Hamilton, Aug. 31. - Acting on the advice of the Attorney-General’s Department, the Crown authorities today arraigned Monteith Trapnail, one of the two attendants at the asylum accused of aiding murderers Moir and Taggart to escape, under the common law.

McCullough, who has already adroited his guilty, stands convicted. He was not allowed to change his plea, and will be sentenced later.

Trapnell was charged with ‘unlawfully assisting Moir and Taggarty to escape from the asylum, where they were confined in lawful custody, and that being a servant in the employ of the Ontario government he did unlawfully conspire with McCullough and others to defeat the administration of justice by conniving, aiding, and assisting in the escape of the men from custody after ‘they had been declared to be insane after having been placed upon their trial for murder.’ Trapnell declined to elect.

Crown Attorney Washington said that Attorney-General’s Department held the same opinion as he did, that the charge preferred was legally an offence.

There was a long discussion over technicalities. Dr. English, producing the warrants on which Moir and Taggart were committed to his care.

Dr. English Testifies Three attendants - Swayzie, McCullough and Trapnell - were on duty, Dr. English said, the morning of the escape. He swore Moir could not possibility have opened his door from the inside, although he might have got through the transom, from which the front bar had been removed.. The doctor told how he had been notified of the escape and made an investigation which showed clearly that keys had been used.

Dr. English admitted to the prisoner’s lawyer that Trapnell never came under suspicion until the escape. He had warned Trapnell when he took charge of the ward that Moir was a scheming, treacherous man, who was continually plotting escape, and who would not hesitate to attack anyone.

Convicted Guard in Box. The Crown protested against Trapnell’s lawyer trying to induce Dr. English to pass an opinion on Moir’s condition, and Messers. Kerr and O’Reilly, lawyers for the defendants, both protested strenuously against McCullough going on the stand, but the magistrate ruled out the objections.

‘I had only been working at the asylum a month,’ said McCullough, ‘when Trapnell came to me and said Moir was only a young man and it was a shame to see him locked up.’

Gave Moir the Keys. ‘Shortly after Trapnell threw fifty cents on the table and asked me to get some keys made. when I got a day off I got duplicates made down town of the keys that Trapnell gave me. I paid forty cents for them, and handed the keys and change back to Trapnell. He warned me to keep my mouth shut.’

‘On the Saturday before the escape, he handed me the keys to give to Moir, which I did. Nothing had been said about Taggart going.’

McCullough the receited how he had given the alarm on the morning of the escape. He had heard no noise during the night.

Detective Bleakley told of arresting Trapnell, who said: ‘I had expected this.’

‘Why did you expect it?’ I asked. ‘I expected they would swear me into it,’ he said.

Detective in Next Cell. The detective testified that after the prisoners were remanded on Monday morning he had been in a cell between the two they were confined in. McCullough said: ‘Well, Monty, what do you think of it now?’ Trapnell said. ‘It looks bad. Did they find out who brought the keys in?’ McCullough answered: ‘Yes, and I think they know who brought the saw to him.’ That was all about what was said. Mr. O’reilly kicked about not being allowed to see the indictment until the last minute and still insisted there was no law covering the case.

‘This is for the higher court to decide,’ said the magistrate.

Trapnell was committed for trial. McCullough was remanded for eight days.

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“Sensation Promised On Moir’s Escape,” Toronto Star. August 22, 1910. Page 05. ---- Detective Miller and Dr. English Have Come Across Some Interesting Information ---- Special to the Star. Hamilton, Ont., Aug. 22. - As a result of their investigation into Moir and Taggart’s escape, it is reported that Detective Miller and Dr. English are in possession of information, which promises a sensation that will be of vital interest, not only to the local asylum, but to similar institutions all over the province. It has nothing to do with the Moir case, but will thrown an interesting sidelight it is understood, on certain things that for a long time have caused puzzled the administrative heads of these institutions. Miller and English refuse to talk but an official who claims to know said: ‘The matter has been reported to the Provincial Secretary’s Department, and if made public will cause a tremendous sensation. There is reason to believe that a woman played a part in Moir’s escape. She is said to have become infatuated with him and the authorities are in possession of love letters written by her. Moir seems to be able to exert a remarkable influence over some people.

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“War Veterans Aroused Over Hamilton Asylum,” Hamilton Spectator. August 2, 1919. Page 01. --- Branch Receives Sensational Letter From An Ex-Attendant --- Returned Men Will Call Mass Meeting to Demand Investigation --- In support of their charges against treatment alleged to be meted out to returned soldiers confined in the Hamilton asylum, members of Mount Hamilton branch, G.W.V.A., at a largely attended meeting last night, produced a letter written recently to the association by one of the asylum attendants. Extracts from the letter follow: ‘As I was an attendant at the Hamilton asylum up to two weeks ago I am dropping a little information which might be of use to you. The place is worse than hell and the poor creatures, confined thre are treated like pigs. Returned men are placed in cells with convicts who are sent there from Kingston and other prisons. There were five soldiers in these cells when I left the place.

‘One of the attendants is half crazy himself, so what can you expect?’

‘The Russian who killed his sweetheart in Toronto is allowed out all day and LePointe, the murderer from Brockville, was allowed out on Sunday.

‘You can use my name if you care do so, as this is the truth, so help me God.’

Will Hold Mass Meeting Reading of the above letter led to some rather heated comment from the members and it was decided unanimously to hold a public mass meeting at which the citizens might learn the facts. To that end a joint executive meeting to be held on August 11 would be asked to make arrangements for the meeting, secure a suitable hall in the city and decide upon a date for the meeting.

John Fish, the secretary, outlined at some length the cases of two comrades recently liberated from the institution. It was made quite plain that the proper procedure had not been taken in placing these men in detention. One had been taken from the Salvation Army hostel, placed in the Barton street jail and, after 24 days, removed from there to the asylum without a trial.

It was asserted that as many as six men were confined in the asylum who should never be there. It was said also that the back wards, which were never seen by visitors, were in a filthy condition.

The very fact that a comrade was confined in the refractory ward until 5 o’clock in the evening and then told that he could go out to mix with the general public spoke or itself. The ward mentioned was for the detention of those dangerously insane.

It was announced that the deputation which visited the asylum on Sunday last was refused the information sought, and was not allowed to interview any of the patients unless in the presence of the superintendent.

Fish Had A Peep Though Comrade Fish was one of the deputation representing the G.W.V.A. he announced that as deputy reeve of Barton township, and accompanied by Comrades Arnold and Pickering, he had visited the place a few days before, and was allowed to inspect some of the wards, the sight of which was denied the veterans’ deputation.

After a lengthy discussion, the following resolution was passed unanimously.

‘Resolved that the Hamilton and Mount Hamilton branches of the Great War Veterans’ association strongly protest against the treatment handed out to men confined in Ontario asylums, and we recommend that a returned soldier be appointed as an inspector with full power from the government to act in that capacity.

‘We recommend also that returned soldiers confined in these institutions be removed and placed in military convalescent homes.

‘We desire also that the government set aside an allowance for soldiers in asylums, and that their dependents receive an amount sufficient to keep them.’

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“Asylum Charges,” Hamilton Spectator. August 1, 1919. Page 18. --- Much Interest in Meeting At Mount Hamilton To-night --- In G.W.V.A. circles this morning considerable interest was being evidenced in the meeting of Mount Hamilton branch to-night, when there will be considered the question of holding a public mass meeting and demanding a strict investigation in connection with conditions alleged to exist at the Hamilton asylum. The veterans say they are determined that the public shall be enlightened and know something of what is going on in that institution and that they have started something which they intend to finish. If the complaints they have received are true and the treatment being meted out to returned men confined there is found to be unjust, they intend demanding a government inquiry and, as one official expressed himself, ‘a general clean-up.’

Both East Hamilton and Central branches have decided to send representatives to the meeting. The delegates for Central branch will be President Dougal McLean and First Vice-president J. E. Beech. Comrades A. Hitchman, S. Blackborrow and J. Barlow will represent the east end branch. It is expected also that delegates from Ainslie branch will be present.