A Little History In and Around Buffalo, NY

As published in the Courier Express: Architect Says Stairway Was Unsafe An architect, called as an expert witness in a $30,000 negligence claim against the state of New York, testified Monday that a stairway in Buffalo State Hospital was unsafe when a 73-year-old woman fell on it May 30, 1965. The claimant, Mrs. Anne Vanderbush, 1586 Amherst St., suffered a broken right wrist which doctors testified was permanently damaged, and injuries to her right ankle and shoulder. She and her husband, Edward, brought the suit in the Court of Claims, Buffalo. The architect, Trevor Rogers, testified that the absence of a handrail in the stairwell constituted an unsafe condition. Attorney Benjamin Galperin representing the couple, brought out that the hospital has since installed a handrail. Visiting Relatives Mrs. Vanderbush was visiting a relative in the hospital when the accident occured. Veneard Neri, assistant state attorney, brought out from witness that the stairway was lighted a...

As published in the Buffalo Evening News: INVESTIGATION ENDED State Hospital Patient Not Ill-Treated, Newcomb Finds There is no foundation in fact for charges that Mrs. Catherine A Hayes, a patient in the Buffalo State Hospital, was beaten by attendants and otherwise ill-treated, according to an opinion announced Wednesday by District Attorney Walter C Newcomb. The complaints were made by Henry C Hayes, 1349 Main Street, the woman's husband, and Mrs. Harriet Rossenbach, 1700 Hertel Avenue, an aunt. Mr. Newcomb interviewed Dr. John A Pritchard, superintendent of the hospital. Wednesday morning. The district attorney said he based his conclusion upon this conversation and a six-page typewritten report by Dr. I. Murray Rossman, physician in charge of the women's continued treatment service at the institution. "It appears from my investigation that the patient is subject to maniacal attacks during which she became extremely violent," Newcomb said. "The i...

As Published in the Buffalo Courier: JOHN P. QUINN THE EX-GAMBLER GOES INSANE Prisoner At The Penitentiary For Civil Offense, His Mind Clouds-Known the Country Over. John P Quinn, ex-gambler, and known throughout the length and breadth of the land as a showman and exposer of gambling methods, has been adjudge insane. He was found to be mentally unbalanced by Police Surgeon Fowler of the Erie County Penitentiary yesterday, and in the course of a few days will be sent to the Buffalo State Hospital. Quinn was sent to the Penitentiary on October 1st on an order of arrest in a civil action. Soon after his arrival he began to show symptoms of mental decline, and several days ago it was decided to subject him to an examination by Dr. Fowler. During the Pam-American Exposition Quinn conducted a show in Main Street above Chippewa, where the methods used by gamblers to trick the unwary were exposed.

As published in the Buffalo Courier: SERVICES, INTERMENT AND COFFIN, ALL FOR HALF A CENT A BODY Remarkably Low Price at Which Undertaker Eckhert Is Under Contract With the City to Bury the Pauper Dead-Investigation An Investigation if the morgue may be soon under way. The alleged traffic in dead bodies, which has been hinted at and implied in a dozen different ways ever since the arrest of Coroner Boller, will, it is said, call for a continued and through investigation. The fact that County Undertaker Eckhert has a contract to care for all the bodies at a rate of one-half cent per body, furnishing coffins and burying them also for t his insignificant sum, is believed to call for some more plausible reason than the statement that he does it because he descures a portion of the orders fro funerals of those bodies that are claimed. There is a decided movement among the members of the Board of Supervisors to prevent any traffic in cadavers. It is hoped ti abolish the abuses of the...

As published in the Wheeling Daily Intelligenrer , West Virginia: A TERRIBLE STORY Told by a Former Patient of the Buffalo State Asylum  Buffalo, Oct 21 - George C Allen, a former patient in the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, has made a statement that during his six months' confinement there he was twice beaten and abused, once so severely that he prayed for death. Further than this, he made the following startling assertions regarding the treatment which three other patients received: "A gentleman named Shepard was a patient there in 1883, and was on the road to recovery when he received his death blow. He was a hearty eater, and craved more food than the asylum people would give. So he frequently asked other patients who were sick and didn't want all their food for what was left. An attendant caught him at this one day, and I heard a loud scrimmage. Rushing up, I saw the keeper grasp Shepard by the beard and jam him up against the door post, at the same time swe...

As published in the York Daily (York, PA): A BRADFORD SCANDAL. Liberation of a Sane Woman Who Had Been Confined in a Mad House. By Telegraph to the Daily. BUFFALO, NY - December 11. - Mrs. Collins, wife of a prominent Bradford man, who has been for some months confined in the Buffalo State Insane Asylum, has been released on a writ of habeas corpus, and it was stated by her counsel and friends that she has never been insane. There is a scandal in connection with the case. A short time before her arrest she was told her husband was unfaithful, and she openly accused two Bradford ladies of undue familiarity with him. She then came to Buffalo with a view to obtaining a divorce, and was soon afterward committed to the asylum. (Thank god times have changed. How fucked up is that?) Is is alleged that there was crookedness in the manner of her commitment. (It certainly looks that way)

He's alive!!! This was taken in the Alleghany State Park here in NY State. I'm soooooo amazed at the quality of this picture. ;-) I just..can't! And look at this ghost here.... wait..its not in this one. I found a pic where there was a "ghostly" looking figure in the top door. I'll have to go searching for that one. I know I have it on Facebook somewhere. 

As published in the Olean Democrat: Mrs. Helen Whittaker, an inmate of the Buffalo State asylum from Hornellsville, committed suicide in the institution on Saturday afternoon by throwing herself from the chapel window in the fourth story.

As published in the Courier Express: Affidavit Says Giambra Once Mental Patient An affidavit was filed in Federal Court yesterday in support of a motion for psychiatric examination of Carmelo J Giambra of 240 Rosemont Ave, Town of Tonawanda. Giambra is under indictment with four others for major bank robberies here last year. Giambra was admitted to Buffalo State Hospital in 1949 and he received a disability discharge from the Navy in 1944, the affidavit states.  The motion, to be heard at 10 Monday morning before Federal Judge Justin C Morgan, was filed by Giambra's attorney, Thomas Lippes. Lippes said he was able to "realize the nature and quality of his acts" and whether he now is able "to understand the proceedings against him or properly assist in his out defense." Giambra was indicted Feb 4 by the federal grand jury on charges stemming from the $23,775 holdup last Oct 2 of the Liberty Bank Linwood Brand, Linwood and North. He also is accu...

As published in the Courier Express" For Mental Illness Buthy Hospitalized 3 Times On three occasions within the last 18 months, Dennis Buthy, accused of being the elevator attacker of a young coed, walked out of the psychiatric ward at Buffalo State Hospital with "complete discharges." Prior to two of the hospital confinements, he was booked for assault involving incidents with two other girls. And three or four times since his last release, on June 20, Buthy attempted to be readmitted voluntarily, but was refused. Hospital officials explained that Buthy "did not avail himself of treatments" during his previous detainments. Nine times since December 1964, the 23-year-old Buthy, son of a minster appeared in court on charges ranging from assault to drunkenness.  Fifty-one days ago, Buthy received his third unconditional release from Buffalo State after a five-day stay. His confinement now is in County Jail, where he awaits a Sept 6 hearing on his ...