August 9, 1967 - Wouldn't keep Buthy
As published in the Courier Express:
Admitted Several Times
Father says Hospital Wouldn't Keep Buthy
By DOMINICK MERLE
The Rev. Denes Buthy told of weekend binges, emotional outbursts, a broken home and a near-fatal overdone of pills in tracing the past troubled years in the life of his son, Dennis, 23.
But the Hungarian-born cleric, speaking haltingly in broken English, always returned to a single, belated plea:
"If only he would have been kept (at the hospital), then this girl, who I pray will recover."
On three or four occasions since Feb. 12, Dennis, now being held for first-degree assault in the brutal attack of a college coed aboard a downtown elevator, attempted unsuccessfully to be admitted to Buffalo State Hospital for psychiatric treatment.
"My son wanted help," the cleric said, "They (hospital officials) admitted that he was a psycopath, and admitted that he was dangerous, but refused to take him. This is what hurts me."
Dr. Joseph J. Sconzo, hospital director, acknowledged that Buthy had been denied admittance on several instances from February to June.
Not Insane at Time
"Mr. Buthy did not avail himself of treatment during his previous confinements," Dr. Sconzo said, adding that the defendant was "not insane at any time he was in our hospital."
Speaking in general terms, and stressing that he was not singling out Buthy's medical history, Dr. Sconzo said:
"There are some people who, although not insane or emotionally ill, try to use the hospital as a refuge to avoid court proceedings. The best places for these kind of people, who connive and manipulate and create problems, are not mental hospitals. The jails are full of them."
Rev. Buthy contends, however, that from February to June of this year, his son "had no need to hide from (police) charges" since there were none pending against him during that period.
Referring again to unnamed hospital officials, the father charged: "They said he was a dangerous psycopath, but couldn't treat him. They said, 'Let him go out. . . if he kills somebody, then let him be held responsible.'
"My son asked for help, but they said, 'He belongs to the jails - not to treatment.'"
The Rev. and Mrs. Buthy and their four children immigrated to this country 10 years ago.
"Dennis was an average student and had no emotional problems at this time," sand the minister.
Buthys Divorced
In 1963, the Buthys were divorced, "She wanted to marry another man," he explained, "She remarried the next day (after the Nevada divorce proceeding) and it now living in Buffalo."
When, then, did the minister first detect signs of emotional disorder in his son, who told police upon arrest Monday that he possessed an "irrespresible urge to hurt woman?"
It was in 1964, he replied, less that a year after the divorce. Was it triggered by the broken home?
"I don't feel I am entitled to pass judgement on that," the minister said.
In 1964, Dennis was a chemistry major in Hartwick College, Oneonta. "He was there three semesters." Rev. Buthy said. "Then he began to drink . . . had emotional disturbances . . . was suspended."
That October, Dennis began work as a laboratory assistant for an area chemical firm. "He worked there for 13 months. He had some emotional disturbances during the second half of his employment."
The minster said his son began drinking heavily again and would often be absent from work on Monday, following a weekend binge.
"He was warned that he would be discharged if he missed any more work," the cleric continued.
"They finally influenced him to quit. As a result, he received no employment benefits, no sick benefits . . . I wish they would have fired him."
9 Brushes With Law
From November, 1964, to June of this year, Buthy had nine brushes with the law and was confined on three separate occasions at Buffalo State Hospital, each time receiving a "complete" discharge. The police charges ranged from drunkenness to a third-degree assault.
"The boy was not living with me during this time," the minister said, "He was in different rooming houses. On June 10 or 11, after drinking all night, he took more pills (sedatives) the he was supposed to.
"He became unconscious and was taken by ambulance to Meyer Memorial Hospital. Two physicians certified that he needed psychiatric care. They said he had no business on the street."
The minister stressed that the physicians' certificate was signed after his son had been turned away at Buffalo State on the three or four occasions.
Buthy was admitted to Buffalo State on June 15 and given his third "complete" discharge five days later. "The physicians kept (at Buffalo State) for two months," the minister said, "My son wasn't even kept a week."
Rev. Buthy said that contrary to previous reports listing his son's occupation as a dishwasher in a downtown restaurant, he was unemployed at the time of the arrest. He was employed at a restaurant for only one week." he said.
"He would always tell me, 'I need help, I feel sick," the father said, "I feel ashamed."
The victim of the attack in and elevator, Miss Patricia Cameron, 19, of 76 Cleveland Dr, Town of Tonawanda, was still listed in serious condition Tuesday night in Emergency Hospital.
***side not, there's another article in this same paper about Mr. Buthy. I'll post it later. For all who are interested.
Admitted Several Times
Father says Hospital Wouldn't Keep Buthy
By DOMINICK MERLE
The Rev. Denes Buthy told of weekend binges, emotional outbursts, a broken home and a near-fatal overdone of pills in tracing the past troubled years in the life of his son, Dennis, 23.
But the Hungarian-born cleric, speaking haltingly in broken English, always returned to a single, belated plea:
"If only he would have been kept (at the hospital), then this girl, who I pray will recover."
On three or four occasions since Feb. 12, Dennis, now being held for first-degree assault in the brutal attack of a college coed aboard a downtown elevator, attempted unsuccessfully to be admitted to Buffalo State Hospital for psychiatric treatment.
"My son wanted help," the cleric said, "They (hospital officials) admitted that he was a psycopath, and admitted that he was dangerous, but refused to take him. This is what hurts me."
Dr. Joseph J. Sconzo, hospital director, acknowledged that Buthy had been denied admittance on several instances from February to June.
Not Insane at Time
"Mr. Buthy did not avail himself of treatment during his previous confinements," Dr. Sconzo said, adding that the defendant was "not insane at any time he was in our hospital."
Speaking in general terms, and stressing that he was not singling out Buthy's medical history, Dr. Sconzo said:
"There are some people who, although not insane or emotionally ill, try to use the hospital as a refuge to avoid court proceedings. The best places for these kind of people, who connive and manipulate and create problems, are not mental hospitals. The jails are full of them."
Rev. Buthy contends, however, that from February to June of this year, his son "had no need to hide from (police) charges" since there were none pending against him during that period.
Referring again to unnamed hospital officials, the father charged: "They said he was a dangerous psycopath, but couldn't treat him. They said, 'Let him go out. . . if he kills somebody, then let him be held responsible.'
"My son asked for help, but they said, 'He belongs to the jails - not to treatment.'"
The Rev. and Mrs. Buthy and their four children immigrated to this country 10 years ago.
"Dennis was an average student and had no emotional problems at this time," sand the minister.
Buthys Divorced
In 1963, the Buthys were divorced, "She wanted to marry another man," he explained, "She remarried the next day (after the Nevada divorce proceeding) and it now living in Buffalo."
When, then, did the minister first detect signs of emotional disorder in his son, who told police upon arrest Monday that he possessed an "irrespresible urge to hurt woman?"
It was in 1964, he replied, less that a year after the divorce. Was it triggered by the broken home?
"I don't feel I am entitled to pass judgement on that," the minister said.
In 1964, Dennis was a chemistry major in Hartwick College, Oneonta. "He was there three semesters." Rev. Buthy said. "Then he began to drink . . . had emotional disturbances . . . was suspended."
That October, Dennis began work as a laboratory assistant for an area chemical firm. "He worked there for 13 months. He had some emotional disturbances during the second half of his employment."
The minster said his son began drinking heavily again and would often be absent from work on Monday, following a weekend binge.
"He was warned that he would be discharged if he missed any more work," the cleric continued.
"They finally influenced him to quit. As a result, he received no employment benefits, no sick benefits . . . I wish they would have fired him."
9 Brushes With Law
From November, 1964, to June of this year, Buthy had nine brushes with the law and was confined on three separate occasions at Buffalo State Hospital, each time receiving a "complete" discharge. The police charges ranged from drunkenness to a third-degree assault.
"The boy was not living with me during this time," the minister said, "He was in different rooming houses. On June 10 or 11, after drinking all night, he took more pills (sedatives) the he was supposed to.
"He became unconscious and was taken by ambulance to Meyer Memorial Hospital. Two physicians certified that he needed psychiatric care. They said he had no business on the street."
The minister stressed that the physicians' certificate was signed after his son had been turned away at Buffalo State on the three or four occasions.
Buthy was admitted to Buffalo State on June 15 and given his third "complete" discharge five days later. "The physicians kept (at Buffalo State) for two months," the minister said, "My son wasn't even kept a week."
Rev. Buthy said that contrary to previous reports listing his son's occupation as a dishwasher in a downtown restaurant, he was unemployed at the time of the arrest. He was employed at a restaurant for only one week." he said.
"He would always tell me, 'I need help, I feel sick," the father said, "I feel ashamed."
The victim of the attack in and elevator, Miss Patricia Cameron, 19, of 76 Cleveland Dr, Town of Tonawanda, was still listed in serious condition Tuesday night in Emergency Hospital.
***side not, there's another article in this same paper about Mr. Buthy. I'll post it later. For all who are interested.
Comments
Post a Comment