Excerpt From the 6th Annual Report for the State Commission in Lunacy

***side note before I type up this article. All of these articles can be found online. All the New York Times articles can be found in the New York Archives website. The annual report can be found in Google Books. I figure I would do this, 1...its easier for me to read, and 2....why keep this stuff all to myself *****

6th Annual Report of the State Commission in Lunacy. Dated 5/14/1895

Chapter 11

Buffalo State Hospital

In the early part of the year, a patient named George E Felton met his death by violence in the Buffalo State Hospital. The circumstances surrounding the death of this patient were such as to lead his relatives and friends to believe that an unjustifiable homicide had been committed, and they therefore demanded that a through inquiry into the facts attending Felton's death to be had.

The hospital managers, by resolution, requested the commission to make an investigation of the charges, which it proceeded to do, and under the direction of the Attorney General, a deputy was assigned to act as counsel in the work. During a period covering several weeks the commission held a number of sessions at the hospital and made a careful and detailed examination into all the facts and circumstances of the case. From the contradictory nature of the testimony elicited, however, the commission was unable to arrive at a satisfactory or positive conclusion. It was a case in which there seemed to be no middle ground. The attendants who, by the testimony, were involved in the affair, were either guilty of manslaughter and amenable to the penal statues, or else they were blameless.

In the opinion of the commission, the evidence did not establish that an intentional homicide was committed, or that more force was used in controlling the patient that might, under ll the circumstances, have been necessary, especially in view of the face that the deceased was shown to have been a violent, belligerent and dangerous patient. (So, its the patients fault he was beaten to death by an attendant. Great job, guys!!)

After carefully considering the evidence, the commission determined to submit the testimony to the district attorney of Erie County, with a recommendation that it be laid before the grand jury, to the end that that body might take such action as it should deem necessary. This course was pursued with the result shown by the following communication from the district attorney: 

Office of the District Attorney, Buffalo, NY, July 30, 1894. 

T.E. McGarr. Esq., Secretary State Commission in Lunacy, Albany, NY:

Dear sir. - Pursuant to the request of the State Commission in Lunacy, I caused an investigation of the circumstances relating to the death of George E Felton at the Buffalo State Hospital, to be made by the grand jury of the Court of Sessions. Last week the jury reported "No Bill" and handed in a special report, of which I inclose (that's how it's spelled) you a copy. 

                                           Very Respectfully yours, 

                                            DANIEL J KENEFICK

                                                       Acting District Attorney

*****So, basically, the "No Bill" means their were no criminal charges brought up against the hospital. I guess money talks, huh?*********