A Little History In and Around Buffalo, NY

As published in the New York Times:  Strangled by a Strait-Jacket BUFFALO, Sept 2. - John Kalf, Forty-five years old, a patient at the Buffalo State Hospital, died today of strangulation. Kalf became violent, and was placed in a strait-jacket. His struggles in the jacket worked one of the straps tightly about his neck. With his hands strapped to his sides, he was unable to help himself, and strangled. You could drive a truck threw the holes in this story. And, of course, did they look into this? I highly doubt it. What a crying shame. The poor guy died that way. Any bet that someone actually strangled the guy? 

As published in the New York Times FIELD IN BUFFALO ASYLUM DR. ANDREWS EXPECTS TO SPEND SEVERAL MONTHS ON HIS CASE BUFFALO, NY, March 26 - Edward M Field is now an inmate of the Buffalo State Hospital. (Edward's company went bankrupt, and he was accused of making it so. He was known to have mental health issues while growing up.)  He arrived today in charge of Deputy Sheriffs Burke and Saxton, Dr. Henry M Field, and Cyrus W Field, Jr. (Cyrus is Edward's brother). He took breakfast and diner in one of the wards for the insane. He was received as a regular patient, and was soon left by the officers of the law and his relatives in custody of Dr. Andrews. "He is behaving all right," said one of the hospital physicians to THE TIME'S correspondent, but I won't say a word about his mental condition. I don't care to discuss the question as to whether he appears sane or insane. No reporters will be allowed to see the patient. There will be no special inqui...

***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 Attorne...

Published in the New York Times ATTENDANT CLIFFORD SUSPENDED  Another Story if Alleged Cruelty at the Buffalo State Hospital. BUFFALO, N.Y., May 26.- John F. Clifford, an attendant at the Buffalo State Hospital, has been suspended by the Board of Managers pending the action of Acting District Attorney Kendrick in the Felton case. Clifford is the man whom Attendant Mahoney swore to have seen in Killen's company just before Felton was assaulted. Mahoney swore before the State Lunacy Commission that Killen went into the next ward and got Clifford that they came back together, and shortly after he heard Felton crying: "Boys, what have I done?" Mrs. Jacob Loeb has a sad story to tell regarding the treatment of her son Fred at the hospital. He was confined in July. When taken to the hospital he was a tall, powerfully-built young man, whose mind has been unhinged by misfortune. A few days after his incarceration he was confined to his bed, where he remained in a deplora...

As printed in the New York Times:  SAYS OTHERS WERE WORSE THAN HE. Attendant Killeen Wants to Tell of Brutality in Buffalo State Hospital.  BUFFALO, N.Y., March 17. - Attendant Michael Kileen declared today that he can, if the State Commission in Lunacy orders him to do so, reveal a terrible state of affairs in the Buffalo State Hospital. Irritated beyond endurance by the fact that his colleagues in the asylum are seeking to put on him all the blame for Patient Felton's death, he suddenly arose during the investigation and exclaimed: "I wish the Commissioners would widen the scope of this investigation. I could then show that Flanagan, Maloney, and the other attendants who have attacked me did things a great deal worse than I did." "What do you mean?" demanded Judge McMahon. "If this was a general investigation I might say a great deal more," replied Killeen. "Do you mean to say that you know of cases where patients have been maltreat...

Published in the New York Times Will Be Punished For Perjury.  Witnesses in Buffalo Hospital Investigation Scored by Corner Tucker.  BUFFALO, N.Y., March 3. - Coroner Tucker, who conducted the inquest into the death of the patient Felton at the Buffalo State Hospital, will try to have the doctors and attendants of that institution indicted for perjury. (Woo hoo) The evidence brought out of the investigation by the State Lunacy Commission is so widely different from that given at the inquest, the result of which was so unsatisfactory, that he considers himself justified in taking such a step. (I like this guy) The Coroner said today: "When the State Board of Lunacy concludes its labor, I shall take my innings and lay testimony before the Grand Jury. I will not allow any person, even though he be the Superintendent of an institution like the Buffalo State Hospital, to lie to me in the manner which the officials of the Buffalo State Hospital did." (Drama!! Thank god someo...

Published in the New York Times Clifford Too Excited to Testify Buffalo, NY, March 2 -  The State Commission in Lunacy continued its investigation into the death of George Felton at the State Hospital today. (YAY!)  Attendant Clifford, who is charged with complicity in causing his death, was examined privately. He was greatly excited, (maybe due to he was guilty?) and Deputy Attorney General McMahon said he would not be put on the stand while in his present state of mind. (I'm shaking my head here.)  Attendant Richard Leahy testified that on the day Felton died he said that Attendant Killeen and another man had inflicted his injuries. The day after Felton died Killeen and Clifford were seen in close conversation. (That could mean anything, really)  That same day witness heard Killeen tell Mahoney, another attendant, that Felton wouldn't bother him again. (Now, that is interesting. Wonder why he said that. What did Felton do to Mahoney? Did he have issues with a pa...