The Tragedy of the State Asylum
A grim tally of patient deaths at the Washington State asylum sparks questions about the treatment of vulnerable populations committed from King County.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The deaths of seven persons in the state asylum, committed from King County, were reported to the county clerk yesterday. They were: Joseph Hill, age 29, committed May 18, 1899; Annie Giddings, died June 2, committed July 1, 1898; Oliver P. Hill, died July 21, committed September 18, 1898; H. Brinkowsky, died July 21, committed January 8, 1897; Frank Anderson, died July 29, committed April 25, 1896; Sarah L. Northrop, died July 6, committed November 2, 1897; and Anna E. McKenna, died July 16, committed June 1, 1898.
“The deaths of seven persons in the state asylum, committed from King County, were reported to the county clerk yesterday.”
This sobering list highlights the historical lack of transparency surrounding the care of the mentally ill in Washington. While state mental health facilities have evolved significantly from the late 19th-century 'asylum' model, contemporary news outlets still grapple with the persistent challenges of capacity, funding, and the ethical treatment of patients within state-run institutions.
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