“Witness present—J. C. Freno.”
Reporter—How long did he remain under treatment there?
Mr. H.—About one month.
Reporter—Why so short a length of time?
Mr H.—During the time he was there he became so emaciated, either from improper care in feeding him or from a bad attack of dysentery, that he had scarcely any life in him, and his mother insisted on bringing him home to nurse him. To save his life and to satisfy mother, I procured a carriage and brought him home, where by careful treatment he was restored to his usual good health.
Reporter—Why did you permit your brother to remain so dirty?
Mr. H.—It was an impossibility on our part to prevent it.
Reporter—Is it true you kept him confined in the small room overhead as it is stated in the papers.
Mr. H.—It is not true; my brother had the range of the house and yard at all times, but no more; I could not let him go in the street, for he had no appreciation whatever of danger, and he was therefore liable at any moment to be run over.
At this point the mother put in an appearance. Introducing ourselves to her, she remarked. “I hope you will give a truthful statement of what we tell you.” Informing her our motto was “Truth without Fear,” she appeared much better satisfied. We asked her if her son had been much care upon her. She informed us he was a constant care; that from the time he was about twenty-five years of age there had never a mouthful of food passed his lips except what was fed to him as we would feed a helpless infant.