Home > Back to Search Results >
Chester, Illinois...
Chester, Illinois...
Item # 570448
July 23, 1923
THE DAY, New London, Connecticut, July 23, 1923
* Chester, Illinois
* Chester Mental Health Center... Insane Asylum escape
The 12 page newspaper has a three column headline on the front page: "One Killed by Guards When 41 Insane Felons Escape From An Asylum at Chester, Ill." with subheads that include: "Two Convicts Start Fake Fist Fight; Guards Attacked When They Try To Separate Combatants" and more (see photos).
Other news of the day. Light browning with little spine wear, otherwise good.
wikipedia notes: The Board of Charities recommended a separate institution for the criminally insane as early as 1878. In 1879, the legislature authorized such a facility, but the appropriation was not used for this. In 1883, the governor again tried to fund a new institution, but there was disagreement over the site with both Springfield and Joliet as possibilities. In 1899, the legislature established the Asylum for Insane Criminals, and it received its first patients within two years. W.T. Patterson transferred from the staff of Elgin State Hospital to become its first Superintendent. Control of the institution was placed with the Commissioners of the Southern Penitentiary at Menard. The original building on the penitentiary grounds was poorly constructed and was eventually torn down. A replacement was built on a separate campus near Chester, Illinois.
Category: The 20th Century
Add to Cart
