OLD 
MATTER IN A NEW PHASE; 
OR A 
BIRD’S-EYE PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES. AN ADDRESS, 
ENTITLED, FOR CONVENIENCE, 
An Old Matter lai a New Phase; 
OR, 
A BIRD’S-EYE PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES, 
WHERE (THE RULE AND NOT THE EXCEPTION) IS: “NO PUN- 
ISHMENT BUT FOR ALREADY PUNISHED INNOCENCE, 
AND NO SAFETY BUT FOR TRIUMPHANT CRIME.” 
—Pilate asked “ What is Truth ?” (See John 18th chap, and 38th verse.) 
Jesus said “Ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make yon free.” * * * “—Becausi 
I tell you you the Truth ye believe me not.” (See John Sthehap, and 32nd and 4oth verses. 
,T. M. YASON, M. ID. 
the Author. 
1871. TO TITS 
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE, ESPECIALLY; 
AND GENERALLY, “TO ALL GOOD ONES BELOW,” OF GEORGIA AND ALABAMA; 
AND ALL MANKIND, 
THROUGHOUT THE CHRISTIAN AND ENLIGHTENED WORLD,, 
THIS COMPLAINT IS ADDRESSED; 
AND DEDICATED WITH TOKENS OF UTMOST REGARD AND ESTEEM, THANKS AND 
OBLIGATIONS, TO THAT MOST INDOMITABLE AND IRREPRESSIBLE EN- 
QUIRER AND INVESTIGATOR AFTER TRUTH, OX SAME LINE, 
CHARLES READE, 
AUTHOR. OF “ HARD CASH,” ETC., LONDON, BY 
THE WRITER PREFACE, 
This address, which I have before this called “Communication/ 
and “Document No. 2,” including “ Document No. 1,” referred 
to in text, is what it professes to be, a faithful and true Exposi- 
tion of the Alf; irs of the Georgia Lunatic Asylum; or, its Man- 
agement, Conduct and Treatment of Inmates, Patients, &c., under 
Medical Superintendence of Dr. Thos. F. Green. By one of its 
inmates, who ‘saw and heard, and hnei9 and felt7 all things 
related. 
(Horatian Latin countepart.)—Rue that justice which inter- 
venes the will of heaven. 
Iluat jmtitia, fiat Coelum 
Note Explanatory of “Documents No. 1,” given here instead 
of in note to body of text, referring to, etc., as first arranged, which 
may be considered partly prefatory, or introductory, to this Ad- 
dress. 
These manuscript papers, “Document No. 1,” are a truthful and 
faithful narration of matters of fact, (much too voluminous and 
expensive, for the writer’s means, for publication, at his own pri- 
vate individual expense, for gratuitous distribution, unless printer’s 
fee could be satisfactorily arranged, at risk of publisher, &c.,) re- 
specting the management, conduct and treatment of inmates, &c.y 
of the Georgia Lunatic Asylum, under medical superintendence of 
Dr. Thos. F. Green; as these indellihly impressed themselves upon 
the sound and sane mind and memory of Dr. Yason, the author, 
while he was an inmate, in close confinement, in said prison, from 
29th March, noon, 1867, until a few days before 19th July, 3 p.m., 
1870, when he left the Asylum,—having been most honorably 
adjudged to have been leng before that time entitled to a Certifi- 
cate of Discharge by the Ist and 2nd assistant physicians in charge, 
who upon conference with the local Board of Trustees, assenting 
and confirming the same, by their recommendation, &c., during a 
protracted absence, North, of Dr. Green, Medical Superintendent; 
who, upon his (Dr. Green’s) return, first, stopping at Atlanta, Ga., 
ignored the action of said Assistant Physicians and Board of 
Trustees in the premises; and but for his (Dr. Green’s) providen- 
tial absence, Dr. Yason, inmate, as above, would not have been 
discharged, but wrould have been kept in close confinement in said K 
prison to rot, and starve, and die, during the incumbency, or life-, 
of snid Medical Superintendent, or the lifetime of the writer, as 
all the circumstances of this whole,most infamous, and odious Trans- 
notion shall verify, should a thorough and searching investigate n 
ever be made by the Georgia Legislature, through a special com- 
mission., clothed with plenary powers to send for and compel the 
attendance of persons and papers, and to administer oaths, kc. 
Dr. Yason, the writer, suffered imprisonment, in-close confine- 
ment in said so called Asylum, three years and three and two- 
thirds months,—having been Kidnapped, first, in Tuskegee, Ala., 
(where he had formerly, before that time resided, for nearly a 
quarter of a century,) while sojourning there, on a visit from Geor- 
gia, to close up his business matters, preparatory to his permanent 
abode and location in Atlanta, Ga., and confined in the common pri- 
son of Ma-con county, Ala., for about forty days, (making, in all, 
three (3) years and five (5) months of imprisonment.) The time and 
date of imprisonment in Alabama being from 20 di February to 
27th March, 1867, under edict of Judge of Probate Court of said 
Macon county, Ala., at special term, held from 13th to 26ih Feb- 
ruary, 1867, noon at night; eight days being consumed in that 
celebrated and ever-raemorable Trial of Dr. Yason, changed with 
insanity, &c. Said trial and proceedings were precipitated and 
instituted by a band of base and infamous scum of the earth, of 
Satan s cohorts ; a ku-klux klan raid upon the old anatomy of 
Dr. Vasen, his goods and his spirit, animus, or mental faculty, 
&c.; and conceived under circumstances of the most diabolical 
cruelty, by an Anti-type of the great Arch fiend himself, in propria 
personce ; the father of all lies, iniquity, &c. Afterward, Dr. Y. 
was kidnapped as above, in the Georgia Lunatic Asylum, having 
been conveyed, in chains, in charge of common malefactors, to im- 
press quasi appearance of conviction of insanity upon all beholders, 
from said prison in Alabama to said prison near Milledgeville, Ga. 
This manuscript narration, as above referred to, being Dr. V’s 
“Scenes and Experiences -in a Mad-house,” of more than three- 
years of the very best days of his whole life, he wrote out, more 
than a year ago, in great haste, and at much labor and expense, 
(Dr. Y. being then an elamousanary stranger, homeless, friendless 
and penniless, just out of prison walls ;) and he has been, at all 
times since, willing, ready, anxious, and most fully prepared to 
submit it to the Georgia Legislature ; which contains full refer- 
ences to time, place, event and circumstance, to Persons and Papers, 
for .proof positive, demonstration and illustration,—all in confirm- 
ation “strong as proofs of Holy Writ,” &c. P>ut all this trial, ir 
and Kidnapping, and long Imprisonment, was at the sacrifice 
and expense—the wanton, wicked and malicious waste and de- 
vastation of Dr. V’s little moiety of estate left by the results of 
the late civil war, by Dr. 1 ’s so called friends, and their greedy, 
rapacious, cormorant allies in Alabama, and their wicked, corrupt, 
dishonest and incompetent colleagues in Georgia, in and outside of 
said Lunatic Asylum. By all of which, to conclude this explana- 
tory note of reference, Dr. Y. and family are completely impover- 
ished, and doubly and thribly condemned by overt and criminal 
acts of men, to pay the sanction of the primeval curse “by the 
sweat of brow,” etc. J. M. Yason, 
Atlanta, Ga., Dec., 1871. INTRODUCTION. 
Your complainant believes that, in this Republican Government, 
and enlightened age of progress and reform, the humblest citizen 
in the land is not obnoxious to the charge of licentiousness, if he 
shall feel it becomes his patriotic duty to criticise and ventilate 
the official acts and conduct of the highest or lowest executive, or 
ministerial officer of the State, or its municipal government; for the 
distinct purpose either of bestowing deserved praise and meritori- 
ous plaudits, or of administering just censure and reproof. 
The only apology I offer why I thus appear in public print, 
is, the very great Public Importance of the subject matter treat- 
ed ; and the patent fact that no other appropriate opportunity 
has been afforded, by which I might have been heard by the Geor- 
gia Legislature; to whom the subject, first, more legitimately pre- 
sents itself, through the intervention of certain very honorable- 
gentlemen—members of that body—to whom, before this, I have 
addressed several communications upon this subject; which indi- 
cates that I have not been wanting in all proper diligence to pre- 
sent this very important matter to the notice and attentive consid- 
eration of the Legislature, by making the usual approach to reach 
that body, through my representatives. 
I add, that it commends itself, that I am solicitous that every 
one who feels interested, “to put him or herself in my place,” in 
spirit and truth, may do so speedily, for their owm good. 
I disclaim all intention to be considered either an Interloper or 
a public Prosecutor, or wanting of the utmost respect and courtesy 
towards the certain very honorable gentlemen alluded to. No 
personal imputation or reflection is intended, save to public Ad- 
ministrator. My only desire and object is to do good. Reti- 
cence longer being inexcusable, I distinctly propose, upon the 
principle that fools dare step in boldly where angels fear to tread, 
to publish upon the house-top, and not whisper in the ear, God’s 
truth; and enlighten the public mind upon a subject of which it is 
totally ignorant. 
AN OLD MATTER IN A NEW PHASE, OR A BIRD’S-EYE PEEP BEHIND 
Without further preliminary or explanation, I proceed to di- 
vulge and declare the Formulce which obtain at the Georgia Lunatic 
THE SCENES, ETC. ;io; 
Asylum. The lux-loci, or law of the place—a sort of locam teneus, 
that exists like a thing in nature, (but very unlike “ a thing of 
beauty, a joy forever ;”) as day and night, summer and winter, 
seed-time and harvest; which swerves not, is unchanged as the 
doom of fate—tyranny, the most despotic; laws of the Modes and 
Persians ;—stand aside ! It is simply Deity personified,—secun- 
dem artem,—The gods below ruling with a rod of iron, like the 
God above, in mercy. 
Ist. If there be a God, He may know of so great a convul- 
sion in nature as an earthquake, &c. All else is sorely the result 
of chance and accident. Pother—God’s Providence ! 
* FORMULAE. 
2nd. Secresy and Deceit, the hand-maids of Hypocrisy, are 
justifiable here, within these prison walls, which, otherwise, would 
have “ ears to hear.” Wherefore, it is ruled most highly de- 
tiimental to patients to receive visits and letters from relatives 
and friends ; and no correspondence or communication can be 
allowed, only in particular cases. 
3rd. The only infallible sign of improvement of patients, is 
their acknowledging their insanity, and vice versa. 
4th. The only standard of accrediting patients, is, that they 
must, at all times soever, praise and compliment Dr. Green, Medi- 
cal Superintendent, and the Institution, as immaculate. Then 
their letters may be safely written, and after inspection, be sent 
abroad to relatives and friends. Such patients may be allowed 
to walk or ride outside of prison walls, beside the privileges of 
the grounds. But the contrary disposition of mind is ruled pun- 
ishable by strict confinement under bolts and bars, and cut oft' 
from all mankind. 
sth. It is ruled most detrimental to patients “to have and to 
hold” a very small pocket knife, a purse or a Bible,—particularly if 
they be capable of reading and appreciating the latter, or to use 
the former properly; and most especially if they are possessed of 
independent, stubborn and investigating minds, (which God gave 
them,—the result of their physical organization,—) and fully 
competent of self-control, and of thinking and acting right, for 
themselves. Wherefore, it is ruled that Bibles must be totally 
eschewed, and very small knives and purses allowed only to the 
simple and demented. 
H6th. Before patients can be possibly entitled to a Certificate 
* Bee note A, page 13. [ii; 
■of Discharge, they must necessarily, at all times soever, have con- 
formed, in their deportment, to the foregoing formulae ; and be- 
sides obtaining the permission of their (so called) friends, who 
committed them to prison, and became their legal guardians, they 
must believe and vote that Dr. Green, Medical Superintendent, 
“is God and no other,” and most solemnly bound and committed 
to secresy. 
jfgsp-Tth. Carollaries from above. (1.) The demented arc more 
frcqently dismissed on probation, or discharged, than those most 
especially, who, having been connivingly kidnapped sound and 
sane by their “good friends,” starve and rot and die in prison, 
unwept, unhonored and unknown, save to the All-seeing Eve 
above. (2.) All outsiders—most especially visitors—real friends 
and true relatives of patients, (not even the very nearest local 
residents) hear and see and know and feel only what is unreal 
and factitious—secresy being the wand and watch-word. None 
but the fully initiated can hear and see and know and feel the truth. 
Reason for the Faith Within, &c. 
The reason ‘which I rise to explain,’ “why I am full of mat- 
ter, and constrained by the Spirit, also, to show my opinion,” 
and am not unwilling to lend my humble efforts to assist in a pro- 
posed investigation, by the Georgia Legislature, of the affairs of 
the Georgia Lunatic Asylum ; and why, also, I myself, in propria 
persona, detest, as a sacred Christian duty, with an honest, just 
and most virtuous indignation, his administration, is this—to-wit, 
that Dr. Green, Med. Sup’t., by the constant cultivation and con- 
tinued exercise, for a long series of years, say the last twenty- 
five years experience in his specialty, of his own arts cf cunning, 
duplicity and chicanery; fortified by the natural or acquired 
shrewdness and diplomacy of Belial himself, who can make the 
worse appear the better cause, and armed with a sort of Mephis- 
tophelean and Machiavellian intrigue—the office-seeker's and 
holder’s kaleidoscope—has managed, by such a persistent course 
of time-serving* and pandering; to acquire an influence all-preva- 
*By dancing attendance upon the annual sessions of your Legislatures, at- 
tempting to manipulate men and measures, honorable members and more hon- 
orable committees, to his own selfish views and interests really, but ostensibly, 
as he professes, for the interest of the Institution, in the way of suggesting 
increased annual appropriations, already reaching some one hundred thousand 
($100,000) dollars, to meet its wants and necessities; ichiclt, while the Med. 
Sup’t. should remain at the Asylum to administer to patients, could be done 
by the fiscal agent, the Steward and Treasurer, whose more appropriate duty it 
manifestly becomes, if anything was wanting, other than the approved Annual 
Report of State Lunatic Asylum, absolutely made up by a competent Board of 
Trustees, who, selected on account of their exalted moral and social, and great '12' 
lent, potent, and portentous for evil, and evil only ; to catch the 
ear of party cliques, rings, wire-pullers, mountebanks and jug- 
glers; and withal, personally immersing himself with an assumed, 
but false and hypocritical odor of sanctity, to ingratiate himself 
into the favor of some of the best and most influential men in the 
land ; and to deceive, knowingly, wickedly and maliciously, very 
many of the high, right and just-minded ; yea, pious men and 
women of the age, for the solo object and purpose to subserve self 
and secure jjosition, with its lienors, emoluments and perquisites, 
at the sacrifice and expense of the sacred rights and honor, the 
welfare and happiness, the health and lives, and very existence of 
poor unfortunates committed to his tender mercies. 
I append a paragraph, which was the conclusion of the several 
communications* addressed to certain highly honorable gentlemen, 
for the use of the Georgia Legislature, bearing date from 2nd to 
25th ult., enclosing manuscript “Documents,” entitled, “A most 
persistent effort to conquer Truth and vindicate the cause of Jus- 
tice and Innocence,” by One who has learned “to suffer, labor 
and wait,” and “possess his soul in patience.” 
In this matter of a proposed investigation of the affairs of the 
Georgia Lunatic Asylum, I may stand alone. But thus standing, 
animated by the spirit and zeal of a martyr, clad with the pano- 
ply of truth, justice and innocence, and armed and securely forti- 
fied by the impenetrable shield of faith, hope and charity—faith 
in God, hope for the triumphs of truth, and sympathy and charity 
of and for my kind, I will stand unmoved and unintimidated be- 
fore Almighty God, and in the presence of all mankind, and fight 
a world (of prejudice) in arms. 
To the honorable, generous, noble and virtuous souls of 
my native State of Georgia, and to the brave, chivalric, phil- 
anthropic and charitable lovers of their kind, throughout the 
world, I appeal; and if there be one truly Christian, sympathetic 
heart, interested to feel for other’s woes, who really desires “ to 
put him or herself in my place,” in spirit and in truth, I hail 
him’ or her as my brother, or my sister, not by ties of consanguin- 
ity, but the dearer social tie of amity and friendship, which dwell 
in angelic bosoms. 
For the very feeble expression of sentiment above, and all my 
efforts in the premises, I hold myself most solemnly obligated, for 
their truth and veracity, to myself, God and my country. And 
political worth, uould know no guile. Also, being ‘cheek by jowl,’ and ‘hand 
and glove’ with all good, clever fellows, and favoring all State political Ad- 
ministrations soever, not omitting his own specialty, so-called—the ver3r bread 
of his mouth, and the breath of his nostrils, &c. 
* See note B, page 14. 18] 
most especially do I hold myself most fully responsible to any 
and all those who may desire to suppress truth and throttle inves- 
tigation in the interest of a superannuated, time-serving and pan- 
dering partizan protege, at the head of the Georgia Lunatic Asy- 
lum ; of whom, in fine, it may be added, in the words of goof old 
-Job, “The heavens shall reveal his iniquities, and the earth shall 
rise up against him.” 
(Note A.) 
The knowledge of these formulae, as they appear in the text, is 
the result, in the history of a somewhat eventful life of the writer, 
•■of a school of sad experience, taught at the Georgia Lunatic Asy- 
lum—formerly in full view of the Capitol of the Empire State of 
the South—under the shadow of the temple of Wisdom, Justice 
and Moderation ; and within the very precinct of the sanctuaries 
devoted to the service of the most High God; in an enlightened 
Christian community, who profess to adore the name of the Di- 
vine Author of truth, who came to a dark, superstitious, idola- 
trous, lost and ruined world, to become the harbinger of ‘ Peace 
on earth, and good will to men.” But said State Lunatic Asylum 
" is a place in God’s moral heritage, where perfect heathen darkness 
and ignorance, vice, lowest degradation and depravity, in human 
form prevails, licensed, unchecked and lrun riot ’—a very Pan- 
demonium on earth, and Hell in microcosmieal miniature. 
This is mainly because no discipline, which can be called such, 
of physical, medical and moral treatment, or enlightened scientific 
system of hygienne and regimen, adapted to the wants and ne- 
cessities of its inmates, -which can be termed curative or reme- 
dial, has ever, in the course of the last twenty-five years, been 
instituted, nor ever will be, during the regime of the present in- 
cumbent, who devotes all his time to the mere working and me- 
chanical machinery of the concern, to secure % life-interest position 
for himself, and his forbears, fc. Who, in one word, although 
fertile of expedients, and prolific of professions, is nothing but a 
sacrilegious pretender, who hates and dreads truth and exposure, 
as he should fear God. And wherefore he is, in heart and prac- 
tice, an infidel to God and man, and why the Holy Bible and 
Ai other good things” are totally eschewed, J, M. Y. u 
(Note B.) 
In liis communications of 2nd and 2oth November ult., Dr. V., 
besides stating distinctly, and solemnly declaring the cause of 
complaint to be the mal-administration (and mal-feasance in office-) 
of one of the public State Institutions of Georgia—to-wit, of the 
Georgia Lunatic Asylum, under the medical superintendence of 
Dr. Thos. F. Green,—and 'furnishing to his (Dr. Y’s) own repre- 
sentatives, the very honorable gentlemen addressed, in way of ref- 
erence, for any information of the complainant’s (Dr. Y’s) charac- 
ter and status, in these premises, &c., the name of one of the old- 
est and earliest settlers of Atlanta, and one of the most reliable 
and reputable citizens for moral worth and integrity, and Legis- 
lators and Jurists of Georgia; who has been at all times accessible 
and approachab.e, and not unwilling to be interviewed upon the 
subject: 
Dr. Y., in his communication of Bth November ult., did make 
the effort, through same medium, (the most appropriate and formal 
approach to reach the Georgia Legislature) most humbly and re- 
spectfully; that a moiety of legislation was due that mo.d unfor- 
tunate class—viz., by the amendment of the statute law's of Geor- 
gia, upon the subject of Insanity : 
So that, persons so charged, before conviction, sentence and* 
confinement in prison, (a fellon’s doom and punishment, and pass- 
port to perpetual reproach and infamy, through all time,) might be 
entitled to the same civil rights and privileges with all other citizens 
soever,, under Magna Oharta and habeas Corpus,—the right, not 
only of a mocDtrial—ex parte proceedings, upon the bare certifi- 
cate of so called experts, one, ttvo, or three subsidized creatures, 
prefixing their name with Doctor—(God save the mark and pity 
the unfortunate !) But a ‘preliminary investigation before a mag- 
istrate, or other judicial officer, for committal and bonds, or other- 
wise; and of the right of appeal to the Superior Courts, and im- 
partial trial before a jury of their country. 
This much—poor moiety ! Dr. V. petitioned for, for reasons 
which he was fully prepared to state, and which would be made 
manifest, and become clearly indicated by a fair and just, a thor- 
ough and impartial investigation of affairs of the Georgia Lunatic 
Asylum. 
Dr. Y. adds that, in these premises, he has taken counsel with 
no man : but with the Good One above. 
N. B.: In this connection, as appropriately as elsewhere, Dr. 
Y. intimates that he is most fully aware that he is here exposing 
himself, but not “off his guard” to the shafts of malevolence, 
r.dicule and criticism. There has been no room for fiction or fan- 15; 
cy, in these premises, or display of crazy imagination. If his 
critics, or reviewers, in a spirit of injustice, shall retort and ex- 
tort crimination for recrimination, or shall prefer not to risk expo- 
sure to rejoinder, and beg the question, by raising the hue and 
cry of persecution, (of Saint Green,)—by the senseless rhapsodies 
and muttering hallucinations of a madman ‘ broke loose ’ from 
Bedlam ; then, and in that case, Dr. Y. would be justified to 
anticipate, in advance, and commit and commend them, “with 
all he has, and is, and hopes to be,” into the hands of God, ‘to 
deal withwho, it is taught in Sacred Writ, ofttimes discourses 
reason, and vindicates truth, “ through the mouths of babes,” 
and insane ones, or devils, and “hides it from the wise and pru- 
dent;”—that uHis own friends” believed Jesus Christ “beside 
Himself,” etc.; and from profane records, that “ the undevout 
philosopher is a madman,” etc.; and, to close this strange, event- 
fid story. Dr. Y. presents (last of all) the apotheosis of Milton to 
truth.—for their good—as a Christmas gift, etc. 
“Truth came once into the world, with her Divine Master, and 
was a perfect shape, most glorious to look on ; but when He as- 
cended, and Ilis apostles after Him, were laid asleep, then straight 
arose a wicked race of deceivers, who, as that story goes, of the Egyp- 
tian Typhon, with his conspirators; how they dwelt with the good 
Osiris, took the Yirgin Truth, hewed her lovely form into a thou- 
sand pieces, and scattered them to the four winds. From that 
time, ever since, the sad friends of truth, such as durst appear, 
imitating the careful search that Isis made for the mangled body 
of Osiris, went up and down, gathering limb by limb still, as they 
could find them. We have not yet found them all, nor ever shall, 
till her Master’s second corning. He shall bring together every 
joint and member, and shall mould them into an immortal fea- 
ture of loveliness and perfection,” J. M. Y. 
P. S.: Papers of all creeds soever, in my native State of Geor- 
gia, and Alabama, and throughout the Christian and enlightened 
world, friendly to the cause of rru h, justice and innocence, please 
copy, or commend to favorable notice, &c. 
J. M. V.