The Death of George Dorsey

Weston State Hospital, aka Trans-Allegheny 
Lunatic Asylum, 1908
Source: RootsWeb

TALA Tales: A Collection of Articles from the Weston State Hospital

"Where there's a will, there's a way." That old adage is one I've heard all my life and is usually meant as a pep talk. You can do anything you put your mind to, if you just try hard enough. Such a positive message...except when it comes to the will to commit certain acts. Today's blog is another unfortunate tale from the Weston State Hospital, currently known as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. A young man, despite receiving treatment for his melancholia and suicidal threats was able to secure the means to end his own life.

George Dorsey, born around October of 1886, was the son of Wilbur and Amelia Dorsey. The Dorseys, despite being a prominent family in the Morgantown area, had divorced several years prior. George was living with his mother in Monongalia County, while his father resided in Pennsylvania. 

It is said that George was always a rather despondent, melancholy person, who had often made threats to end his own life. His condition became so bad, that it was decided that it would be in his best interest to be admitted to the state hospital in Weston. He was only 21 years old. 

Dorsey's Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery
Photo by Find-a-Grave
contributor, Rhonda 

It's unclear just how long George resided at the state hospital, but it was clear that whatever treatment he was receiving wasn't working. George had planned on taking his own life by drinking two bottles of ink he had gotten ahold of...but fate would intervene. One day, George was poking around the room of an attendant at the hospital and found a shot gun. Hidden in a trunk was the cartridge.

George decided this would be a much surer way to end it all than drinking ink, so he loaded the gun, held the barrel to his chest, and pulled the trigger. The bullet went just south of his heart, initially sparing his life. He was conscious, talking, and expected to survive his wounds. But again, fate would intervene. On September 21, 1908, George Dorsey died of a hemorrhage. His mother and brother came to collect his body and bring it home for burial. He is interred in the family plot at Oak Grove Cemetery in Morgantown. 

George Dorsey, despite having his whole life ahead of him, and a good family name to back him up, was determined that he should not be long for this world. In 1908, there really weren't any good treatment options for those suffering so severely from depression.  Overcrowding and lack of attendants had also been an issue at the asylum for a long time, but this was a tragedy that seems like it could have so easily been prevented with proper safety and security protocols. But, George also had a backup plan with the ink, and if that didn't work, would have surely found another way. One can only hope that George is finally at peace, a peace not afforded to him during his brief time on earth. 

The Daily Telegram (Clarksburg, WV)
17 September 1908

The Daily Telegram (Clarksburg, WV)
22 September 1908

George Dorsey Death Register
Note: Last name listed as 'Daisy'
Source: WV Vital Statistics

TALA Tales: The Tragedy of Karl Kunst

Superintendent's Office
WV Hospital for the Insane
Source: WV History on View

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Weston State Hospital. West Virginia Hospital for the Insane. Whatever name you choose to call it, West Virginia's massive hospital  building is no stranger to death and tragedy. However, the patients committed to its halls aren't the only ones at risk for being taken too soon. Sometimes the staff are at the heart of TALA's tragedies...and sometimes, it's the staff's FAMILY.

Around 8pm on November 2, 1904, G. Karl Kunst was found dead in his room at the State Hospital for the Insane. Upon hearing a gunshot, Kunst's parents, including his father, Dr. A.H. Kunst, superintendent of the hospital, rushed in. Karl was found fully dressed, lying on the side of his bed, dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the temple. He was 28 years old. 

Interestingly, while The Fairmont West Virginian, dated 03 November 1904 explicitly states the cause of death to be a suicide, it is recorded at the WV State Archives as being 'accidental'. Did Karl take his own life on purpose, or was the 'accidental' designation simply for the family's peace of mind and societal pressures?

At the time of his death, Karl was a Colonel on Governor White's staff, and well known and seemingly well-liked by many. He had served as First Lieutenant with the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War. In February of 1904, it was noted in local papers that Kunst, a strong Republican with many Democratic friends, would have made an excellent political candidate, and could run for public office that year, although it doesn't appear he did. But, Karl was no stranger to tragedy.

On Christmas Day, 1889, Karl, who would have been about 14 years old at the time, joined several other boys for some target practice in West Weston. In a tragic accident, the gun Karl was holding discharged, striking four year old Guy Davis in the head. The little boy miraculously held on a full day before succumbing to his injuries. Guy was the son of Henry M.L. Davis, farmer for the WV Hospital for the Insane. Karl was described by the WV Argus, 09 January 1890 edition as being "prostrated from the effects of this sad accident." Assuredly, it was a dark day for people of Weston, and especially the families associated with this tragedy. 

No one really knows for sure what victims of suicide are ever really thinking leading up to their decision to end their lives.  In Karl's case, it could have been lingering guilt from his involvement in a young boy's death. It could have been PTSD from his service in the war. It could have been anything or nothing. It's sadly ironic, however, that Karl's own father was the superintendent for the state hospital AND he lived on-site of the facility, yet was unable to get the mental health treatment needed to prevent this tragedy. 

*A new suicide prevention lifeline rolls out on July 16, 2022. Call or text 988 to be put in contact with trained counselors to help you or a loved one through a tough situation.*

Want more information on the everyday lives (and deaths) of the patients of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum? Check out my collection of posts, linked below:

COLLECTIONS: TRANS-ALLEGHENY LUNATIC ASYLUM

The Fairmont West Virginian
03 November 1904

WV Argus
09 January 1890

TALA Tales: Annie All Alone

Ladies' Ward at
Weston State Hospital

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, formerly known as Weston State Hospital, is one of West Virginia's most haunted locations. Each year, hundreds of people ascend upon the massive stone Kirkbride building in hopes of experiencing one of the many ghosts believed to still walk the hospital halls. Every once in awhile, I like to bring in a human element by spotlighting the story of an actual patient committed to the institution. With a history dating back before the Civil War, there are plenty of souls with stories to tell. Although not everyone featured in TALA Tales has a known ghost story associated with them, I still feel like it is important to share their background. Not only does doing so give investigators and students of history a clearer look at everyday life in the hospital, but you never know when an EVP or other response will reveal a name not previously well-known to the building's ghost lore. So, without further ado, here is Annie's story:

 

On August 22, 1917, Deputy Sheriff Phil Bachman of Wheeling, WV published a plea to the public in the local newspaper, the Wheeling Intelligencer. He had recently received a letter from the administration of the Weston State Hospital. One of the patients, an elderly lady by the name of Annie Bogart, was critically ill and not expected to live much longer. Annie had been a patient at the Weston State Hospital for 35 years, and staff was desperately trying to reach out to any remaining family members who might still be living in the Wheeling area. Bachman even suggested that the name might be 'Bogard' instead of 'Bogart.'

As of this writing, not much is known about Annie. Her name appears in an article from the (Wheeling) Daily Register on November 17, 1882.  That article simply states that Dr. Bland, superintendent of  Weston State, was picking Annie up to transport her to the Weston State Hospital after waiting for such a transfer in the county jail since September 13th. Dr. Bland would also be transporting 2-3 other patients from other counties. No further articles could be found on file indicating why Annie was being held in the county jail, nor why she needed to be treated at the Weston State Hospital. 

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear as if any family or friends were ever located, or at least, none chose to come forward. Annie passed away at the Weston State Hospital on December 17, 1917 and was buried in the hospital cemetery, an act usually reserved for those whose bodies remained unclaimed. Her death certificate doesn't really shed any more light on who Annie was. It simply states that she was a 73 year old single, white female who died from "exhaustion from terminal dementia." There was no mention of parents, location of birth, or any other identifying characteristics. 

Sadly, Annie's story is not unique. In 1882, a woman could be confined to an asylum for pretty much no  reason at all. (Check out this blog post listing reasons why patients were admitted to TALA between 1864 and 1889!) Women had very few rights and could be admitted indefinitely simply if her husband, father, or even brother decided she needed to be. It's heartbreaking to think that Annie spent 35 years alone, and didn't even have anyone willing to come claim her body when she passed. By adding Annie's story to TALA Tales, I hope that even if she was forgotten in life, she'll never again be forgotten, even in death. Keep her in mind as you're investigating the ward that used to house the elderly female patients. Perhaps Annie is still around, just waiting for the right person to share her story with. 

Want MORE TALA Tales?

Sonny's Story

Ivan's Story 

TALA Tales: Sonny's Story

Photo by Find-a-Grave Contributor,
Mom of 3 Boys

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, formerly known as Weston State Hospital, is one of West Virginia's most haunted locations. Each year, hundreds of people ascend upon the massive stone Kirkbride building in hopes of experiencing one of the many ghosts believed to still walk the hospital halls. Every once in awhile, I like to bring in a human element by spotlighting the story of an actual patient committed to the institution. With a history dating back before the Civil War, there are plenty of souls with stories to tell. Although not everyone featured in TALA Tales has a known ghost story associated with them, I still feel like it is important to share their background. Not only does doing so give investigators and students of history a clearer look at everyday life in the hospital, but you never know when an EVP or other response will reveal a name not previously well-known to the building's ghost lore. So, without further ado, here is Sonny's story:

William Paul Hall, Jr., also known as Sonny, was born in Diana, WV in 1949 to parents William Sr. and Iva. At the age of 19, his parents admitted Sonny to the Weston State Hospital, on the advice of a psychiatrist. Sonny was classified as 'retarded,' a clinical term at the time. He barely spoke, and was unable to dress, feed, or otherwise take care of himself. Physically, he was said to be very small in stature, and quite hirsute. Presumably, he was getting to be at an age where his parents felt that they could no longer take adequate care of their son, and his doctor suggested having him admitted to the state hospital where he'd be in more capable hands. 

Sonny had been a patient at Weston State Hospital for seven years when his life would come to an end at the hands of another patient. On August 20, 1975, Sonny was being housed in Ward 14, Unit 5. Fifty-nine men called this ward home, and only two attendants were assigned to care for them all. That evening, Sonny was locked into an enclosed sun porch with three other men. All three other men were known 'troublemakers,' and were put into the locked sun porch for an alleged 4.5 hours while the two attendants on duty attempted to shave the other 55 men. 

Around 8pm, Arnold Lee Shinaberry, who had been given some matches by another inmate, apparently got bored and wanted to have a little fun. That little bit of fun involved setting Sonny's long tee shirt on fire. Mickey Scarff, one of the attendants on duty, heard Sonny's screams and ran to unlock the door. He called for the other attendant and the two helped Sonny to his room. A registered nurse, as well as the only on-duty physician, Dr. Zabat, were called immediately to render aid. Dr. Zabat had Sonny immediately transferred to the WVU Medical Center in Morgantown by ambulance. Upon arrival, he was immediately sent to a burn unit in Pennsylvania. 

The Raleigh Register
01 December 1976

Two days later, on August 22, Sonny passed from his injuries. The autopsy revealed his cause of death as complications from 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 36% of his body. He was taken home to Diana and buried in the Cool Springs Cemetery. He was survived by both parents, four sisters, and a brother.

William Hall, Sr. filed a lawsuit against the institution the next year. On December 7, 1982, he was finally rewarded $10,000 in bereavement and $1783.19 for funeral expenses. The judge agreed that Sonny and the other patients were under-supervised, and proper aid was not rendered in a timely fashion. I wasn't able to find too much on Arnold Lee Shinaberry, other than a charge of auto theft in 1960, and a potential obituary from 2007. 

Places like the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum aren't really known for their happy-go-lucky, positive tales...but this one is particularly tragic, especially because it most likely could have been avoided. For YEARS, Weston State Hospital was under fire for its overcrowded conditions, understaffing, and overall poor conditions. There was no need for a defenseless young man to be locked into a small space with three other men for over four hours, unsupervised. Unfortunately, Sonny's story isn't the only one of its kind to come out of the Weston State Hospital. I hope you'll join me here at Theresa's Haunted History as I work to uncover and share as many of these tales as I can. 

Sources and Further Reading:

Find-a-Grave Entry for William P. Hall, Jr.  

State Court of Claims 306. William P. Hall, Sr. Vs. Department of Heath/Division of Mental Health

The Raleigh Register. 01 December 1976

Beckley Post Herald. 28 August 1975

Sunday Gazette-Mail. 24 August 1975

TALA Tales: The Tragic Case of Ivan Hoover

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, formerly known as Weston State Hospital, is one of West Virginia's most haunted locations. Each year, hundreds of people ascend upon the massive stone Kirkbride building in hopes of experiencing one of the many ghosts believed to still walk the hospital halls. Every once in awhile, I like to bring in a human element by spotlighting the story of an actual patient committed to the institution. With a history dating back before the Civil War, there are plenty of souls with stories to tell. Although not everyone featured in TALA Tales has a known ghost story associated with them, I still feel like it is important to share their background. Not only does doing so give investigators and students of history a clearer look at everyday life in the hospital, but you never know when an EVP or other response will reveal a name not previously well-known to the building's ghost lore. So, without further ado, here is Ivan's story.

Ivan Hoover was born in Parkersburg on September 14, 1927. Once described as a brilliant, A-student, all that would change thanks to an injury suffered while Ivan was playing high school football. At first, it was thought that Ivan had just fractured his jaw; however, as his mental state deteriorated and his parents took him to a number of doctors, it was discovered that he had actually suffered a fractured skull, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. Even worse...it was too late to do anything. The former brilliant student was now classified as mentally retarded and would spend the next 12 years in different mental institutions, namely Spencer State Hospital. 

Ivan was considered to be a shy, tender-hearted boy, and his parents remained devoted to his care. Eventually, he was released from the hospital into their care, and went to live with them at their Ritchie County farm. For two to three years, Ivan and his parents---Lester and Clara---lived on and worked the farm. Then, in late September of 1957, Ivan came down with a case of wanderlust.

According to his brother, Basil, Ivan decided that he was tired of staying home and wanted to head south to get a job. He was afraid that his aging parents wouldn't be able to get along without him, so he did what HE thought best for them----and sent them to Heaven. 

When a neighbor noticed that Lester and Clara hadn't picked up their mail in several days, the authorities were notified and sent out to the farm. There, they found the body of Clara on the dining room floor, with an army blanket over her body. Lester was found in an outside cellar, underneath a summerhouse. Both had been struck in the head with what would be determined to be a mattock. Ivan, however, was nowhere to be found. The sheriff, telling the local press that Ivan was known to be violent with a short temper, almost immediately was blamed, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. 

Members of law enforcement AND civilian volunteers were involved in the manhunt for the 'dangerous' Ivan, who was described as having a full, brown beard and most likely barefoot, wearing cut-off denim pants. A pond on the Hoover farm was drained, with the belief that Ivan may have taken his own life by drowning after killing his parents. Ivan's body wasn't found in the pond, but apparently a mattock (determined to be the murder weapon) and a pair of pants belonging to Ivan were recovered. 

Ivan was eventually found a couple of weeks later. He was taken in by the Jackson County sheriff's department. He had walked 50 miles, sticking to wooded areas and living off apples and dried corn. He was found with $11.55 in his pocket, which he admitted he took from his father's pocket after the murder. Although he didn't realize people were looking for him, he surrendered without incident and freely admitted to killing his parents with a mattock. He requested to be shown their grave---a request which he was granted---and showed true grief at the loss of his parents. 

Find-a-Grave photo by LCR

Awaiting trial, Ivan was housed at the Weston State Hospital. At trial, he WAS found guilty of murder, but instead of being given the death penalty, he was sent back to Weston for treatment in February of 1958. It wouldn't take long before wanderlust overtook Ivan again and while out taking his exercise in May of that year, he jumped a fence and headed for the woods. He was captured five days later without incident. 

Ivan continued to live at Weston, and apparently was making progress with his mental health. He was not considered a danger to himself or others when he escaped AGAIN in June of 1966, again by jumping over a fence and heading to the woods. He was picked up on July 18 in Cox Mills, again without incident. 

Although he spent much of his life in mental institutions, especially at Weston State Hospital, Ivan did not pass away there. He died on September 1, 1982 at the age of 54 in Baker County Florida. His body was returned to West Virginia where he was buried alongside his devoted parents in the Cairo IOOF Cemetery in Ritchie County.  But what was he doing in Florida?

This is just pure speculation on my part, but I found some records of Ivan's brother, Basil, living in Florida. It's possible that Ivan was deemed safe enough to leave the state hospital, and perhaps was released into the care of his brother and they ended up in Florida. Ivan did say he wanted to head south to find a job, so hopefully he was able to spend his remaining years free of institution life and doing something that made him feel like a productive member of society before finally spending his eternity buried beside his beloved parents. 

Want MORE Trans-Allegheny Stories? 

The Story of Lily

Madness and Mistaken Identity

The Legend of Lily: A Trans-Allegheny Ghost Story

Earlier this month, The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, WV was voted number one in the USA Today's Top 10 list of Best Haunted Destinations!  Appearing on such television shows such as Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures, the former mental institution has really made its impact in the paranormal community.

Construction on the massive Kirkbride Building technically dates back to right before the Civil War and the hospital, known throughout most of its modern life as the Weston State Hospital, accepted patients up through 1994 when it was finally closed.  For years, the building sat, not totally abandoned, and gaining a reputation for being a very spooky place indeed!  However, it wouldn't be until 2007 when the building was auctioned off and acquired by the Jordan family that details of TALA's haunting would emerge.

Perhaps the most well-known ghost story to have emerged is the tale of a little girl named Lily (or Lilly).  Lily is said to be a young girl, around the age of 9, who appears in a simple white dress or night gown.  Over the years, it is believed that she has interacted with paranormal investigators through EVP communication, ghost box sessions, and by moving toys and other 'gifts' left to her in a room now dubbed 'Lily's Room.'  So how was Lily 'discovered?'

Lily's Room, by Patricia Temples Photography

On my last public investigation I participated in at TALA, our guide told us that Lily was pretty much the first ghost to make herself known, shortly after the new owners took over.  During their first year as new owners, the Jordans held a classic Halloween haunted house attraction in a small section of the main building. There were a number of scare actors working the haunt, including a teenage girl stationed at a room in the eastern corner of Ward 4.  This room, which is now known as Lily's room, is kinda right across where you turn from the main hallway into the older 'Civil War' section of the hospital, and this scare actor's job was to help keep visitors moving in the right direction.

In between groups of visitors, she heard a voice coming from the room behind her.  She turned to look and saw a young girl in white.  This girl looked....off.  The little girl then asked if she (the actor) had seen her mother.  Something about this whole thing must have raised red flags to this poor actor, because she told the girl she was going to go find help, and then she locked her into the room!  She then went and got a supervisor, who followed her back.  As expected, there was no little girl waiting in the room and no one else working that night had seen a little girl matching that description.

That tour was the first and only time I had heard this version of Lily's 'origin' story. But what the story leaves out is where the name 'Lily' came from.  An episode of Ghost Stories, which aired in April of 2010 notes that the name Lily came from Tammy Wilson, a psychic who toured the facility.  Wilson also saw that Lily's mother was a woman whose name started with an 'E,' who came from a prominent English family, and who gave birth while at the asylum. 

Are these footprints Lily's?

Other stories have been shared about how Lily came to live at the asylum, but most versions generally agree that she was born here and died here, possibly of pneumonia, around the age of 9.  And, the basic story is rather plausible.  Not only did the hospital accept child patients, suffering from a range of disorders, but there WERE births here.  Some patients were already pregnant at the time of admittance, but it wasn't unheard of for a patient to become impregnated during her stay, either through consensual or non-consensual contact with other patients, and potentially, staff. 

Whoever Lily may be or where she came from, she certainly is a favorite among staff and visitors alike today.  Her room is stuffed full of dolls, balls, a music box, and other toys left for her by well-meaning visitors.  Investigators have heard her light giggle in the area of her room, but elsewhere through the hospital as well.  She enjoys and tends to remember repeat visitors, and favors some of the more regular staff, who in turn, are very protective of her. 

If you find yourself investigating the former Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, or even just taking one of the many awesome tours offered, take a moment to listen and observe.  If you're lucky, you may hear the faint giggle of a little girl trapped in time.  

*For an excellent look at Lily's story, check out this article by Eric Olsen:
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and the Haunting Enigma of Lily

Suspicious Deaths at the Weston State Hospital (1992)

September of 1992 was a bad year for the Weston State Hospital, known today as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Overcrowding, poor conditions, and staff issues had led to a call for the hospital to be closed by 1996, and construction on a new state hospital nearby was already in the works. These problems were intensified when two suspicious deaths happened within a month of each other.

The following article is from the 29 September 1992 issue of the Charleston Gazette newspaper:

WESTON PATIENT DIES AFTER FIGHT; SECOND DEATH WITHIN A MONTH
By Dawn Miller
Staff Writer

A patient at Weston State Hospital died Sunday night after a fight with another patient who was charged with murder five years ago, according to state police in Lewis County.

This was the second death at the mental hospital within a month.

George Edward Bodie, 46, of Parkersburg received several injuries during a late-night fight and died, apparently as a result of those injuries, said Sgt. B.B. Flanagan of the Weston detachment of the state police.  There were no weapons involved in the fight, he said.

According to police, David Michael Mason, 29, of Moundsville, also a patient at the mental hospital, tried to choke Bodie with his hands during a fight at about 11:30 p.m. on a third-floor ward.

Charges against Mason were pending until an autopsy is done and police talk to the Lewis County prosecutor, said Trooper R.W. Hyre of the Sutton detachment.

In 1987, Mason and another man were charged with first degree murder in the death of Dean Metheny, 49, and with the malicious wounding of Raymond Diller at the same time.  They were declared incompetent to stand trial in 1988.

Dr. Carole Boyd, a medical examiner in Morgantown, examined the body, but would not answer questions Tuesday afternoon, a secretary said.

Hyre said he had talked to Mason, but still didn't know what the fight was about or how it started. Mason remained at the mental hospital and was being watched Sunday night, Hyre said.

"I'm not so sure it was too much of a fight, really," Hyre said.  "There was a struggle, but they weren't standing fist to fist, fighting."

Weston Administrator Rein Valdov did not return phone calls to his office Monday.

Earlier this month, a guard found the badly decomposed body of Brian Scott Bee, a 21-year-old patient who had disappeared eight days before.  Authorities at the time suspected the death was a suicide.

In September 1987, another patient at the 250-bed hospital was killed. 

Mental health advocate David Gettys said he and his consumer group are concerned about so many deaths. 

"What does the state plan to do about this," said Gettys, director of the West Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association. 

That group planned to meet today with Don Weston, state secretary for health and human resources.

The state has been arguing with mental health advocates and lawyers for years over whether to rebuild the Weston facility, a 19th-century building that is under court order to close by 1996.

The state is continuing with plans to build a new central mental health hospital, a major employer in Lewis County, although a court ruled that the hospital should be replaced with a network of community facilities. 

*Theresa's Note*

I don't remember either of these deaths being discussed much, if at all, during the tours and ghost hunts at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, and I don't believe there are any specific hauntings related to them. However, it is extremely interesting to note that the article mentions David Michael Mason. As the article states, David Michael Mason took part in the killing of Dean Metheny back in 1987. Although he and James Woods, his accomplice, tried to blame the death on a ghost in the room, both were charged in the murder. (Read more about that HERE)

"Dean's Room" is one of the haunted hot spots on the third floor. Witnesses claim that Dean, a deaf-mute in life, is known to 'speak' to investigators through the process of electronic voice phenomenon. He also enjoys communicating through other ghost hunting gadgets, turning flashlights on and off, and giving gentle hugs to visitors.