Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-01-22
pEpORr OF THE IsvEsrIGArISG COMMITTEE
OF THE WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM.

lum, having Pefiorhieu ha' uu'y' ooS
following report:
The committee was appointed on the 2lst OF Decem
h and arrived in Stanton the morning OF tne 25d
Tbsv immediately notid the board oil directors Oh incl
;val and the object of their visit, and IN siort i'm
,yas waited by committee oil the board ana coha"c'
cd N the sylun, where minute examination was 'hdo
IS very partof the immense buildings and Visit pan
y, Zach patient and manufacturer congregaed IN room
e. creation and amusement, confined IN separate
.a-tm,nts as their condition required. Although GU
;si, was sudden and unexpected, we were Delighted
End that cleanliness, system and order prevailed through
ont the entire institution.
Your committee do not hesitate to express the opinion
ha, 40 far as the comfort. convenience and management
of those for whose benefit this noble charity was design
Cd are concerned, that this institution will compare ia
orably with any of similar kind in any oil the States
and the admirable tact, skill and Kindness oil the super
n,sndent, Dr. St1ibng, in establishing and maintaining
wholesome, moral discipline among those unorluna'es
:, deserving of the highest commentator.
Af,.- spending The necessary time in examining TIT
u,ion the treatment, and management OF the patients
o. rour committee having learned that many complaints
had been made against the directory toucng 'e eHpcu
lion of their trust not only by thu czens OF the couh
ty but that anonymous writer's In me puoc pesS nav
taken occasion to anlmadvrrt upon npir co'ouc o"s
il due alike the Legislature the directors anc e CON"
munity TO enquire into the nature and character o.
complaints Accordingly, the directors were noiia't
that at specified time the committees would EXAMINE
certain witnesses touching the truth or fasehood OF ht
| following charges:
LIST. Tha; in their appointments to Office. favores al
lied BY blood. marriage religion had been selected
end That salaries had been enlarged when duties had
been diminished.
3rd That the second assistant physician had been APP
pon,ed with the admitted purpose of qualifying him Ia
Ill an office in similar institution In anelghborng state
Ath That purchases of goods and furniture had been
made by the superintendent whilst al the North on Ills
| ,,.t,, ctl iS saa "a bppn
oone on. commissions have been allowed hun for such
purchases.
5th That the dealings Of the institution have been al
most exclusively with their treasurer, j. b. breckenridge
6h That The funds of h institution have been used
by the treasurer for his private purposes and that per-
sons having drafts thai officer for money due them Tor
SUPPLIES have not had the paid upon presentation,
up,n The ground alleged thai there funds IN his
hands, when in fact there were in his possession SUCH
! funds.
-ih That the treasurer, alleging he had no funds, has
offered to pay and has actually paid drafts drawn on MN,
in goods from his store when he was In possession o'
the funds of the institution.
sh That the town of Stauntons interest in the JOINT
water works was purchased by the directors, about two
years since, at an exorbant price,
9th That large sums Of money have been expended
for works which have been afterwards abandoned as USE
! less
The board of directors very coueousy accepted the
notice and invited the closest investigation. The Exam
inaon was publicly made in the presence OF argr au-
dence who manifested adeep interest in the proceedings
but nothing at any time occurred to interrupt the har-
ny and good feeling with which the investigation co'n'
menced.
The committee noted down large amount of testlmo-
nv which is still preserved. but with which they DO not
think il necessary cucumber the report They VIII
content themselves with giving The cone Ions 10
which they arrived from careful analysis oil all that
was deposed.
l. cod tba Grcfc
pnion that it was not sustained by the testimony; mat
whilst majority Of the directors may belong to one ana
the same branch of the christian chun h. and several arr
connected by blood marriage. il did mol appear mat
they were governed by those considerations IN making
appointments. did it appear that improper appoint
ments lad been made
In relation to the second charge your committee beg
leave 10 state that previous the year 1850 there had
been bn two physicians employed In the asylum, tle
principal at salary of $2000 and one assistant at SAL
airy OF S65Oha about that lime the institution was en-
larued to capacity for 420 patients. The drerlos, in
anticipation Of an increased number, appointed an add
tona physician and increased the salaries OF each =
the principal TO $500 and The Two assistants IT, SOU
EACH Inasmuch as there has yet b. IN as many pa
tents as can be accommodated by nrary 100 II rs TAR
eresnme that the labor OF the three mas not
been propoonabsy great as was thr labor OF NV" pre-
vious 10 The enlargement nor can your con Hipr ser
tile necessity Of large increase OF salary as was a'
lowed by the directory.
The third charge has reference to the appointment OF
the second assistant physician and seems 10 have gwen
much dissatisfaction owing IN part, perhaps 10 iP TACT
tina, there were several applicants who came highly re-
commended by influential friends that the appoInlee
was related 10 of The directors and only expected 10
remain in the institution one year. Your Committee nave
reason TO believe that the appointment was good one
the evidence being abundant tina. lie possessed IN an EN-
nen degree those qualities that fiji him fer the station
The only question that is, as proper to appoint
one no only intended remain In the institution so
short time! Should not the state have the dement, OF
the experience gained in the employment! or should
she contribute TO the qualification OF one VINO might OF
employed to take charge of similar institution IN SIS
ter Southern state? Your committee, without entering
into the argument will undertake TO condemn the APP
pontmeni though II may have been mad partly WIN the
view of favorng the auddbe aspirations OF the appoln-
tee.
The testimony in relation 10 the fourth charge was mol
that The SUPERINTENDENT his private business al The
Norh but Thai he was dppuled by the directors make
purchase some $4,000 worth OF furniture &c inr The pu
pse Of fitting up he new buildings tha Commission ut
per cent was allowed him for the outlay, 10 covrr
his travelling expenses, the same that Is allowed the
regular purchasing agent Of the asylum.
In relation The fifth charge, your committee ascertain
ed that the practice was make wholesale purchase
twice year through their treasurer j. b bfrche'I'gP
far hh commission OF per cent ON dry g",ds ana X
per cent on groceries is allowed. IL was ao"'l'e" al
ibe DEALINGS r articles needed between le ZINES 81 neSe
semi annual purchases made win WI Dieckth"ge'
Sirihchargs. Il was il. evidence that Mr. Breckenridge
had endorsed note for l9 aid s'He GEMS, Tf Inc pay
men, of which he was called on, and thai ne gave
check FIR the amount in his ucia caiaclSr as treasurer
uf the ssylum but it also proven that he he'o III MS
hands, on depose the time, checks due the drawer o,
tho noe, from The asylum, to The amount" So and lnal
subsequently he settled The amount with the asynm,"ih'
tie crnsent of the drawer Of he noie
The seventh charge was not sustained, the contrary
the evidence was that drafts drawn thu treasurer had
been promptly pd whenever there were funds in his hands
and only on one occasion there an er made tn dis
charge draft in guods, and thai by clerk in the Store in
the absence Of the treasurer.
In relation the eighth charge, your Committee are OF
onnion that great error was committed in the original
ars6n and execution uf these wnks we'll as IN
ormnp connection with the town authorities The hrst
error may be attributed the engineer wo projected The
nlan. the pipes having only sufficient cabre To convey
aboui twenty two gallons Of water per minute. while The