Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-12-02
our County Poor Housc,

Mr.. MAH!!f:r4 y generally reperted that at thu
last session of the District Court the Grand Jury
the county, in the discharge Of one of their mos
impori 4uties.- the oysrsecing 81 the public u
sti,uta b hscounty brought il special report
makir Y dIme grave charges against Mr.. Jacet
Buma Sfdner, the Superintendent Of the Ga,Ssss
Poor House 1 have learned that the Grand lur,
inplas language chargrs Mr.e Bumgardner witt
CRUELTY, NEGLECT and ABUSE OF those
committed to his charge, and recommended the
6o1nf r5adge to remove hiu2fsm Is omce.. Since
that time rumors have been current, coming from
grsya authority, Of ssvrisy, a6yse and vlippnN %
the raupers by MIR. Bumgardner. Now, sir, writs
to ask vow Npuhlish the report Of the Grand 1ssy
upen Mr. amgardnsr miscondsct, and to reapSei
information for the public through your columns
asto whether the County Judge has taken any
action upon that Report. ,2FsE JUSTICE.
In accordance with the above request, made to
us some days since, we publish below the report Of
the Grand Jury referred 70. . We withhold any
comments at present, until we learn the County
Judges reasons for not complying with. theFecom
mendaton of the Grand Jury. But we have to say
that the charges of tho Grand Jury demand at least
serious and PUBLIC Investigation Of the whole
matter and that q proaapt one. There are many
rumors ahoat in the community as to nlsmanage-
ment and mstreatment in the Poor House, and if
not true it is due to the public to the Judge, and
to Mr.. Bumgardner that they shonld be refutcd. BY
d puJlie Examination if true, the sooner Bumgard-
ner steps out of the Poor House the better. 4" {
To the Honorable, the Distria Court Of NAscattne
s(oANnt-Nope.n5er 1sra 1859. s-9- A'
The Grand Jury within and for said county, duly
empanneled, charged and sworn to enquire into
and true presentment make of all oeuses, &c, beg
leave to make the following presentment:
That they have, by committee OF their body
examined into the condition of the Poor House and
Farm u.s. also, into the management and treatment
of tie inmates Of the same by the keeper of said
House, and we md from personal ooSerVatloh, tnat
the poor are well fed.
We THU. that the Poor House is not OF sufficient
accommodation to conduce to the comfort Of more
than six persons paupers, especially it part OF
them are sick.
We believe, from evidence under oath before us,
that the present Superintendent, JACOB BUNGARD
NER is man of too irritable and violent temper,
and in some other respects unified to have the
of those who are so unfortunate rs to be compelled
to seek, a home at the County charge; and we be-
Eeve TINT the interests of the Poor House demand
Ithat he Be removed from his present position. In
some few instances we think he has been too harsh
and severe in his dealings towards them, and that
in some cases, they have been neglected when sick
or, at least have not had that care and attention
which their helplessness required We, therefore,
would recommend that the matters herein set forth
be submitted to the County Judge, Of this county,
for his final action in the premises. l 81
~ 0'sd unanimously 'o1s !" Foreman sayna: /