The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-09-05
TREATMENT OF THE POOR.

OuR article on the treatment of the
Poor at the County Poor House. two weeks
ago, had the effect to cause flut,er in the
Republican last week. AS we expected.
MATrrNGLY goes it blind, and denies every
thing We stated. without knowing any
thing about it,-and without even asking
the keeper. His explanation of matters
Under his supervision would probably have
been one-sided enough for all practical
purposes, bu. MarrINcLY goes still further
and pronounces our statement "a batch Of
les" He says:
"a very improbable story is told on the author
ity OF petuiant old woman, whom it would be
impossible TO please" &c.
The old lady is neither "petulant" or
impossible to please" if she would be
satisfied with such treatment rs she and
the inmates of the Asylum received. Du-
ring our conversation with her she gave
no evidence Of petulancy; and we are sur
prised that any person pretending TO be a
man should attempt to cast odium on 3
poor. helpless old woman. that hale.
hearless. soulless man might be screened
from tina. public execration which his con-
duct so richly deserves. But the follow
lug is the most fmsy defense that we ro-
collect of ever seeing anywhere. 1t evin-
ces disposition 10 defend the keeper Of
the Poor, right or wrong. and shows that
MArrlSeLr is but a tool for the party. to
serve which he will do the most detesta-
ole lying withou. even claiming to know
anything of that which he is speaking:
IF any such circumstances occurred at ALL we
venture to assert that Mr.. Baker in no way to
blame. The woman. If there is any grounds at
sH for the story, probably insane, and Mr.. Ba :
ker, one else could prevent her from de-
stroying or throwing off her bed covering. and in
that ray, OR SOME OTHER, getting frosted"
Reader. did you ever see such an effort
made and nothing come of ii? Was there
ever such complete trucking to party IA.
voI:tese How does he know that the wo-
man was insane? or probably insane? Was
he informed that she was insane? If he
was. why did he say she was probably in.
sane? If he was not SO informed, why
Gid he make such u statement? He saws
Mr.. Baker. nor no one else could prevent
her throwing off or destroying her bed
covering Where is the evidence that
Mr.. Baker tried to prevent her from throw
ing of the bed covering? How did Mat
iingly know that mo one else could not
prevent her from throwing off her Gov
er;ns when no trial WAS made by mo one
else for that purpose? He then says.
and IN that way, or some other. getting
frosted. Who could have any doubts
about the matter after such lucid expla-
nation? lie does considerable amount
Of hard lying to make foundation for an
explanation, aud then knocks it over by
admitting that it might have been in some
other way. When he comedies, without
any eyideure being brought to bear on the
case after he explained The manner IN
which she was frosted. that it might have
been in some other way. he very plainly
admits that he knew he was lying. The
truth about the matter is, that she was an
invalid--unable to help hnrself IN or out
Of bed. The cause of her freezing was
not insanity or unmanageableness, but was
lack Of covering and proper attention
Shs had oOly TWO thin cotton spreads over
her; there was no stove in the room, the
room was not plas,ered; and was desc ibed
by those who visited it as being as open
AS BARNARD this during the cold wealth.
err in December. These facts are known
To all cognizant Of the manner in which
the poor have been treated Mattingly'
denial Of them will amount to nothing; on
W be continuation Of the lying which lie
has engaged to do.
The lameness Of the defense is partially
accounted for in the following admission:
awe have not seen Mr.. Baker, nor had an OBJ
portanity to inquire about the truth of the above
story" &c
Yet he begins his article by saying that
our story, as he calls it. is batch Of
les OF what value is the denial of a
man " no admits that he has had no oppor.
tunity TO inform himself on the matter OF
which he speaks? He is not entitled to
much credit for such an admission: for his
Supplements are 80 flimsy. SO di.jointed and
SO Self evidently false, that the reader could
not fail to see that he had no opportunity
10 inform himself or else had made very
poor use Of it. lie concludes The sentence
Of which the above quotation forms the
first mart rs follows s. -. =.