Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-01-16

leu. Inc trustees appointed 10 10
, cate and build a new Insane Asylum
|, have fixed upon Athens as the place
for it. and the liberal gifts in
land and money OF the citizens OF
F that vicinity have secured to the
State an ample and eligible site
without cost. Plans for the new
buildings have been matured and
the preliminary work begun. When
this Asylum shall be built, and the
enlargement Of the existing ones
finished, it is confidently expected
that the chronic insane, whose pitt
able condition in our county infirm-
aries is now the reproach Of the
State, will all or nearly all be bro't
under skilled and constant treat
ment, and their lives made more
tolerable to them, even if cures can
not be effected.
An appropriation was also made
at the last session for the erection
of new Institution for the Blind,
and the trustees of that Asylum
have selected a plan, after inviting
competition among architects. The
plan and design they have chosen
is admirably adapted to the peculiar
work they have in charge, is in good
taste, free from useless ornament,
and relies for its architectural effect
chiefly upon the arrangement Of the
masses and parts Of the structure.
The sum allotted to this work was
changed at the final passage of the
appropriation bill, whilst in terms
it required the whole to be compile
ted for about one-half of what the
committee had estimated to be nee
essary. Had the appropriation been
what no doubt it was intended to
be, partial one, the trustees would
have begun the work Of building
but under the language of the law
they haveproperly felt unauthorized
to proceed until you shall have
sanctioned the necessary expendi-
ture.
The Asylum for Idiotic children |
is nearly completed, and the INSULT
cient and unwholesome quarters at
present occupied by these unfortu-
mates will soon be exchanged for
the cheerful, airy and well arranged
apartments of the new building.
The new Asylum for the Deaf
and Dumb is also very nearly fin
ished, and the trustees hope to have |
the school in progress at an early |
day in your session. The old build
ing being overshadowed by the new |
one, and the sewerage being de-
ranged by the new construction, be-
came alarmingly unhealthy during
the summer. An epidemic fever
broke out among the pupils, of so
malignant a character that the med
ical advisers reported it necessary |
to suspend the school and send the
children to their homes. BY doing
this promptly the fatal cases were
made very few, and many lives un-
doubtedly saved. The opportunity
was taken to remove the old build
ing and grade the grounds, so that
the unhealthy effects which might
result from much change of the soil
whilst the school should be in pro
gress, are obviated.
BLACKBURN FRAUDS.
In the month of October, facts
which came to my knowledge salts
fed me that in the mode of conduct
ing the building Of this Asylum,
the architect and superintendent,
Joseph NJ. Blackburn, had been
committing a series of petty frauds
and embezzlements, reaching back
to the very commencement Of his
services in that capacity in 1884,
The high character for honesty and
integrity, he had borne in Cleveland,
where he resided, and the greatcon-
fidence Governor Brough, by whom
he was appointed was known to
have felt in him, made me very eau
tious in examining the question of
his honesty, and with the assistance
of the trustees Of the Institution,
and particularly of Hon. S. Gallo
way, q minute and careful investi-
cation was made 1t was found
that in the payment of those work
men employed directly by the arch
itect, a habitual overcharge for their
work had been made, more being
entered upon the pay-rolls receipted
by them than they were actually
paid. The class of men thus en-
ployed being generally day laborers
and inexperienced men, they were
easily prevented from knowing the
fraud practiced, or made to believe
the transaction an allowable one
In similar mode of overcharge,
lumber bills purchased in the spring
of 1866 were increased in amount,
and the difference in both cases ap- {
propriated by the architect No
pretense of right to charge com
missions existed or was claimed, he I
being employed at fixed salary as
authorized by law The total amt {
thus embezzled during the whole &
period from July, 1864, to the time }
of discovery, is found to be little {
less than ten thousand dollars. The :
was found to impli- S
cate r. II. BroOkes, a subordinate /
and assistant of Blackburn, and the c
case was placed in the hands Of the !
Attorney General, who has COM ]