The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-06-03
0teGnteltiqer
THE WEST VIRGINIA HOSPITAL
PORTHE INSANE.
The Legislative investigations.
From The VestOn ErpoSitor.

From the WeStOu ExpoSitor.
The Committee appointed under the
Resolution Of the Legislature, adopted
on the 9th of January last, to visit,
examine and report as to the condition
and all the facts in relation to the gen.
eral management and the building OF
the West Virginia Hospital for the In
sane, at Weston" met at the building
of said institution on Wednesday, the
9th inst, In pursuance of call of the
chairman Of the COMMITTEES, j. F.
Hoke, Esq, OF the Senate.
The Committee was organized by the
appointment of Brevet Col. E. Fry, OF
Buckhannon, as its clerk.
The Committee of Investigation con-
sists of j. F. Hoke, Lewis Apologize
and VIM, j, Drummond, on the part OF
the Senate, and s. T.Armstrong, Thos.
Borgess., Reuben DaYlsson and f.
Howes, on the part of the House OF
Delegates.
On Thursday afternoon, April z, P.
Hale, Esq, a former Director in the
Board of Directors of the Asylum I'M
der the appointment of Governor
Foreman, laid before the committee n
statement of questions to be asked OF
witnesses who were to be summoned.
The questions implied grave charges
against not only the Superintendent,
but the whole management of the instl-
IuLlOns 1u6 4ueSLluub point TO PROOF
for charge of neglect, mal.Rdmlnistra-
ton, cruelty to patients and their Sc
duction, and incapacity to govern,
which, il supported by the proof
afforded, would be most damaging in
deed to the private characters as we'll
as the official management of all con-
cerned therein.
The evidence not having been made
public, of course we have no authority
n II on6 far II
leads to implicate one in the grave
charges which have been made. 1t is
hoped, for the sake of common deem
cy, that the charges urged upon the
consideration of the committee may
fail for want of proof. True or false,
they are confined exclusively to the
Radical government of our State, in
which no Democrat has ever, ut any
time. in the smallest manner partici-
pated.
Mr.. Hoke was Chairman of the Com
mittee, whose bearing impressed as
fayorably; not only with his capacity
to handle subjects of this character,
but with his imparttality Mr.. Hoke
was excused from his duty on Satur-
day, the 10th inst, to allow him to par
ticipate in the Chicago Convention. On
his departure, Mr.. DAVIDSON of Taylor,
was elected as chairman, who presided
with the dignity and ability becoming
the occasion. On Monday evening, the
Committee took recess until the I'd of
June, when they will re-assemble at
the city OF Wheeling and resume their
labor.
During the session of the Committee
6fty-two witnesses were examined, and
the testimony covers four hundred
pages of foolscap, in addition to thirty
pages of minutes drawn up for future
reference. What tho four hundred
pages OF testimony disclose, it would
be improper for us, in advance OF their
authoritiVe publication, 10 state; 1t is
sufficient. however, to say that both par
ties to the controversy are entirely
satisfied with the result. Weare salts
fed that the investigation has been full
fair, and will present a complete record
of the whole matters in controversy,
and when published, will be the most
reliable report the Committee can make.
The Committee consists of five Radi-
Gals and two Democrats; and no strife
of party ends or aims appear to have
arisen in their deliberations. The de-
pertinent of the Committee was alto
gether unexceptionable, and such were
their pleasant manners that we were
for the time almost disposed to forget
that the majority were Radical in
politics.