The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-10
LOCAL MATTERS.

IHE ALMSHoUSS SlEVESTtGATI0S~-mR. hEl-
LEY's CONCLUSIONS - MIR. c. P. BIGGER
"NoT GUILTY.'-Mayor Kelley has com.
pleted his examination Of the papers and
matters connected with the late almsbouse
investigation and the charges against Captain
Charles P. Bigger. superintendent Of that
institution, and submitted the result of his
deliberations and his conclusions to Captain
William English, chairman of the Commit
tee for the Relief of the Poor, in writing.
The Mayor carefully reviews each of the
specifications and charges, and says, in re-
gard to the first specification, that the direct
evidence consisted in positive affirmation by
Mrs. Poore, and an equally positive denial
by Captain Bigger. The indirect evidence
consisted in the uucontradicted testimony Of
many witnesses to the uniform courtesy and
gentlemanly bearing Of the officer. No wit
ness had ever heard en- uukind expression
from Captain Bigger. His official letters,
which were laid before the Mayor, we're all re-
spectful in tone; and one witness (the only
one who was present at any interview be.
tween the superintendent and Mrs. Poore)
testified to his remarkable forbeaance.
In regard to the second specification and
charge, it was abandoned by Mrs. Poore, as
she testified that while on previous occa-
sions she asked his influence to secure her re-
election, she did not this year because she
knew he was opposed to her.
The third specification alleged that Cap
tain Bigger had intercepted and read letter
addressed TO Mrs. Poore. 1t was proved
by the e> idence Of Captain Bigger and Cap
tain Epps directly, and by indirect evidence,
says Mr. Kelley, that this document, consist
ing of several slips of paper, not folded or
enveloped, was found by Captain Bigger on
the floor of the dispensary.
1t was addressed to Mrs. Poore on one OF
the slips and signed by q former pauper, and
contained numerous uncompimentary refer.
ences to the superintendent, surgeon, and
almost every Que, except the matron, con-
pected with the almshouse-spoke OF other
communications, and il, as it seemed, it was
a refl"x az well OF the views of the person TO
whom it was addressed by the author, it dis.
closed state Of feeling which must have
rendered harmonious action between the
superintendent and the matron impossible.
ANY one might naturally have "read" a
paper found in such place and In such
form; there was no evidence whatever that
it was "intercepted" " in any improper, much
less criminal, sense.
charge was Withdrawn.
lDe SSCUuu SpCCluCdilOu was dUOub Guc
impure milk, causing the death of several
infants, &c.
The Mayor reviews the evidence Of this
specification, and says it Was of the most
frivolous nature. He then reviews the cir
cumstances connected with the death of one
infant already alluded to in the case, and says
as to impure milk there seemed no more
ground of complaint than is found in many
households during the summer. He adds
that it was found that at no time did Cap
tain Bigger have any interest in this or any
other supply.
The third and last SPECIFICATION alleged that
Captain Bigger on one occasion refused to
send milk 10 a sick infant for whom Mrs.
Poore requested it, the alnshouse milk being
unit for use.
This statement was affirmed by the matron,
and positively denied by the superintendent.
Mrs. Beale, the messenger by whom the ma
tron testified that she sent her request to Cap
tain Bigger, expressly contraaicted Mrs.
Poore's statement.
In concluding his communication the
Mayor says :" have endeayored to give you
as clear and full statement of the evidence
on these various accusations as was possible
without inconveniently protracting this
paper, and it remains only that should say
that in my judgment no one OF them IS sus'
tanned by the proof"