Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-10-04
BROOKS POOR.HOUSE.
The Late Exposure Of Poor House
Scandals and Wismanagement.
POOr.HOnsp COmmIssi0ner Brook,
WhltewashiDg Pamphlet,

On the otn o. september iast Jul ~
yestigating reporter had occasion to go
out to the County Poor.house to inyesti
gate what was known as the Superin-
tendent Beatty scandal, etc. A full re
port Of the proceedings appeared in the
LRpGER Of September 6, and as it was
the first publication ever made Of Poor
house affairs. although several scandal
Gus affairs had taken place prior to that
time, the report caused no little excite
ment and compelled superintendent
Beatty to resign, out OF Difference tt
public opinion"
The investigation vas carried on by
Esquire, Miller, Chairman, assisted
by Esquires Quigley, Elliott and Brooks,
the latter being Chairman Of the Poor
house Commission. Esquire Herring
the third member Of the commission
vas not present at the investigation, and
it was rumorea that he refused to have
anything to do With 1t. When the
LEDGER report was published there vas
dire confusion 10 the Poor.house ring
camp.
Mr.. Nc Brooks, brother Of the Poor
house Commissioner. G. L. Brooks, and
Clerk Of that useless institution known
as the Bartlett Circuit Court, had taken
down the testimony taken before The in
vestigating committee, and it was al
once determined that Esquire Brooks,
Justice Of the Peace and Chair
man Of the Poor : house commits
sion, ghould issue a ponderons pam.
phlet in defense of his friend, Superin.
tendent Beatty, and Of the Poor-houss
ring" 1t was done 10 tYenty-foul
pages, and bears the startling title
" Facts aud Statements submitted by the
Chairman Of Commissioners Of the
P~oor,house Of Shelby county, 10 regard
to certain rumors floating through the
country"
This flaming title introduced to thi
suffering world the ponderous lucubra
lions Of that self important and over
bearing county dignitsry, known by tb'
grandiloquent title of Chairman Of th'
Poor-house Commission and Justice o
the Peace in and for Shelby county. Thu
opening passage is headed An address
to the magistrates Of Shelby county ant
the public generally" but it should hav'
added ITO the LEDGER and its reporte
especially" His opening roar is anus
ing aud worthy Of more extended circu
%lation, aud consequently we republish it
So much has been said by the public
aud repeated by others in regard to tn
conduct Of tie Commissioners and Su
p~erintendent Of the County Poor.house
that ! deem il my duty az Chairman o
said Commission to reply TO the same
: | take this method.fo more reasons thai
: one.
l. The public have a right tc kno'
. how the concern is run.
, 2. | desn il admissible TO vindicat
myself and the other Commissioners.
3, 1t is my duty TO Wndicete the chal
acter Of DR.. Beatty, who is employed b
!, the Commission, and answerable /
them personally for his acts.
q Ihsye been accused Of being a frien
to this gentleman. / am. / did ne
) know him except by eight when we CAV
d him the appointment as superintendent
but he came to us so highly recon
A mended that | thought him the rigE
man lor the place, and have never ha
D cause TO regret our choice. Ny irienl
d. ship for him is the natural result Of h
le upright and consistent conduct az q
al official, his afable and courteous ma
ner and his humane and correct des
u ings with and control Of the u~nfortunat
ID who have been placed 10 bis charge.
Az to the disagreement Of the Coz
missioners and Esquire Elliott being
! a minority, it is simply untrue. II
o. Commissioner have been in accord
u TO this matter, and Esquire Elliott
forms me that he authorized no gu
IN. statement TO be made as was made
40 the LEDGER. ! suppose the LEDGER 3
the information as it got the "eviden
49, so'called' which Il Published, from t
fertile brain Of the reporter and ] 81
~, poss there is about as much truth q
oil Harness In as there was in the garbl,
b, partial aud sensational reports Sbo
referred 10.
The LEDGER Of Friday last says
'd' ~vlndlestion Of its reporter, that be b
lis no interest In making misstatemen
d. We ourselves could see no interest
"A could have, except TO create A sensslis
eu and by psndering to sickly public sen
n, mint add IN the aelas ~ L. 49,