Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-09-06
Masquerading Extraordinary and
Careless Management.

appear OF 1nursudy lahti neAueu Inc
Poor-House Again" and purporting to
be the statement of q Mrs. Rainey, one
of the inmates, charging many impro-
prieties against DR.. Beatty, the super.
intendent of the institution, Chairman
Holman, of the County Court, thoughtit
best to have the Poor-house Committeein
vestigate the matter. On Friday Chair
man Holman, of the County Court, went
out and made some inquiries into the
charges,and on Saturday Esquires Elliott
and Brooks, two of the Poor-house Com
missioners, with Esquires Miller and
Quigley, paid the institution a visit and
were accompanied by a LEDGER commits
sioner of the most approved anti-white-
washing stripe. Esquire Heron, of the
Poor-house Commissioners, was not pres
ent, he being related to DR.. Beatty.
The grounds are about six miles from
the city, on the Raleigh road. On ar.
irving there the investigators were met
by the physician in charge, DR.. Duncan,
the superintendent, DR.. Beatty, Major
MacBrooks, Clerk of the Bartlett Circuit
Court, Ben 7. Reaves, Esq, Of Bartlett.
and several other gentlemen from the
surrounding country, who had dropped
in casually, to pay the institution a visit.
An inspection Of the institution was had
and everything was found in a clearly
and orderly condition. The oook-house
was visited, and the dinner set for the
inmates inspected, which dinner was
found wholesome and plentiful. After
visiting the several wards Of the poor
and insane and making several inquiries
the magistrates repaired to a private
room to commence business.
THE INVESTIGATION.
Esquire Miller was made chairman Of
the investigating committee, composed
Of himself and Esquies Elliott, Brooks,
Quigley, our commissioner taking a seat
in the council and taking copious notes
of the testimony. Mr.. Ben 7. Reaves
acted as friend or counsel for Superin-
tendent Beatty and Major Mac Brooks
took notes as a citizen for his own salts.
faction and for future reference.
MRS. CONWAY.
This woman is one of the inmates, and
was called as the first witness. On be.
ing sworn and taking q seat she testified
as follows, in response to a series of IN
terrogations:
Have been here since January; have
a daughter here-Jennie Conway. Ny
daughter came here as a pauper, but for
some months she has been acting as
matron Of the female ward of the insane;
saw some incorporating in July last;
Mary Murray came from town to see my
daughter; they dressed in masks and
masqerading suits in my room and went
out on the front porch and there met
DR.. Beatty, Mr.. Williford the druggist,
and A. X. Hall, formerly ward nGster.
The men we're not in mask; Mrs. Rainey.
an inmate, roomed above; she abused
Jennie Conway. calling her a - and
other names. Jennie went to a picnic
near Raleigh a few evenings ago with
DR.. Beatty, the Superintendent, his son,
the two carpenters, and two other girls
from the peighborhood; a Mrs. Brady, ar
inmate, since gone from the Poor House,
abused Esquire Heron and DR.. Beatty;
she charged DR.. Beatty with being ia.
milisr With Jennie, and accused me Of
being a badwoman; my daughter waited
upon DR.. Beatty table, sRd ! RECEIVED
extra eatables from the Doctors table,
and got more to eat than the other in
mates; | know nothing Of the girl Mary
Murray.
Mr.. sTALEY, WARD MASTER,
was the next witness called. He test.
fed as follows!
Have been here four months; saw
the masquerading; saw two girls With
masks and short dresses, Miss Murray
and Miss Conway; DR.. Beatty, Mr.. Hall,
Mr.. Hoffman and Mr.. Williford were
present on the porch; DR.. Beatty took a
back seat; saw the girls p%romenading
with Messrs. Hall and Williford; Mrs.
Rsiney, an inmate, said that DR.. Beatty
was intimate with Miss Jennie Conway
DR.. Beatty ordered Mrs. Rainey to q
lower ward; she refused to 20, but wa
carried TO the ambulance; this was about
six weeks ago; she was taken from the
ward because they could not stand heI
talk she was not put in a ward with
negroes; Miss Jennie Conway went tC
the picnic the other evening, but dom
know who with.
MRS, CAMPBELL.
Have been here two years; saw the
incorporating three weeks AGO; there
were present DR.. Beatty and Messrs
Williford, Staley, Hall, Hoffman; Jennie
Conway walked with Williford and MARY
Murray with Hall; the masqueradino
lasted from eight to nine o'clock; Mrs
Rainey said the Poor.House was a fancy
house, and Kizzie Dowell, another in.
mate, gave it a worse name; Jennie
has had charge Of the female ~lunatict
for the past three months; was employed
for that purpose by DR.. Beatty; she first
came here to see her mother, and DR.
Beatty permitted her 10 remain; young
ladies came here and asked Miss Jennie
to 90 to the picnic last Thursday night.
don't know who went with them"
MRS. LIZZIE DowELL.
nnmn hare In Ontnhnr lnnl. La l..