The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-03

hard TO contrOvers, touching gross ana I'm
moral abuses by the superintendent of the
Deaf and Dunno Asylum. at Indianapolis.
We admire the fearless course of the Sent1-
mel, in holding up TO public view servant
of the people who has forfeited all respect |
and confidence. The people OF the state will |
sustain the Sentinel,
A DISGRACE TO THE STATE.
From the Columbus Republican,
The Dsaf and Dumb Asylum, resting |
under the charges now hanging over it, is |
a disgracs to our state, and the matter
should be rigidly investigated by men of
more pluck or judgment than the commit
tee appointed by the last legislature pos
sessed, their report was Tut mockery |
of an investigation, while their squirmiDg, /
in our estimation virtually admitted the
truth of the accusations
WEAK REPLY TO CHARGES.
tGreencast Press.
The indianapolis Sentinel makes public /
some startling disclosures in references to
the internal management of the Deaf and
Dumb Asylum, which call for most rigid
and searching investigation. Superintend- |
ent McIntire is charged with immoral prac- |
tees with the female inmates of that insti- |
tuition, which are not based on mere rumor, |
but are supported by the affidavits of the in
mates themselves. 1t IS very weak reply
to those charge to say that the Sentinel Is
being prosecuted for hOel. Before rushing
into court, Superintendent McIntire should
open wide his doors and invite the closest
investigation as to the truth OF the
charges.
SHOULD STEP DOWN AND OUT.
From the Sullivan Democrat
The Indianapolis Sentinel Company has a
libel suit on its hands. A man named
Fawkner charges the superintendent and a
teacher with grossly immoral and indecent
practices towards the fe male pupils IN the
Indiana Asylum for the Deaf and Dunno.
His charge is supported by sffidsvits of five
of the girls, which are fled with the charges
before the trustees. The offense OF the SEN
tinel is that it publishes these charges and
affidavits. 1t has come TO pretty pass that
q servant OF the people must be screened
by the press until his guilt is unquestiOna-
bly, established. If inaOcent the superin-
tendent and teachers should court the
fullest investigation and in the meantime
step down aud out.
PUSH FORWARD THE INVESTIGATION.
From the Bedford Banner.l
There is being a nice pickle stirred up at
the State Deaf ard Dumb Asylum. II will
be remembered that charges were preferred
and sort of investigation had last April,
was charged upon her uncle, John FawKner,
and he was indicted for abortion. Mr.. +.
has been busily engaged ever since in get
ting ev idence to exculpate himself and place
the blame where it rightly belongs:
and he has now presented charges to the
board of trustees of the institution against
the superintendent, Mr.. McIntire, and de-
manding his removal. The charges are sup
ported by the affidavits of five of the former
inmates of the asylum, and exhibit. if true,
a lOOseness OF morals in that institution be-
fore which the Beecher scandal pales into
insigniicsncs From the interest MIR.
Fawkner has in the matter, il is probable
that the investigation will be pushed forward
until the truth ell be arrived at, and the
guilty parties punished.
REMOVE THE OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATE.
From the Danvile indianian.l
1t will DO remembered by our readers that
we gave an account Of the seduction of Ida
Fawkner, an inmate of the deaf and dumb
asylum at Indianapolis, some time since,
her uncle John Fawkner being accused OF
the unnatural crime. On Thursday last,
however, the Sentinel published the
affidavits OF four mutes, two OF whom
had been married, charging the Su-
perintendent, Mr.. McIutire, with
unchaste familiarity with two OF 'em,
whilst the others charge him with actual
Grim. con-, one case covering period of sew
former statement duplicating her uncle was
made under duress. and that Ezra Valen-
tine, her teacher, ssduced her. Immediately
after the publication of the affidavits, Nc
and the Sentinel Company for libel,
instead of awaiting the result
of the :rial, laying their damage.
at $4,000 each. This is putting fine point
on 1t, though we believe the usual course OF
persons FESTIVE under criminal charges is to
al m hafO OIL N
in the costly luxury of a libel suit. Justica
to the children under their care demands I'll @
removal of the officers until their innoce
is tablished, aud II the trustees of the in
stitution have any regard for decency and
public sentiment they can not hesitate much
longer.
THE WISER COURSE FOR THE ASYLUM MAN
Ayers.
From the Winamac Democrat
The Sentinel has on hands two libel suits
of $4,000 each, for publishing an article
which appeared in that paper on the 10th
inst. From the array of legal gentlemen
who appear for the plaintiffs, it would seem
that Mr.. McIntrie and Mr.. Ezra G.. Valen-
tine have great faith in the multiplicity of
counsel, either to brighten the
Sentinel or prevent invesligs-
ton into the charges preferred in the article
complained of, and out of which, the pros
ecuEiOns have grown. The Sentinel does
not show any great alarm over the acton OF
tho plaintiffs, and we aprrehend that before
the termination or the legal proceedings,
Mr.. McIntire and Mr.. Ezra @. Valentine,
will fnd Jnat the press OF this country have
some rights which even the public function
aries OF state institution must respect
IL would have been wiser and IN
our judgment more satisfactory to the peo
pie Of the state rho are deeply interes ed in
the management of our public institutions
for the plaintiffs in this suit to have called
for an Investigation of these charges and
proven their falsity. than to rush into the
courts with hsrrasslng suits against public