Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-02-17
GROSS IMATORALITY.
Victoria WOOdhulI's Statements Sus-
taIned-hassachuseI CIVIIizR-
zion.

Chicago Ttmes.I
BOSTON, February 1I.-That venerable
Massachusetts institution, the board OF
State chsr,ti; 5, is just row undergoing
an oveThsuIing by the legislature. Fof
some time past there has been war be.
tween the chairman Cf the board, Frank
B. Ssnb0rn, Of John Brown Bleeding.
Kansas fame in the past, and lately
known as the Boston cJrre spOudent and
editor Of the Springfield Republican,
and the visiting agent, Colonel Gardiner
Tufts. Last week Mr.. Sanb0Tn sppeart Il
before the legislative committee with
formal charges or Encouragement on
the part If Colonel Tufts, sAd to-day q
hesring WAS given on the charges. Mr..
5snborn alleges, in brief, that The man
agement OF The Tewsbury almshouse is
Rotten 10 the core; that female
inmates OF the Institution have
been used for purposes OF prostitution
by keepers, and, Ill short, that the gros-
sest Decentralization prevails at the ipsti-
tuition. He said that the cost to the
State on account Of juvenile crime had
largely increased, as he would show by
figures. In 1854 girl was removed in
a pregnant cOndit Oh from the L6ncas-
ter school to RsinslOrd Island hospital
The supp, ssd father Of the child WAS
one of the trustees OF the school, who
was compelled to resign by his fellow
trustees. To dsy Tewks5Ury is the ce:s
pool OF our public charitable institutions.
The Increase OF numbers there, taken To-
gether with the Increasing neglect OF the
superintendent, inspectors, and the
whole medical staff, who have neglected
the care Of the sick, the Insane persons,
and the hospital arrangements, have
produced the worst results. During the
visit Of tine board, bed bugs were found
crawling by hundreds ever the Wslls of
the dormitories and hospital. In the
room devoted to tbs foundling children
there was an old ashioned privy, send
ing forth an into cradle stencil. Insane
patients were Imprisoned 70; refu-
sal TO do wOlk. OUe female lun-
attic had been imprisoned for five
weeks in a cell where food was
taken her by man. She was not al
Owed to see q woman, and any outrage
might have been committed upon her.
Another woman was imprisoned in 8
stone wall for seventeen weeks. Not q
single inspector knew anything Of this
condition OF things, though they are re-
Quired to make weekly inspections of
tue institution. Last May the mortal
ity in the hospital at Tewksbury, which
at no time could contain over twenty
four patients, was forty-four per cent,
eleven patients dying in that month.
An eminent physician has given it as
his opinion that the mortality at Tewks-
bury is fifty per cent. more than it should
be. Colonel Tufts denied the charge;
defends his expenses, and charges that
his own board was hindered in its oper-
ations by the central board, which sim
ply sat in Judgment upon the admins.
trative officers, and in its annual reports
took the credit CT all improvements
made or suggested. Why Mr.. Sanborn
should have remained chairman so long,
if his present charges be true, does not
yet appear; but it is a very pretty moral
as it stands, and subsequent hearings
will give more of its true inwardness.