The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1878-05-12
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS INSANE
ASYLUM SCANDAL.


ASYLUM SCANDAL.
Some time ago DR.. Barnes, supcrinten-
dent Of the Southern Illinois Hospital for
the Insane. was assaulted and shot at by
Mr.. John McNamec, who, at the time he
made the assault, was an attendant in the
hospital. The rumorcd cause of the diff
Guilty was very damaging to the reputation
of DR.. Barnes, who occupies a position the
incumbent of which should I've above sus-
picion of certain weaknesses too common
among the ordinary run of every day male
mortals. McNamce, the assailant, man
who was one Of the most highly esteemed EN-
ployes about the hospital, was influenced to
the assault by jealousy. He believed DR..
Barnes had abused his confidence in a man
ner We cannot, with due regard for the
modesty OF our readers, properly character.
ize. That he was mistaken. the Board Of
Trustees of the Anna institution, composed of
honest and conscientious gentlemen, lately
declared. To make the verdict Of the board
all that it was intended TO be, Mr.. Bruner
the Democratic member. offered rcsolu-
ton expressing confidence in the doctor and
declaring him to he the man tor the place
he now occupies. The resolution, We need
not say was adopted unanimously. A. a
matter Of course VIC concur in this
conclusion Of the board: but we NAV
bc par,loncd for suggesting that
DR.. Barnes should DE more discreet in the
future than he has been in the past The
facts in the McNamcc case justify Us in xiv
Ing this advice. McNamcc wa, an en-.
ployc in the hospital OF which Barnes was
the superintendent. McNamec had young
wife, who lived at Anna. Barnes. being q
man of friendly disposition, with mind in.
brief visits 10 McNamee's wife at McNa.
mec's house while McNamcc was absent
from home. at the hospital. more than mile
distant. Finally, McNamcc's wife was
hired a. an attendant at the hospital; and
Barnes, being at Anna in a
buggy on the day McNamccs
wife intended to 90 to the hospital,
offered to take her out to the hospital in
the buggy, by his side. That Barnes drove
to the hospital by an unfrequented road
will occasion no surprise when it is rcmcm-
bered that he had business at the lime kilns
which are on the unfrcqucntcd road. and
the fact that he drove short distance be-
yond the line Of the hospital has been ex-
planned in satisfactory manner, Nc
Names wife tc.tifcs TO the unexccption.
able conduct Of Barnes, and Barnes, thank
ing the Lord for skin not perforated by Il
McNamce pistol bull, cmcrgc- from the
scandal will very little Of the smell upon
his moral garments usually lcf, by the smoke
of a bad action discovered and published
10 the world. But the fact is nevertheless
apparent that the doctor was on too famii-
ial terms with hi. female suborIinatcs. The
superintendent OF public institution. EN-.
! pIoying the services Of many subordinatcs.
male and female. canno, Dr. to careful Of hi,
conduct It's not Necessary that he should
be as naughty ~ a duke j. said 10 be. but
when he get. down from his proper place
upon terms of familiarity with hi. subordi.
mates, his ability to enforce discipline be.
comes crippled, and, unless he has peculiar
and unusual characteristics. soon become,
involved in disputes and dcmornizing diff
cultics. In particular the supcrin
tcndent of AN institution ike that oye,
which Dr. Barnes prcsidcs. should not be
come socially familiar with his female en-
ploycs. He cannot do 80 and escape cal
umny. Were he as pure as the best o.
men, and should even occasionally indulg,