The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-04-24
THE DEAF, ,DUMaAND BLIND AsYLUA

THE DEAF, DUMaAND DBLINDAsELUA.
Il There Anything Rotten In the Man
Agement OF that InsIiIuIIOn7-YeEys sus-
pIcIous Indications.
Two years ago there appeared in one Of
the papers Of this State communication
that reflected in. very direct and explicit
terms on the character and antecedents Of
the Principal of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind
Asylum Of this State. 1t charged that he
had formerly been the Principal Of the
Virginia Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum,
and that while acting in that capacity he
had been formally accused, not only with
conduct unbecoming the Principal of the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum" but fur
ther, with conduct indecent and lascivi.
ous.n 1t seemed from that communica.
tion that these charges had been made the
subject Of Investigation by the Board Of
Visitors of the Virginia Institution, and
that while BY g vote Of four to three the
charge Of indecent and lsscivious conduct
was not sustained, yet that the other
charge was unofficially sustained by a
vote OF 8 to .. That is to say, OF the !
members Of the Board expressed them.
selves to the effect that II the matter came
to a vote they would be compelled to find
Mr.. Coye!l guilty, but they preferred to
seek some milder solution Of the difficulty,
At the next meeting therefore OF said
Board the members were unanimous In
the expression Of the opinion that Mr.. 9.
should not be reelected, and they ad.
journed in order to give him an oppOrtu-
nifty to resign, and at a subsequent meet
ing, finding that he had not resigned
they 1--we members being preseutl agreed
10 declare his office vacant, but concluded
to merely elect another Principal, which
they did. Subsequently they found Mr.
Covell in arrears to the State in the sum
OF $3.50 97.
We arc not aware what action, il any
was taken by our West Virginia authOri
ties in consequence Of the appearance o.
these grave charges in priut. They were
certainly Of character to merit attention
Perhaps the Principal satisfied them as ht
seems to have done, to certain extent
tho Virginia authorities, that the charges
against him were not fully sustained. a
MI events the fact remains that MI. Covel
ia still at the head Of the West Yirginil
De,f Dumb and Blind Asylum. How
much longer he will remain there depend
ON circumstances. Aud this remark bring
US to tho point we have in view In tn
writing Of this article.
During the session OF the Leglslatart
when the appropriation bill was pending
there were whispers that things were nc
AZ they should be at Romuey. In oths
vorls II was said that Major ooyell wa
g,ilty OF the misuse Oithe funds Of u
state In the administration Of the inanciI
afsirs Of the Asylum. Among those I
whose ears these reports came was Cap
Wilson, Of this county, and he, in ord'
10 satisfy himself in regard to them exam
ined The Last report Of the Board Of r
gents, and alter comparing one thing Wit
another, and contrasting the statsmea
therein made by the Principal as to Il
number OF pupils in attendance and th
cut Of maintenance and education p,
capita,ywlth the reports that were IN circi
lsdon, sat down and wrote the tollowir