The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-05-27
INSANE ASYLUM MATTERS.
To 1hona ia mag concern.

the Board Of Trustees Of the Hospitslfo
the Insane of Washington Territory. I
presented to said Board six specific
charges against DR.. Rufus Willard.
Superintendent Of said Hospital, to tie
effect that he had attempted. through
legislation, to deprive the Board of
nearly all its powers. and virtually
make himself an antocrat in power at
the Hospital. and over the interests in
said Hospital which the people have
who support it; that having failed to
accomplish this coveted prize through
Legislation. he had attempted to usurp
the same, and override the wishes of
the Board; that he had suggested the
reappointment of persons as employees
sfter they had been discharged, or AL
lowed to resign tor cause; that he had
Ieiostated and kept on the ward Ger
tain persons against the wishes of the
Board, and that he had refused to rein
state experienced peIsoas on the ward
when the Board desired that they be
reiustated For the foregoing, among
other reasons growing out Of the same,
1 did not desm It for the general inter-
ests Of the Hospital. or wise. or for the
officiepcy and economy Of the institu-
ton, to longer retain DR. Willard -
Superintendent of the sane. and moved
that bis services be dispcnssd with. T
I McKiuny and Geo B Ksndle, MEM
bers of the Board, declared the charges
to be Of 40 trivial character as not to
demand an invsstigation." and tabled
them. / Immediately apprised Cover
nor Ferry of those charges, and the &C.
ton of the Board in reference to them.
At the April meeting of said Board
of Trustees l preferred five additional
specific charges against said Superin-
tendent, DR. Rufus Willard, as follows:
LIST. For dishonoraDls and culpable
conduct - such Superintendent, in sug-
geeting and using his influences with
subordinate officers of the Hospital to
raise money to bride . certain Legisla-
tor. and enlist his infiuence in certain
legislation concerning the Hospitsl for
the Insane a Washington Territory.
Cd. For disregsrd Of the interests
and welfare of the Hospital in appoint
ing inexperienced persons for en-
ployees. after having been informed by
. member ofthe Bosrd thst tried, sx-
perieoced and competent persons.
against whom no objections were Offer
cd By any member Of the Board. were
ready and willing TO accept the si,us-
tion,; also. IN refusing. against the un-
animous wishes Of the Board. tn reap.
punt former employee, a. Matron.
knowing her to be On experienced.
thoroughly competent, aud zone of the
best nations that he ever had" and
appointing another person as Ma
tron, against the wishes Of tue Board.
knowing her not to be fit person to
occupy that position.
Sd. For q disregard Of tho inter rests
and welfare Of the patients in the Hos.
pital, in retaining certain employees
for months after he had been informed
OF the crueities inflicted by them upon
patients. aud hence must have known
that they were not suitable persons to
have the charge and care of insane per-
sons.
4th. For ; dereliction OF duty as such
Superintendent in not informing the
Board of his information that certain
patients had been abused by employees.
9th. Far incompetency as Medical
Superintendent OF said Hospital. 10 dis
charging . certain patient as cured
when he vas not cured. ~
moved that the Board proceed at
once to investigate oil of the charges
brought by me against DIR Willard,
Superintendent, ana such other charges
- might be made against him during
the Investigation, and il said charges,
o. any numb ~ them, are found to be
true, that DR. Willard be discharged
from further service at the Hospital;
whersupon, the following motion by
Kandle was adopted. to-wit: THAT
said charges be tabled for the reason
that the Board 10 acquainted
With al the facts. in regard to
aA chsrgeG asd .that a investigation
10 not necessary. - the Board is satisfied
thet there 10 no foundation IN tact for
aid charges. and that nearly all the
spsciicati0ns therein contained have
heretofore been investigated By. the
Trustsss. Mr. Booth voted agsinst the
motion" k
l immediately prepared copy Of the
foregoing charges, and motion Of Kan
die. and actisn Of the Board. and made
cath Of the same before the Probate
Judge Of Pierce county. and presented
the same In person to the Governor,
together with the following, to-wit:
10 his Ercsllency. UoV. II. r. Ferry:
III hsreby prefer she following charge
age60et 4 ! McKenny md GsorKe 3
KsndIs. Trustees 81 the Hospital fou
the Insane Of Washington Territory. to-
Wit: A wilful dereliction Of their duty
- such Trustees, in refusing to inves-
tigsts the forgoing charges.
state to your ExcelIency that said
Board Of Trustees have never, to my
knowledge. investigated . angle one
q the foregoing specifications, and thai
i hoaestly ssd eincesolys beliese That
said Trustees, TT llckisny and 0ee
B Kandle. ere leagued together to sus-
tain DR. Rufos Willard in his actions .,
Superintendent Of said Hospital. RICH,
or wrong. and thst Il they are acquaint
Cd With ell the facts in reference "a
said charges. they are equally culpable
with DR. willard. Therefore. hereby