Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-07
THE VERDICT
Of the Insane Asylum investigation
hI Committee.
The Superintendent Fully Exonerated, but
the First. Assistant foand Guilty
and His Discharge Recon- "a
meaded-Two Directors
Also Guilty.
A FULL SYNOPSIS OF THE REPORT.

cials of the Weston Asylum have appeared
in some of the State papers, and that, these
articles haying been brought before the
Legislature, a special investigating COM
mittee was appointed under joint reSolu-
ton are we'll known to our readers
through publications from time to
time in the columns of the REGISTER. The
committee was made up OF Senator'S W. Z.
McGrew and Joseph Vanmeter and Dele
,,ates Josiah Bee, J. B. Crumrine and Geo.
+ Evans, with ]. NJ. Hamilton as clerk.
Two weeks were spent by them in visit,
ing the Hospital and taking testimony ana
their report was presented yesterday: IL
contained the signatures OF all except sen
ator McGrew, who is absent ana woulu,
were he present, concur In every particular.
The report commences by reciting the
resolution under which the committee was
appointed, their assemblage at the asylum
at Weston, and then proceeds with the
testimony, which consists
First-Of affidayits sighed by James B.
Leyett, Vim. f. Tate and w. H. Bragg,
which have hitherto been published. The
memorial recites the charges heretofore
made in the Clarksburg Telegram reiterates
the truth OF the same and proposes 70 pro-
duce testimony to substantiate the same,
if opportunity he offered, and to present
specific charges.
This opportunity having been offered the
aforesaid memorialists, by their attorney,
A. ]. Hustled, filed the following charges
and specifications:
The first specification charges that two
members of the Board of Directors, VIZ:
Thomas ]. Moore and A. NJ. Dent, residing
in Lewis county, have been intoxicated 10
the extent of disqualifying them for the
proper transaction of business, at time
when their services were required.
The second charges DR.. NJ. +: Hullihcn,
First Assistant Physician, with lntoxica-
tiOn. go
The third charges DR.. Hullihen with der
e'cction to a patient who was suffering from
violent pain at night and who was reported
to him bv the night watchman.
The fourth charges misconduct and un-
attention on the part of DR.. Hullihen in
directing the night watch TO go to the drug
store and get laudanum for said patient.
The fifth charges the Superintendent and
local board with contracting for and buying
-four at greater price than IT can he
bought for at retail in Weston. -.
The sixth charges the same parties with
improperly contracting for and buying coal
of an inferior quality, and for letting con-
tract for coal on the - day OF October,
1881.
The seventh charges that the Superin-
tendcnt sold to the State, for use on the
Asylum grounds, fifty posts at 81 cents
each, and that he also sold horse OF his to
the State at price greater than Its real
worth.
The eighth charges that under the present
| ADMINISTRATION the expenses for transporting
patients to and from the hospital has been
increased by hiring persons not connected
with the hospital to accompany patients
-, 4 ipu frnnN hnSnltll
frequently hiring his sons to perform the
work, and others not in the employ OF the
State
The ninth charges an undue increase in
the use of alcoholic spirits.
The tenth charges personal inattendance
OF the SUPERINTENDENT to the welfare OF the
patients by not visiting the wards rcgu-
iarly. or often enough to know
when some were sick and when one a'eu.
The eleventh charges the superintendent
with permitting his sons to compound and
put up medicines for the patients.
The twelfth charges gross neglect in not
| keeping Blanc Starry" confined properly,
before he killed one inmate and severely
beat another.
The thirteenth charges that one attendant
by the name OF Wm. J. Hope, is known to
the officers OF the institution to have the
habit of intoxication, and to he guilty Of
neglect OF duty in not properly caring for
invalid inmates in Hall No. o. and still said
attendants is retained.
The fourteenth charges son of the super
intendent took an inmate, tO-wit: Samuel
DOnOghy, to town and gave him whisky.
The fifteenth recommends an inquiry in
to the current expense account since OctO-
Der last, but as mcmorialistS believe, gross
misconduct and Irregularities exist.
Col. John BrannOn appeared as counsel
for the persons charged in the specification
and the committee proceeded to hear teSti-
mOny in support OF the specifications,
which was reduced to writing, which is sub.
mittcd with the report.
The report then recitcS that having care
fully and impartially heard the testimony
and examined fully into the charges, the
committee have arrived AT the following
conclusions
As to specification No. the weight OF ev-
idence bears to the conclusion that two
members OF the Executive Committe of the
Board of Directors, viz: Thomas J. Moon
and \. NJ. Dent have been, on several occa-
sionS since their appointment, intoxicated
and although there is no evidence of ne
gleCt of duty. the committee cannot refrain
from urging the necessity OF strictly sober
men. free from such habits, to attend to the
executive duties of all institution requir-
the peoples money, and therefore recon-
mend their removal from office.
As to specification No. , the committee
finds that the first assistant physician, DR..
NJ. +. Hullihel, was intoxicated on the 26th
day of October, 1881, and has been, on two
or three other occasions. under the intiu-
enCe of intoXicantS; and while there is no
evidence showing anything other than a
regular and faithful discharge of the various
duties 'devolving upon him, the COM
mittee is forced to the conclusion that not
only the most skillful, but at the same
time, the most temperate physician should
be assigned to the position. Such an one
alene can, in that situation, command the
respect and confidence of those whose
friends are forced, by that dread
manifestation worse than death,
to become inmates OF that institu-
tion. In vain has our State expended
$500, ,0O0 in the purchase of grounds and in
the erection of substantial building.
which is an honor to our State, if these
places are to be filled by those who are dis
qualified by reason Of habits of dissipation.
The duties devolving upon the first assist
ant are, in many respects, equally delicate
and responsible as those OF the Superin-
teRdent, and should be entrusted to no one
who is not above suspicion of neglect, or
who is unable TO meet, at any and all times
the responsible trust confided to him. The
committee, therefore, recommended the
removal OF the first Assistant Superin-
tendcnt
The committee found specifications Nos.
3 and 4, is not sustained.
In regard to specification No. 5, the COM
mittee says the evidence shows no culpable
neglect OF the Superintendent or of the To-
cal board in letting the contracts for -four.
1t was let to the lowest bidder. after adver-
tisement as provided for by the Board of
Directors in general meeting. But, in the
opinion of the committee the Board of Di-
rcctors did not allow sufficient time for the
advertisement for bids. The report then
recites the contract, and shows there was a
saving to the asylum OF l776c per barrel by
the contract, and that hetter quality was
obtained
In regard to specification No 6. the COM
mittee fully e1onerate the Superintendent
and local board from any negligence or mis-
conduct in awarding the contract for coal.
1t was let to the lowest bidder, after adver-
tisement aS provided by the Board of Di-
rectors, and, in fhe opinion of the commit