The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-14
TEWKsBURY ALMSHOUSE.
Closing Arguments by Lawyer Brown
and GOV. Butler.

RosroN, July 13-Mr Brown commenced
the argument for the defence in the Tewksbu-
ry investigation this forenoon. He called at
tention to the charges of mismanagement at
the institution as made by the governor in his
inauguraI address, which has been sent broad
cast, and to the universal demand that these
charges be investigated. He gave figures to
show that under Marsh'g superintendency the
amshouse was run economically, and
read from Mrs. Ieonard's recent report
to show that the institution was in
good condition. His Excellency had called
twelve witnesses to prove that certain human
skins had been tanned There is no pretence
that anybody at Tewksbury or any officer at
Harvard college ever knew OF this tanning.
His excellencys own evidence goes to disprove
the claim that the remains Of bodies dssected
were not decently disPosed Of. AS to DR.. Dix
wells testimony it showed a condition Of
things so absurd that IL fell of its own weight.
Reverting to the charge OF cruelty, Mr.. Brown
asserted that OF the ten inmates who
testified upon this point, there was not one but
has a questionable record, and their evidence
could not be relied upon. He compared the
cost Of the maintenance Of inmates at TeN ke-
bury with that of the inmates of the National
Soldiers Home at Dayton, showing the former
\ to be about dollar less week than the latter,
and said he would like the Governor to answer
/ why the people at Tewksbury should not be as
tenderly cared for as at Dayton.
! a TO the death Of foundlings Brown chal-
4 lenged contradiction In saying that not another
! institution can be found in America or Europe
! where only such foundings were received as
/ il was supposed could not possibly live. TAX
\ Ing up the expert testimony concerning the
4 books nf the institution, he severely criticised
that OF Fairbanks, who he said had made 45
mistakes in 60 statements. There were only
10 persons in 25 years who appeared by the
books to be drawing ratiOns when they were
not there TO eat them. This same expert goes
to another subject, the inmates cash, and criti-
ciEe3 40 cases out of $500 in a memorandum
book, two OF which were not in Charles
Marsh's writing 1t was remarkable that Of
theSe $500 pereon8 only two came to this hear
ing to offer complaint.
After recess the Governor began his final
ment. He asked that none of his friends ap-
plaud MIN, saying he would rake the plaudits
four months hence He asserted the truth OF
the te1timOny of Mrs. Lydia Warner of yester-
day, notwithstanding the slander OF that lady
by bis opponent. The character and aim OF
institution at Tewksbury and the inability to
procure an investigation under former author
tiles was then Eet forth The administration
of this institution for quarter of century
has been wrong in principle because it was in
charge of one family during the whole time,
sometimes having offices to the amount Of
seven. They became a clique, they protected
each other, they turned out every one that
made complaint. That principle Of admins
tration is all wrong. There is another thing
wrong. All the trustees except ladies we're in
terested In the reault of this administrator. II
Spaulding was not why has he remained silent.
under the charges brought against him
NouFse's conduct ia regard to chickens, as he
himself states it, is straw showing how the
wind blew Elliott was interested
In milk contracts and would not let them 60
to the lowe3t bidder. Why has he not been
here? The administration has been charac-
terized by nepotism to the last degree. The
question is whether Tewksbury is a proper
houce Of refuge co conducted and so earned on
that you will sustain it and and Say in your
report that no further improvements are
wanted uDon its management.
The Governor then reviewed the personal
history OF Capt. Marsh, saying that until his
children grew up the institution was econom-
ically conducted. LIZ be can show he educated
them at college on salary of 81 200 to $500
he would beg his pardon for they say he never
took cent from the State. The Governor
then passed to the evidence as to tbs pecula-
tion of State property and alleged irreguisri-
ties in accounts. Referring to the refusal to
turn over the lists of dis-ected dead, he said,
.Steal the inmates cash if you will but for
heavens sake don't steal their bodies and keep
no account Of them" The committee had or
dered these books produced, but after the
legislature had been:sntficiently lobbied judg-
ment was obtained, but such a judgment as
every man who had anything TO do with il
would always regret. The erasures in the in
mates cash book hes claimed were made evi-
dent by chemicaf TestS.-~-lf the Marshes will
steal chickeng, old dresses -2sad- inmates,
money what will they do with the money or
the Commonwealth. French Joe, who dealt
out the stores, was thief, Hbertine and liar.
The cruel and abusive treatment of the in
mates was llexb taken aP, the Governor citing
evidence Of his witnesses as to the great mortal
ity of babies by neglect and maitreatment and
detailed min0tely several cases of alleged cru
city and malpractice including that of Eva
Bowen. She, he said, was educated at the nor
NAL art school and taught to model nude
in clay. The State developed her imagiDa-
ton before it developed her conscience. II
she is not good woman today it is the fault
Of the State.
The Governor then reviewed the testimony in
relation TO the number of bodies sent irem
IewksbUry for dissection, and maintained as
true DIR. Dixwel's testimony as to the arge
number of infants bodies sent to Harvard, de-
spite every rascal of them witnesses for de-
fence) said they never had more than two in
the dead room at time" If Dixwell's testi-
mony is false, let Marsh's books be produced
The Governor then produced tha tanned hu-
man skins which had been exhibited before.
In the satanic press this has been called a stu
dent's freak. call it the satanic press be-
cause Satan is the father of lies These pieces
came from several tanneries, and it had got to
be an industry. Shoes, made of these paapers
skins, went on the feet OF richsaristocrats In
the French revolution my lords and my
ladys skins were tanned to make shoes and
breeches FOR psupers. Let us look out that our
turn does not come, for one side will not stand
skinning all the time.
A Harvard record shows that tanned ne
gro's skin was ia the library 100 years ago, as
curiosity, and they have been at il ever since.
1t is time they were stopped.
Ffty-eight per cent in the Soldiers Home
ara foreign born. They fought our battles for
us while we were at home on soft cushions and
skinning paupers. He then compared Tewks-
bury with the Soldiers Home to show he
knew what he was taking about when he
said he could run the former for ST0,Co0
| year. He will not shrink from any inyestiga-
tion of the Soldiers Home bat will let the in
mates speak for themselves. II will not call a
singh officer but will say to nay old comrades,
support your old commander, and they would
clean out this state house so quick II would
made your head SWIM" But the Tewksbury
officials haven't brought single one of the Co.,
| GOO inmates TO prove their good treatment; not
| one but Freuch Joe, man or woman, sane or
| insane. Nobody has the courtesy to say
! good word for the Marshes except when the
| Marshes are over them. Would not you be
4 ashamed TO be at the head OF an institution
| quarter of q century aud have one say
! good work for you. This is convincing evi-
dence. Now you hear the Soldiers home cost
dollar more week than this institution.
/ Give me charge OF these Door men and will
show you they will be well fed. l know how
much IL costs.
This investigation has attracted the attention
| OF everybody from Maine TO Georgia. Every
| day see that some poorhouse is being investi-
| gated. We have walked up Texas and we are
waking them up everywhere. We have done
| heap Of good even If all this has been
| wrong. 1t has been o benefit TO the country,
and claim this benefit for your labors and
mine. All the object before us when we be-
J gun was the changing of the administration
/ with me that there might be greater economy,
| aud greater comfort with greater economy.
| They do not get the worth OF their money.
| There are too many mouths Of officers, too
many officers. too many "matronsp just out of
| school. One thing has been done. The Marshes
and French Joe have gone. The State Board
wefc responsible men, and that's why they
wouldn't bear the burden of the trustees q
moment; SO they put the Marshes out and
! struck vital blow at their party, for suicide
! is confession always.
| Mr.. Brown says the present management is
| not good one. will examine It, as soon, l
was going TO say, as l can get rid Of you, but
| will say as soon you get rid OF me; and II it
| is as he says, can unmake the Board of
| Health as trustees in five minutes. All has
| been accomplished except the single thing that
| / dare not speak of--the political objects
was accused Of political objects in this matter
| How was / going to obtain them? BY doing
| my duty 1 suppose; / don'6 know any other
| way. Is not that good way to accomplish po-
| litical ends? L have thought it my duty to
| look out for those that have no friends. None
| OF these men can vote Why, il / had been
| looking Tor votes / could have had all the
Marshes on my side in week God has
| made me in one way, that must be with the
under dog in the fight, and upon the whole /