Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-04-20
THE TEwKsBUuY HORROR.
Butler Tries to DisclaIm Political OBJ
jcct and AvONs DIsrcspcct Tor th"'f-
man brown.

BosroN, Mass, April 1s.-In the Tcwks-
bury investigation this morning Mary Bowen
testified that food was poor. Fully thirty,
some OF whom had running sores, were
compelled 10 battle in the same water, while
the nurses poured carbolic acid on their
heads. The beds were full of vermin and
there were innumcrable other horrible fnc,s,
prominent among which was the case OF a
Door constructive woman who was too weak
to prevent rats from gnawng of her ieet.
Persons in dying condition were put IN
wooden boxes SO that they might be ready
for burial.
Brown asked the witness several questions
which Gov. Ruller said were not pertinent.
Brown retorted that the characters oil the
witnesses SO far were fit subjects for criticism.
He proposed to know the witnesses entire
story.
The governor asked the committee not to
allow the witnesses to lie malignod. SOME
of their daughters might by chance come to
this hell upon earth. Loud applause from
the inspectors followed The governor said
that because the witness was fallen woman
her character should not be an issue IN thls
case, she should not answer questions which
sought to drug her down.
Brown citet a case where the governor
questioned witnesses in regard TO their CHAR
aclcr. etc. in the most unheaid Of way.
The question of proceeding with the cross
examination was decided by the committee
in the affirmative, s to A.
Miss Bowen gave the details OF her ms
fortunes and the methods adopted by hti
father to put her in the almshouse. She
would not give the name by which she was
known in New York.
An ratc discussion cnsucd. Brown said
he could not look up the witnesses charac el
| for vcracity unless he knew her New YORK
name. The governor had promised to give
him letter from King, New tOlk, who en-
ployed the witness, but the governor SAID he
wouldn't do so until he was ready Bro~a
said that if the examination was to DC amy
thing but farce for political purpose Tor TINS
year and next the committee would not sns'
tain the governor.
The governor said he cent for tile witness
and promised TO protect her from inlamy.
lie would turn over Klug's letter to the COR
miltce when ready, and the opposing counsel
should see it. lie never used the words
"political prejudice" before in this invesliea'
ton and not until the charge was ma'ic tn It
it was for political purposes This slang Oh
the newspapers was reported here when ne
was performing one OF the most painihl
duties ever imposed upon him, aud which he
lad avoided making farce.
Brown SAID the governor had declared ON
several occasions that the testimony should
70 before the country. Brown could see no
reaso., Why the investigation should not be
private.
The governor SAIL the investigation would
interest the entire country ghcre there wtrl
institutions like Tewksbury and it ought to
go before 1t. Already it had arou5ed eAsnl-
nations in other States. lie never had
political thought in connection with 1t, Inc
only question to he decided was the Jaw OF
propriety and humanity.
The chairman said the governors remark
that another to vote would hand the com
mittee down as another committee was hand
ed dowa 20 the country by its to Z vote was
highly imptCpes lie hoped no more poit-
ica illusions would te made.
The governor said he haa q. little respect
for the charman's opinion as the laA.er na,'
for Lie, End he had no respect for the chait-
mans dccisions Being asked if Miss Bow,
en- would Ge prcsenl tomorrow Butter sald
if she wasn't here the testimony could DC
stricken from the record.