The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-10-27
TIE WESTON WRANGLE
THE "AAPpm CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
A. the I.,.l.u.Iou-l Contest Between Berry and
Mltcheii-Drunksnnss Charged aud Berry
Gess-The Full Text OF the CharsesP Pre-.
ssntsd By Bsry-asttlnss Involved.

1
Gess-Ths Full Text OF the CharsesPr 20
ssntsd By Bsrry-Gsttlnss Involved.
Correspondence otthe la.eRigeaotr.
WESTON, W. Va, October 2G.-Again the
Weston Asylum management demands
passing compliment at the hands Of your
correspondent. After the manner in which
the "vindication" Of DR.. Bland was herald
ed broad cast over the State 1t was scarcely
expected that the actions Of the manage
ment would be much below the angels
judging from the previous perfection Of
their official acts as reported by the Board
of Directors at their late meeting. But by
some mischance the reports as they go on
the records and the every day official acta
OF the management would scarcely fall in
perfect unison when critically examined
by the micrcscoplcal optics OF intelligent
public opinion.
II will be remembered in my report oil
the directory meeting that iunumerable
charges were made against Inside Night
watchman John Mitchell, signed by some
ten sr q dozen OF the employees. AT the
same time Mr.. Mitchell preferred charges
OF drunkenness against John w. Berry.
To settle this matter Dr.. Bland asked the
assistance Of the local board, but failed to
secure It, on the fiat refusal Of a prominent
official to take any palt In the considers
ton OF the attendants petty quarrels. The
board instructed DR.. Bland to act on the
charges himself.
About the close OF last week hesucceed-
ed In getting the matter settled, at least
satisfactorily to himself, and in balancing
the accounts took Mr.. Mitchell, who in his
own language-"is the best man 10 the
world-a kind OF necessary spy about tue
ins!itution"-to his bosom, despite the
protestations oil a large number Of male a,-
tendants, aad kicked Mr.. Berry, who had
been in the employ OF the Hospital for
eight years past, out in the cold. D3n't
understand that would defend Mr. Berry
for drunkenness, II such was proved, or
that would denounce Dr.. Bland for re-
tanning Mitchell II the charges against him
were not proven. The public Goes not de-
sire to see fish made OF ono and fowl oil
another. 1t demands in stentorian tones
that whosoever throws himself knowingly
liable 10 the penalty Of discharge under the
rules OF the Hospital, shall be Immediately
invited to pack his trunk aud walk
whether It be the grand worthy master Of
ceremonies, bis first or second assistant or
the meanest little huuchback OF the
procession, whose chief duty is to keep the
long trails Of the dignitaries from dragging
in the dust.
CHARGES AGAINST MITCHELL.
Iheard the long array OF charges read
against Mr.. Mitchell, and know that good
portion OF the employees preierring those
charges are reliable and responsible men,
and II they came before DR.. Bland, as they
offered to do, and stuck to their word as
they no doubt did, DR.. Band could do
nothing else but discharge Mitchell. But
by some pleasing mode Of reasoning known
only to himselfhe failed to fad tue charges
sustained or OF sufficient magnitude to
bounce Mr.. Mitchell.
Just here let me say that / have no de-
sire TO see Mr.. Mitchell or any one e.ss dis
charged. l have always looked on him as
a clever gentleman, and have no i'll will in
any sense against man connected with
the Asylum, but il one man is discharged
for disobeying the rules OF the Hospital,
then there must be no discrimination, and
every other man or woman who disobeys
the regulations must also pay the penalty,
be they white or black, or Of high or low
degree.
The case between Berry and Mitchell re-
solved itself TO this point-either Berry or
Mitchell had to go. Berry was an employe
OF eight years service, popular among the
attendants and young man who has a
good reputation. But be went with
DR.. Get,ings and a certain woman in
the institution on a trip to Charleston and
other points alter patients, soms time last
summer. On this trip he had every reason
TO believe that the conduct Of Gettings and
the woman was not above reproach. He
came back 10 the asylum and 1t soon be.
came known, as other parties had noticed
1t. Gettings asked him to hush ii up. But
he didn't hush. The matter came before
the Inv, stigating Committee. Berry was
before 1t and stuck to the text in full, and
he sticks 10 1t to-day, although Gettings
was exonurated. Consequently Brry was
not popular with Dr.. Bland, as Gettings Is
his special favorite, and an Ill feeling has
existed against Berry ever since Every
body supposed that Berry would be bounc.
ed, and he was.