Morning journal and courier., 1883-04-03
sSpnrnaI anh Gonrier.
Tuesday, April 8, 1888.
THE TEWKsBURY ALMsHOUsE.

AGA w NSb AAHkSE1OOSA1s
 The Tewksbury almshouse investigation is just now interesting the people of Massachu- setts. In his inaugural message Governor Butler said ssHave there not been scan dals, public and well known, for years in that institution? Was it not charged, and never denied, that, for years, of the infants born ln or sent to that institution, more than ninety per cent. died as such All of these did not fill an infant pauper's grave, even ; for it can be shown that from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty infant corpses were annually sold as merchandise to single medical institution in the State, for from threesto five dollars each. Many, if not all, came from thence, besides large mum bers of bodies of pauper adults. furnished for other medical purposes. and sold as merchan- disc for very considerable sums, and that done secretly, and not under and in accord ance with the provisions of the law, which, under certain safeguards, permit almshouses to furnish the unclaimed bodies of deceased paupers for dissecting purposes to surgeons and medical schools, according to the decent and humane provision of the statute" In a recent message to the legislature he repeated these charges and the legislature thought it about time to do something. An investiga- tion was therefore ordered and Governor Butler was invited to assist in discovering the truth
 Considerable testimony has thus far been taken, and some of it is of very unpleasant character. Dr. Dixwell a graduate of liar yard college and of Harvard medical school, testified that while a student in the school he had seen several hundred dead infants brought there every year for dissection. Andrews, the janitor who has since killed himself, had charge of them and sold them at from three to five dollars apiece. The doctor remembered hearing Andrews say that he was Sin the ring" It was often noticed by the students that the babies were starved to death. Andrews repeatedly told him that both the babies and the adults brought to the school for dissection came from Tewksbury almshouse. John H. Chase, formerly employed at the almshouse and discharged for drunkenness, testified that he had known of bodies being taken from the almshouse to the Harvard medical school, and that in one case he had known of funer- al service being performed over babys cof- fn-the mother having inconveniently ar rived-when the coffin contained nothing but wood which he himself had put in it. Under cross examination this witness be- came excited and insolent. Charles H. Dudley, formerly 8 night watch man at the almshouse, testified to the send ing of dead bodies from the almshouse, and 1,a Int ola the corridors disappeared, and were replaced with others. One night he took of the COW CTS of several, and found the boxes full of new sheeting, blankets, carpets, towels, etc.
 There does not appear to be any disposi- ton in Massachusetts, to conceal the facts or defend what is indefensible, but it is charged in respectable newspapers that Dr. Dixwell is given to exaggeration and possessed of phenomenal credulity. It is affirmed that the official records of the almshouse show that only one hundred and seventy-four babies under one year of age died there dur ing the three years the doctor spent in the school, though he testified that several hun dred year were brought to the school. Chase is described as a wreck both in body and mind. The Boston Advertiser declares that there is nothing like evidence that the law has been violated and says, very truly, that nobody can suppose that such practice can be carried on without performing acts which would shock every man not accustem- ed to the business, or that the practices can be described in plain truth without giving @ sense of horror to all who hear or read.
 Governor Butler will of course do his best to substantiate the charges he has made, and until the evidence is all in it will not do to say that he has failed But thus far it can- not fairly be said that he has made out very strong case.